Columbia MO © Grant Hindsley 2009

Having just about wrapped up my first semester at college, I can honestly say these last few months have been a blur. I’ve made many new friends, had a taste of freedom, and have learned the consequences of procrastination. I’ve adapted to the college dorm food, stayed up to late far to many nights, and have spent countless hours in heated (though usually civil) debates.

College is my new home, and I couldn’t find it  any more cozy. I’d like to share with you some of the lessons I’ve learned thus far.

Time Management is Essential

What amazes me about time is that we each have the exact same amount. There are always 24 hours each day. What we choose to do with our time differs greatly. Some spend most of their day socializing. Others spend the bulk of their time “pretending ” to do work. Some spend their day thinking, while others spend time doing. Learning to effectively balance work, family, and friends is of great importance.

Despite it’s significance, many are terrible at managing their time. Instead of taking action that yields long terms results many fill their days with lifeless activities that won’t matter the next day. I know I’ve struggled with this a great deal. Yet regardless of my struggles, I’ve seen significant improvement in being able to effectively mangage my time.

Managing your time isn’t always easy. There is always an abundance of distractions to keep you off track, but learning to use your time wisely pays off down the road. One of the secrets to effectively mangage time is to focus in whatever you do. When you work, work. When you play, play. Don’t waste a moment going back and fourth between activities, but instead dive in and fully immerse yourself into what ever it is you’re doing. Granted, this isn’t always the easiest thing to do but it will profoundly help you in taking control of your day.

Your Social Life Is What You Make It

Socially, I’ve always been able to make friends fairly easily. This isn’t because I’m super smart, or super good looking. It’s because I have the mindset of connection.

Having moved from across the world from Texas to Shanghai I’ve been fortunate enough to  have some experience making friends in a totally alien environment. What I’ve learned is this: Your social life (along with any other part of your life) is what you make it.

If feel like you don’t have many friends it’s up to you to go make some. If you want to have more social interaction  in your life it’s up to you to make that happen. Don’t expect people to just know who you are. Go show them, be kind. Embrace people for who they are.

Because my college has nearly 40,000 people  it hasn’t been too difficult for me to connect with people with similar interests and goals, however this can apply to wherever you are. Because I’ve carried the social mindset I’ve been able to make numerous authentic relationships in a matter of months.

Despite a sincere desire to make friends, one of the greatest fears people face when creating their social life is fear of rejection.

What if they don’t like me? What if I don’t fit in? What if I’m not good enough? If you fall into that trap of thinking your social life will always suffer.

Don’t waste your time wrestling with that inner dialogue. Be bold. Connect with others. Don’t worry if you get rejected, not everyone is going to like you anyways. Focus on what you can control. Your social life is in your hands.

Family and Friends are Important

Back when I was living with my parents (along with my brother and sister), I didn’t really appreciate them as much as I should have.  They became so ingrained in my everyday life that I just expected them to be there. Having been on my own for several months now I realize how much I took them for granted, this goes for my friends as well. Luckily it’s fairly easy to stay in touch via sites such as Facebook and Twitter, however I definitely miss the interaction with my family and friends.

Having been away from both my family and friends for a few months now, I appreciate much the time in which I get to spend with them. I’ve gained a better understanding of the importance of family and remaining close to those who love you.

No matter where you are in life it’s always important to remember where you came from.

Freedom Is Bliss (Sort of)

One of the greatest perks of being at college (or growing up for that matter) is the amount of freedom you have. No one tells you what you can or can’t do (assuming you’re not breaking the law.) If you don’t want to go to class you don’t have to. If you want to spend your day partaking in harmful activities that is your right. If you want to just go through the motions you have the ability to do so. But with freedom comes consequences both good and bad, and when you make a decision you must accept the result.

Your reality is a result of what you choose to do or not do. Everyday you have a choice.  Believe it or not, you are in  complete control of your actions and thoughts. When you accept the power that comes with freedom you empower yourself to create a better world.

At first the freedom of being at college was a bit overwhelming but I quickly came to grips with it. In a matter of months I matured significantly. Although I still have a ways to go, having a taste of  freedom has accelerated my growth tremendously.

