Bobcat Breakthroughs Strategies
Dream
Draw Your Future
After watching the TED Talk posted above, think about something you want to change in your life and draw your current and desired states to help you visualize a roadmap that leads to your dreams.
Download Draw Your Future [PDF]
Dream Activity
Complete this worksheet to break down the importance of your dream and what it takes to get there.
Dreams Delivered
Think of your most daring dreams and how you could accomplish them. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
Your Presidential Cabinet
As the president of your own life, pick "cabinet members" who are wise, trustworthy, and dependable during times of need.
How To Achieve Your Dreams
Here is some more advice on how to successfully achieve all of your dreams.
Strengths and Flow
The work you do becomes meaningful when it's something you're good at and love to do. By narrowing down your true passions, you can determine the best career path and find the strength to help yourself and others throughout the entire process.
Meaningful Work
What are you good at and what do you like to do? These types of activities are ones that make the most meaningful work.
Trombone Player Wanted
Determine your strengths by analyzing what activities you look forward to, are naturally curious about, and make you feel great.
Download Trombone Player Wanted [PDF]
Gardner's Multiple Intelligences
This form can help you determine which intelligences are strongest for you.
Take this Assessment to find your strengths.
The Science of Character
The VIA Survey
Discover your best qualities in 15 minutes with this scientific survey of character strengths.
Take the VIA survey from the VIA institute of character.
Then...
Strengths Reflection
Use this worksheet to maximize your strengths to their pull potential.
Resilience
It takes resilience and perseverance to reach your goals and become a better person. While it won't be easy, you can improve by embracing change.
Best Possible Self
Think of your main goals in life. What will it take to become your best possible self?
Fixed vs Growth Mindset
The only way to improve is to develop a growth mindset. How can you change your thought process so it becomes easier to respond to challenges?
Download Fixed vs. Growth Mindset [PDF]
Growth Mindset
Emotional Intelligence Test
The Global Emotional Intelligence Test - GEIT, uses 40 questions which are derived from, the Global EI Capability Assessment instrument, which contains 158 items. These are based on Goleman's four quadrant Emotional Intelligence Competency Model (2002). Short EI quizzes such as the GEIT are meant to be fun, and to give you a guide to which EI areas you are doing well in and those which perhaps you need to focus on for development.
Happiness
Being happy is one of the many keys to leading a successful life. The core concepts that create true happiness help to develop a strong wellbeing and desire to move forward.
The Happiness Advantage
Watch the above video. Then complete the Happiness Advantage worksheet [PDF]
Based on Shawn Achor's video The Happiness Advantage, use this worksheet to determine what activities and practices make you a happy person.
Seven Word Life Motto
Create a life motto that provides meaning and drive to your everyday life.
Motivation
Motivation is the reason why you're doing what you are. Whether it be a passion, a support group, or the allure of an end goal, we all have forms of motivation. In this section, you can reflect on your why, reasons for attending college, the difference between internal vs. external motivation, and beneficial motivation techniques.
What Is Your Why?
Reflect upon and determine your main motivators for attending college.Have they changed over time?
Internal vs. External Motivation
What are the differences between internal and external motivation? Can it be beneficial to practice one style more than the other? What are ways to improve internal motivation?
Reasons For Going To College
Identify the reasons you are attending college. How many of these are internal reasons? External reasons?
Motivation Techniques
A helpful list of ways to gain and maintain motivation throughout the week, semester, and academic year.
Failure As A Stepping Stone
Goal Setting
General Goal Setting
SMART Goals
Download SMART Goals [PDF]
Time Management
In latest Student Engagement Survey, more than 78% students reported sometimes struggling with time management. Too often it seems there is not enough time to get everything done! Especially during "crunch times."
Some common concerns students often have:
- How much time should I plan for studying and when is the best time?
- What is the appropriate balance between my studies and my personal time?
- How do I set up a schedule and time management system that works for me?
How to get Massive Loads of Work Done Every Day
Is there a secret to getting a lot of work done? Thomas Frank explains how he handles distractions!
Helpful Planning Calendars
These helpful calendars can be printed and posted in your dorm of office. We highly recommend using these for overall semester planning of major exams and projects and for weekly plans and special study planning for upcoming test and papers.
- Weekly Calendar [Excel]
- 3-Week Study Planner [Excel]
- 5-Day Study Plan [Word]
- Weekly Task Sheet [PDF]
- Daily Schedule with Task List [PDF]
- Time Management with Prioritization [Excel]
Organization Tools
The College InfoGeek has compiled a list of helpful resources and links for organizational tools from backpacks to helpful Time Management Apps.
Calendaring
Looking for ideas of how to organize the many different task and scheduling tasks before you each week? This video explains one person's system that can be adapted to suit your needs and style.
Note Taking
Do you find yourself struggling to understand your notes after class? Discover the right formula, format, or strategy of note-taking that is right for your learning style.
5 Note Taking Systems to Choose From
What Note Taking Format Should You Choose?
Cornell Notes Examples and Templates
Test Taking
Test and exams are a major part of the grades you earn in most college classes. In some classes, your entire grade can depend on 2-3 exams. Exam preparation and test taking strategies can make a positive impact on your exam outcome. Some common concerns students often have:
- When should I study for an exam?
- How effective are my exam preparation methods?
- How do I get organized to prepare for my exams?
- How can I do my best when I take the exam
Tips for Earning Better Grades on Your Next Exam
If you want to earn better test grades, these tips will help. Some of the tips in this video cover the days leading up to an exam, while others deal with strategies you can use while you're actually in the testing room.
Exam Preparation Tools
Cramming is ineffective. Planning out your exam study schedule at least five days in advance is highly recommended. A Five Day Study Plan is a helpful way to map out strategies and space your study time instead of cramming. We know that spaced practice in shorter intervals is much more effective way to learn the material. Final exams paper requires some additional planning. Below are temples for a 5-Day Study Plan and Exam Study Schedule.
- 5-Day Study Plan [Word]
- Exam Study Schedule [Excel]
Mistakes on Exams
Thomas Frank, aka College Info Geek, provides some a helpful advise that can help DURING the exam.
Test Anxiety
Exams can cause a lot of unnecessary stress, but you can reduce that stress in several ways. Some stress is actually good! In this video, College Info Geek looks at common test anxiety concerns and covers ways to deal with them.