Personal Responsiblity

Personal Responsibility and Academic Success GEN/200 October 12, 2013 Kalene Parker Personal Responsibility and Academic Success To obtain academic success through personal responsibility individuals must take ownership of his or her goals. Prioritizing tasks, such as time management, identifying purpose and goal setting are essential in one’s path to success. Even though there may be outside influences that may change life’s course, personal responsibility is necessary for academic success because every choice made is one’s own responsibility and every individual can decide how to shape he or her future. Personal responsibility is the privilege to make his or her own choices and obligations in life. One would agree with famous author Stephen Covey’s explanation. “Look at the word responsibility - “response-ability” - the ability to choose your response. Highly proactive people recognize that responsibility. They do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice, based on values, rather than a product of their conditions, based on feeling” (Covey, 1989. Pg81) Personal responsibility involves working on one’s own character and skill development rather than blaming others for situations and circumstances. It means choosing to design a life full of purpose and worth. Academic success refers to one’s level of successfully completed schooling and ability to achieve individual success in curriculum studies. Colin Powell once said, “There are no secrets to success: don’t waste time looking for them. Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty to those for whom you work, and persistence” (Powell, 2013. para. 20). Academic success would be the reward or the feeling of satisfaction of accomplishment from completing an academic goal. This goal could be anything one desires from graduation to even a goal of failure. He or she is responsible for setting his or her own expectation of herself. There is a direct connection between personal responsibility and academic success. During an individual’s college years, students begin to make decisions without parental input. Every choice will guide an individual closer to or farther away from achieving goals. Choices impact academic success. Maintaining focus and motivation is essential for accomplishing academic goals because ones time and energy is important. He or she must make purposeful choices in regard to time and apply the tools needed to achieve the desired end result. Knowledge of personal strengths and abilities will assist in making these choices, especially when it comes to planning for the future so one may avoid making mistakes. Outside influences often interfere with one’s academic goals, knocking their designed course off track. A Harvard study showed “Only 56 percent of the students who enter America’s colleges and universities graduate within six years, while only 29 percent of students who enter two-year programs complete their degrees within three years, the study found” (Waldron, 2012. 453632). Many strains put on individuals contribute to the demise of academic success. Financial strain is number one. Identifying the issues and implementing a system to conquer such roadblocks should be a top priority when developing a one’s life plans. Academic success is ones’ personal responsibility. Every choice made and action taken will have an outcome in future success or failure. “Yesterday ended last night. Today is a brand-new day and it’s yours” (“Zig Ziglar: Encouraging Others to Believe in Themselves,” 2012). To make a change in life’s direction, make purposeful choices and be aware of careless actions to ensure success without letting outside influence lead one off their life’s path.

References Covey, S. R. (1989) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. : Free Press. (Pg. 81) Powell, C. (2013). Good Reads. Retrieved from http://xhttp://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/138507.Colin_Powell (para.20) Waldron, T. (2012). ThinkProgress. Retrieved from http://thinkprogress.org/education/2012/03/28/453632/half-college-students-drop-out/ Baldoni, J. (2012, November). Zig Ziglar: Encouraging Others to Believe in Themselves. Forbes.com Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnbaldoni/2012/11/29/zig-ziglar-encouraging-others-to-believe-in-themselves/