College May Not Be Right For Me

This may come as a surprise, as I’ve mostly talked about the positives of my college experience thus far, but the truth is I’ve  seriously contemplated taking a year off. Why?  All our lives we’re  told that college is the next step from high school and that you must do it or you can’t succeed. But lately I’ve been challenging that belief. While there are many aspects of college I find valuable, there are also some I struggle with. It bothers me that a piece of paper can dicate whether or not you “succeed” in life. Traditional schooling is not the only way to succeed.

Now I realize that going to college  and getting a diploma is very important if you intend to make your way into the corporate world, but for my purposes I don’t intend to. The entrepreneur path is my calling. Questioning the traditional path has left me to receive a lot of criticism yet I feel it is important that I be honest with myself rather than hide what I really feel.

While I openly admit, being 18 I’m somewhat naive and have a lot to learn, but I know I’m not the only one who feels that way. Over the past few years my entrepreneur mind has really taken a hold of me and made me realize the endless possibilites. While I’m in no position to walk away at the moment, I have to admit that the college system may not be right for me, and I’m definitely open to exploring other paths down the road.

At the time of this writing,  I plan on finishing the year and then reevaluate from there.

You Must Make Alone Time

Throughout my life, I’ve usually been good at making time for myself. Whether that be time to read, write, or just meditate. However, I’ve found it increasingly difficult to do at college. I still make time for myself just not as much.

A great deal of individuals are constantly busy never allowing themselves time to just be breathe.  Being alone allows you to rejuvenate yourself and take a break from the constantly moving world. Making time for yourself is essential.

Some things I enjoy to do while alone:

Meditiate:  This is probably one of my favorite things to do while alone. I haven’t meditated as much as I would have liked but I’ve been trying to  practice meditation a lot more as of late. It not only relaxes me but allows me to gain focus as well.

Journal:  In some ways this blog is my journal. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had an insight while writing a post. I also like to spend time just writing down my thoughts, particularly emotions, so that I can come back and read my journal entries at a later time. This has been invaluable to my growth not only as a person but a writer to.

Think: Do you ever take time to just think? I spend much of my day contemplating questions that are on my mind. Sometimes I ponder the sillest of questions while others I reflect on life’s most serious questions.

Exercise: I’m a big fan of body weight exercises but I also like to walk or run. I find having time to be alone and just exercise a wonderful way to relax and be healthy at the same time.

Initiative Wins The Race

One of the many things I’ve learned is that in order to succeed in this world (however you may define success) you must take initiative. Things don’t just fall into place. I notice a lot of people under the impression that if you just sit back thinking positive thoughts life will magically become remarkable. This isn’t true.

If you want to change any area in your life you have to take action. As Glen Allsop says “Life gives back what you put in.” By taking action you create the opportunities you seek. Don’t just sit back waiting for your reality to change. Take action.

Take baby steps. Showing initiative doesn’t mean doing everything at once. It means creating your own luck. Do something everyday that will bring you the success that you desire.

It’s perfectly OK to make mistakes

College is a time of learning and a time of making mistakes, and  in my case a lot of them. I’ve said things I shouldn’t have. I’ve done things that I know aren’t congruent with my values and I have had my days of where I just want to punch the world. It’s perfectly OK to make mistakes.

Don’t beat yourself up from coming up short. Don’t feel like you have to justify every decision you make. If you make a gaffe smile and move on. If you feel the need to apologize, apologize but don’t let fear of rejection keep you from failing again.

I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my life (many multiple times) but I know they have been invaluable to my growth. Learn from each situation but don’t get caught up in the past. forgive yourself, life is meant to be enjoyed.

These past few months have been full of growth and opportunity  and what to see what the future holds.

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7 Lessons I’ve Learned From My First Semester In College

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I would  like to share with you a beneficial practice I have adopted regarding documentaries. Having recently signed up for Netflix, I decided I would make the most out of the service. While I enjoy a mainstram movie every now and then, the primary reason I signed up for Netflix was to use it as an educational tool. Because I strive to consistently emerge myself in a variety of different perspectives, I have explored a diverse selection of documentaries that I hope to watch.

Watching documentaries is a wonderful way to expand your awareness of the world around you. The following are 3 reasons  why watching documentaries is beneficial.

Critical Thinking:

One of the main reasons I enjoy watching documentaries is because it forces me to view a specific problem from an array of different perspectives. Many documentaries are inherently biased, so it is important to have a holistic view of the topic being discussed. Even though many documentaries clearly have their own agenda, many times they still provide a solid understanding of issue at hand.

