Every student at each level of studying strives for academic success. Students use different strategies to arrive their goals in the course study although there are known methods proved to help to improve the level of education. One of the primary policy responsible for assisting students in achieving the success in education is proper planning. A good planning involves setting goals and objectives to meet at the end of the academic period. There should be well laid down action plans on how the goals set will be attained. It should be done at the same time focusing on the academic integrity of the process have a good sight of academic integrity (McLeod & Cropley, 2013). The aim of this paper is to identify how the goals and setting goals-assists students in advancing the academic success. It will further aim at showing how the career goal can lead to career success.
The best experience for reaching these goals is through the utilization of personal learning style. Therefore, one should utilize his style not to copy the learning style of someone else. I work and understand better under sound which means I am an aural student. I can comprehend better under when taught in class that when I read articles for myself. Alternatively, when I am reading materials for myself, I set it to a particular music or sound at the same time as I read. In the future event where am required to recall what I learned during that period, I will need to remember that song and what I know come to the mind. Therefore, it is important for a student to understand your learning style. With your particular learning style there are associated likes and dislikes on how you understand, and thus, you can strategize to strengthen the weakness and mitigate the dislikes thus achieving more. Everyone has his learning style. Copying someone’s style may not work for you. In summary, one should be able to know, fully understand, and apply his learning style that will help him in achieving the goals. The other technique that accelerates academic success is understanding a better writing process (Hawk & Shah, 2008).
Writing process is a critical tool in helping the advancement in the education. The same concept can be sued together with visual learning as they are interrelated. Taking note of what one is learning is important because, for instance, it can at sometimes assist in future reference. Each learner has a different writing process and thus, no particular writing process that can be followed. The writing process I use starts with pre-writing whereby you plan what to write, and build the idea you are writing. The next step after planning is the actual writing which mainly involves making a draft copy. Revision and editing are the last processes in my writing process. By the time am through with the final process I will have understood and able to give a perfect manuscript.
The other valuable tool that can assist in academic excellence is the application of ethical lens inventory. It is a personal evaluation that is designed to help the student be aware and understand the values that mostly influence the choices they make. For example, the students will be able to understand the value which is important to them and make good use of them. Also, they will be able to understand the lenses which mostly reflect ethnic preference. Once the preferred strengths are identified, they will be able to excise discernment in a difficult situation which requires critical thinking.
There are certain steps that I apply in improving the critical thinking skills which will help me in improving academically. I have employed different strategies and through their application can practice critical thinking. The first strategy is to use the wasted. The time that other people view as waste should be put in proper use. Although it is impossible to use all your time, one should try much to use much of the time as possible (Mason, 2008). The other strategy is to a skill called problem day, where each day you think of a problem and try find a solution to the problem. In the process, most of the solutions will be critically solved. The third strategy I apply to improve critical thinking internalizing the intellectual standards which include clarity, accuracy, relevance et cetera. Each week I address specific standards. In so doing, critical thinking will be improved.
Finally, there are resources in the university that I will use to improve academically. The primary support in the school is the library. School library is well stocked with the new books. There are materials in the library capable of supporting all the courses offered at the University. Again, the library is very useful in doing personal research. It is fitted with computers, and thus you can easily do the research online. The other resource is the lecturers. I make sure that I understand everything in class because the teachers can clarify everything when asked. Finally, the other support in the university is the comrades especially the classmates because we can discuss different concepts.
In conclusion, it is important to set the goals that will assist students in academic excellence. The goals made should be solely aiming at improving academic excellence. Understanding the learning style and the writing process is important because the student can maximize what best suits him. The other tool for the academic excellence is the application of critical thinking. Critical thinking is essential because it helps the student in decision making, in particular with the discernment. Students should strive to achieve academic excellence because it a valuable tool in the career world.
References
Hawk, T. F., & Shah, A. J. (2008). Using learning style instruments to enhance student learning. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, 5(1), 1-19.
Mason, M. (2008). Critical thinking and learning. Blackwell Pub.
McLeod, J., & Cropley, A. (2013). Fostering academic excellence. Elsevier.
