Personal Responsibility and College Success
Personal Responsibility and College Success
Antwan Houston
GEN/200
October 25, 2011
University of Phoenix
Personal Responsibility and College Success
Introduction
Personal responsibility requires one to finally accept the truth that you are responsible for your own actions. Most of the time when mistakes are made, the initial reaction is to point a finger or find an excuse rather than accept involvement. Personal responsibility is the key to College success because at times, most students find themselves falling short of what lies in between these two. Some examples of are turning in homework assignments at the last minute, running late for class, and cramming for a test. As noted by Sullivan (2011), “Personal change also requires the right timing. Just because you do not understand another perspective or have not developed a particular skill, practice, or ability does not mean you never will (, p.27).” When an individual takes personal responsibility for their actions, it can help clarify which life goals are most important and the means to achieve college success by understanding that our values support how we go about making decisions.
Taking Responsibility for Your Own Actions To me, taking responsibility for your own actions is similar to the phrase “you got to crawl before you can walk”. Owning up to your mistakes and actions, and realizing that you are in charge of your destiny isn’t an easy task because at this point, you just started to crawl. A lot of times we find ourselves falling back into that mind frame of doing just enough to get by and don’t realize that bad habits are hard to break. “Never grow a wishbone where a backbone should be.” This is a powerful quote from Clementine Paddleford as advice to his daughter. To show backbone, is to show determination and the same can be shown when taking responsibility for you. Wanting in life can also be like wishing and as it’s been said time and time again, wishes don’t always come true
Antwan Houston
GEN/200
October 25, 2011
University of Phoenix
Personal Responsibility and College Success
Introduction
Personal responsibility requires one to finally accept the truth that you are responsible for your own actions. Most of the time when mistakes are made, the initial reaction is to point a finger or find an excuse rather than accept involvement. Personal responsibility is the key to College success because at times, most students find themselves falling short of what lies in between these two. Some examples of are turning in homework assignments at the last minute, running late for class, and cramming for a test. As noted by Sullivan (2011), “Personal change also requires the right timing. Just because you do not understand another perspective or have not developed a particular skill, practice, or ability does not mean you never will (, p.27).” When an individual takes personal responsibility for their actions, it can help clarify which life goals are most important and the means to achieve college success by understanding that our values support how we go about making decisions.
Taking Responsibility for Your Own Actions To me, taking responsibility for your own actions is similar to the phrase “you got to crawl before you can walk”. Owning up to your mistakes and actions, and realizing that you are in charge of your destiny isn’t an easy task because at this point, you just started to crawl. A lot of times we find ourselves falling back into that mind frame of doing just enough to get by and don’t realize that bad habits are hard to break. “Never grow a wishbone where a backbone should be.” This is a powerful quote from Clementine Paddleford as advice to his daughter. To show backbone, is to show determination and the same can be shown when taking responsibility for you. Wanting in life can also be like wishing and as it’s been said time and time again, wishes don’t always come true
References: Sullivan, D. R. (2011). Learning to Walk. Exchange, (01648527) (200), 26-28. Retrived from EBSCO host. Swaner, L. E. (2005). Educating for Personal & Social Responsibility. Liberal Education, 91(3), 14. Retrieved from EBSCO host. Stamp, J. C. (Josiah Charles Stamp quotes: ThinkExist.com (English Economist President of the Bank of England in the 1920 's and the 2nd richest man in Great Britain, 1880-1941)). ThinkExist. Retrieved from http://www.thinkexist.com