Recently I watched the documentary “Maxed Out” which explored the increasing number of Americans who are in debt. While I found the documentary enlightening, it was definitely one-sided. Our ability to discern and draw our own  conclusions is an imperative skill to develop. I have found watching a documentary a week an invaluable tool for developing my critical thinking skills, which I think we all must continue to improve.

Educational:

Viewing documentaries is also incredibly educational. As a person committed to personal growth, I feel obligated to educate myself in numerous ways. The majority of the time I come away from a finished documentary a more intelligent individual. We must get excited about educating ourselves. We are responsible for our own education.

This past week I watched “Flow” a documentary on our current water crisis, and I was dumbfounded at how ignorant I really was. Did you know America spends 60 billion (yes billion with a B) dollars on water bottles each year? Did you also know that it is estimated 30 billion dollars a year could give clean drinking water to the entire global
population. Some drink for thought.

Empathy:

As I continue to watch more and more documentaries, I can’t help but feel the need to personally help alleviate the problems of the world. While I know I’m only one person I sincerely believe  that I really can make a considerable difference in hundreds,thousands, or even millions of people world wide. It’s very easy to say, “This [insert problem here] doesn’t affect me. But when we do this we simply turn our back on truth. As Steve Pavlina says, ” If you see a problem you own it.”

When I watch a film on world hunger, I let my heart connect with those who are starving to death. When I watch a movie on the millions dying from unnecessary war I can’t help but feel a great sense of pain. Becoming aware of the world as it is now is essential for the betterment of humanity. While it is never beneficial to dwell on the problems of the world, becoming aware will eventually lead to action. The world needs more understanding.

Watching A Documentary A Week

Watching a documentary a week has truly increased my awareness as a human being and has proved to be very rewarding. I highly recommend netflix as they have a have a wide array of payment options to fit your financial needs. I can’t wait to receive ” Who Killed the Electric Car?”

How are often do you watch documentaries? What are your favorites? Please share in the comments below.

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I realize I’m cutting it awfully close with this post, as Blog Action Day is slowly coming to a close, however giving blood tonight took a bit longer than I anticipated.

This is my second year of participating in Blog Action Day and I have to admit I love the concept. With technology as powerful as it is now there is no reason why we can’t leverage blogs to create MASSIVE change. That being said this year’s topic is Climate Change and I hope to tackle the topic from a fresh perspective.

Develop Awareness:

While many climate change activists use fear based methods to create change, I personally find it more effective to develop true awareness rather than scare someone into action. I think any reasonable human being will admit, quite freely, that our environment and climate are of great importance. And I also believe that any reasonable human being would acknowledge that our actions large and small, have a large impact on our planet.

If we wish to create any lasting change (change that is beneficial to our environment) it is essential that we develop awareness of our surroundings. Only after we develop awareness can we truly restore our planet back to the the beauty it needs to be.

In order to develop awareness try asking yourself these three questions:

Three Questions

“Do I need this?”

One of the largest reasons our planet is destructing like it is, is because we live in a world of consuming. We equate happiness to stuff.  Following that  model, we buy more stuff. This way of  “happiness” depletes resources from our planet faster than you can say “Climate Change.”

Using less resources  is something I’ve been personally working on, and I find the journey incredibly empowering. The past few months I’ve been making a conscious effort to live my life as simple as possible. And guess what? I’ve been happier than ever.

Asking yourself “Do I need this?” is without a doubt one of the best ways you can help the environment.  Buying less not only contributes less to the destruction of the planet but also enables you to appreciate all that you already have.

To clarify,  by no means am I perfect in this regard. I have just as much work to do as the next person but I’m doing my best to create lasting change.

“What will the future look like?”

It is my belief that as global citizens of the world,  we are obligated to create a world that is not only beneficial to ourselves but future inhabitants as well. It’s very easy to get caught up in the “I’ll be dead by then” mentality and succumb to the instant gratification at the cost of the destruction of our planet. However, any truly conscious person knows that the easy way out is usually not the best course of action.

Taking time to reflect on what the future may hold is a powerful motivator to take action. Can your conscience  handle that your children might live in a world that is almost inhabitable? Imagine the type of world that your current actions are creating.  Is it one of love and abundance?  Or is it filled with scarcity because of your selfish needs? Too often we underestimate the power we possess.

“How can I live more simply?

Living simply creates less pollution. Living simply creates less clutter. Living simply creates less stress. Notice the minimalism rage? It’s we are finally catching on to how porweful it really is.  The benefits of a simplistic life are extraordinary.

The answers to our climate woes  lie in our ability to simplify. A life of simplicity creates rather than destroys. Take pleasure in the the beauty of life. Realize that we are incredibly blessed to be alive in the time we are now. Open your eyes and immerse yourself into the world.

We have the power:

Believe it or not we have the power. We have the power to create a beautiful world in which abundance covers every inch of the earth. We can end poverty. We can stop the destruction of our planet.

We have the power to respect and nourish the nature that created us. We have the power to give more than we receive.  We have the power to save our planet from becoming inhabitable and instead allow its real beauty to shine.

Acknowledging the fact that we have the power to literally alter the course of humanity is a strong truth to accept, yet it doesn’t make it any less true.

We have the power, the question is: Will we take action?

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As someone who constantly looks for motivational material online, I have been fortunate to come across some particularly inspiring websites. One website that I absolutely love is TED.com

TED is a wonderful collection of presentations, given by some of the brightest and most creative people on the planet. The videos generally last 10-20 minutes and are packed with mind blowing insights. I am a regular visitor of TED and never leave without learning something new.

Speakers at TED have included amazing individuals such as  Bill Gates, Michelle Obama, Tony Robbins, and Malcom Gladwell, as well as some lesser know geniuses.

The reason TED is so valuable is because not only is it inspirational but it also challenges you to view life from a variety of different perspectives.

Every speaker at TED stands behind one goal: To positively benefit humanity.

To get you started here are the links to 5 of my favorite videos.

Are we in control of our decisions?

Do schools kill our creativity?

Siftables: blocks that think

Muses on humanity

Spaghetti sauce

Chances are, you’ve stumbled across this absolutely fascinating site, but in case you haven’t, I highly recommend you check it out as soon as possible.

Start thinking

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WARNING: This post goes against social conditioning and is particularly lengthy: read if you dare.

As my high school career is slowly coming to an end (I graduate June 11th) I have found myself particularly reflective on the value I have received from high-school.

I end my high school career with a sub-par 2.5 G.P.A ,having never received a prestigious academic award, and a quick glance at my attendance record would reveal numerous absences (OK 32 days just this year.)

If I listen to what I have been socially conditioned to believe:

Sub-par grades + no awards +  poor attendance = the end of my life

Right?

I beg to differ.

Chasing The A

For most of my life (along with millions of other students) I have been taught to believe that the secret to a successful life is to get outstanding grades. Slowly over the years however, I have discovered this premise to be completely false.

Luckily, over the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to immerse myself in a variety of empowering perspectives and thus have come to  understand that we are 100 percent responsible for our life.

We can be as happy and as successful as we choose to be. Our attitude, not our grades, determines our success.

I have been fortunate enough  to recognize that education goes beyond just the classroom. Life is our greatest mentor. Unfortunately,  I’m one of the lucky ones.

Myself, along with millions of other students, have failed to apply ourselves, not because we’re not smart enough, not because we don’t care about our future, but because we are tired of being dictated by a system of letters.

Continually brain-washing students into believing good grades are essential in living a successful life, has had some disastrous consequences:

Students are more stressed then ever. Cheating has become increasingly rampant. Students spend an excessive amount of time obsessing over getting perfect scores (after all they’ve been told they won’t have a job if they don’t.)

In fact, a classmate of mine  routinely stays up past 2 A.M in order to stay a float. Excessive? I think so.

What’s even more depressing about our current education system, is that it leaves millions of “average” students behind. Millions of kids with incredible potential are left to die (educationally speaking) never realizing their true potential.

Many of my current classmates, each of whom  could literally change the world, are paralyzed by fear, and are instead choosing the path of security: That is get good grades. Get a job. Be happy. Unfortunately that’s rarely how it unfolds.

We can live our purpose today.

I’m not suggesting that our current education system doesn’t do any good. It does teach us the basic necessities.  However, much of what we learn in school is not practical in the real world.

Where are the courses on blogging? Where are the money management courses? Where are the classes dedicated to eradicate poverty? Where are the classes that help us find our purpose?

Our current education system places too much emphasis on the A and not enough emphasis on unleashing the promise that lies in each and every one of us.

Education Through Reading And Experience

One of the most startling shortcomings of our current education system, is the lack of relevant reading. We are forced to read (A.K.A sparknote) ancient  text that we often find difficult to understand.

All this does is encourage a distaste for reading.

I’m not suggesting that ancient texts such as Shakespeare don’t have any value, however what the students read should be up to them.

“But wait! Then they will just be reading the latest trash.”

To which I reply ” Yes, but at least they will be reading.”

Our top priority must be to instill a passion for reading. The progress of humanity depends on it.

A number of my friends routinely say ” I hate reading”

And I always reply, ” You just haven’t found the right book.”

For reading to complement education like it needs to, the books we read must be relevant to us. Not our teachers, not our parents, but us. Each book should be likened to a puzzle piece completing our soul.

Our current education system is putting too much effort into things that don’t matter. Busy work. Perfect grammar.  Memorization. All of which does nothing for us 10 years down the road.

Over the past 4 years I have read close to 100 books. Only 15 of those books being school related.

Those 75 books (OK I’m rounding here) I read outside of school completely transformed me. My philosophy, my attitude, who I am today, all stem from the numerous books I devoured.

Education is about unleashing one’s confidence. Education is learning from failure. Education is growing from experience. Education is discovering your passions then pursuing them.

Education is not rote memorization. Education is not analyzing books that have no meaning to you. Education is not wasting your time on subjects you hate. Education is not being paralyzed because your afraid to fail.

Having attended an international school in Shanghai China, I can honestly say I have learned more from bringing running water to a rural village in China, traveling to Russia, and making friends from around the world, then I ever have in a classroom.

Education is meant to be enlightening. Reading and experience are the key.

Finding Your Purpose

Education is meant to help us find our passion, our purpose in life. Unfortunately, our current education system fails miserably.

We’ve been told:

You have to go to college to be successful. After that you have to go to grad-school. Make sure you get all A’s or you will fail.

Instead of embracing education many students (including myself) have adopted a mindset to just survive.

We’re so used to being told who we can or cannot be, many us don’t even know who we actually want to be.

All the education in the world is worthless if you never unlock what makes your heart beat.

Again, I have nothing against college or even grad-school for that matter. In fact I believe both can offer tremendous benefit to our being.

The problem lies in the fact that we’ve been told that you have to do this, you have to do that, in order to become successful.

Who says life has to be a linear line?

The traditional life time line:

High School: College: Grad-School: Job ( you most likely hate): Retire: Die

Why not:

High School: Find Your Purpose: Love Your Job: Live your life. Die Happy?

The latter sounds more enticing to me.

Education is all about growth,  it’s about experience, it’s about creating authentic relationships. It’s about being human. It’s about connecting with humanity.

Our current education system is inherently flawed. Times are changing. We must stop obsessing over becoming “book smart” and instead focus on unleashing our passions.

Without living out our passions we just add to the clutter of the world.

When we choose security, we sacrifice our passions, killing part of us in the process.

I have tremendous faith that the answers to today’s problems of the world: poverty, war, and disease, will be solved by the youth of today not because they are smart but because they follow their passions.

Enough Is Enough

I know I speak for millions of students around the world when I say:

We’re tired of being told we’re not good enough. We’re tired of doing mindless work that only adds stress to our lives. We’re tired of feeling unworthy just because we fail to meet the expectations of the A+ poster child.

We’re tired of being told who we can or can not be. Shouldn’t we decide that for ourselves?

We need to be inspired. We need to be encouraged. We need to spend time doing things we love. We want to change the world.

Is that too much to ask?

So many students fail to realize their potential because a simple grade tells them they have none. They receive a D and thus feel they are worthless and have nothing to contribute to this world. This defeats the whole purpose of education. Education is meant to build not destroy.

In no way am I suggesting getting good grades is a bad thing; that would be foolish. Getting good grades is not the problem. Allowing grades to dictate one’s life is.

Grades don’t guarantee success.

Passion + Determination + Positive Attitude = Success

I’ll give you an A if you transform the world 

What are your thoughts on our current education system? What do you think must be done? I encourage you to share your comments in the comment section below.

It’s obvious our current education system needs major reform, until then however, it can proudly boast a fat D- on its fridge.

Editors Note: In no way is this post attempting to bash the educators of our world (whom I am eternally grateful for) but rather the education system as a whole.

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