How to be a Good College Student #tnAchieves Style!

WAKE UP. DON’T BE LATE. MANAGE YOUR TIME.
Your grades will suffer if you skip class in college. If you must a miss class, tell your instructor beforehand and then make sure you get the notes and assignments from a classmate. You will not have time during class hours to do homework or study – you are expected to do that on your own time! Plan to study or do homework for 2-3 hours outside of class for every hour you are in the classroom.

ASK QUESTIONS. ASK QUESTIONS. ASK QUESTIONS.
Instructors are more likely to help you if they know you! Taking good notes, listening, and engaging with your instructors will increase your chances of getting a good grade in the class. No one will know you are struggling unless you speak up. Talk to your instructor if you need help. Call tnAchieves!

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS ON YOUR CLASS SYLLABUS?
A syllabus includes test dates. Mark these on your calendar! It will include the attendance policy, materials you might need, and the grading scale. The syllabus also includes your professor’s contact information and office hours in case you need extra help outside of class.

OPEN YOUR EYES AND EARS. USE YOUR RESOURCES.
Your college is full of resources to help you succeed in college. Most campuses have math labs, writing centers, tutoring centers, advisors and counselors that are free for college students! Familiarize yourself with these resources and use them often.

BE PATIENT. ORGANIZE YOURSELF.
As you are already learning, college is very different from high school. Now is the time to live and learn independently. Keep a planner with all assignments, test dates, and important things to remember. Your instructors will expect you to act like an adult, so organize yourself like one! It will pay off in the long run!

AND ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS...

   Read your Monday Email! This is where you will find information about community service opportunities, the ambassador program, etc.

  Contact us if you are struggling, have questions, or are doing well. We love to hear from you!

   Follow @tnAchieves on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on #tnAchieves deadlines and tips for college success.

 

Blindfolds, rock walls, some questionable poison ivy, & ROCKSTARS!

The transition from high school to college can often be a confusing journey. Remembering deadlines, turning in all required documents, creating a class schedule - it can all seem overwhelming at times. 

However, tnAchieves students have a certain advantage. High school counselors, and college personnel, and tnAchieves staff and mentors all share a mission of helping students navigate this process. 

                                       
Another resource? tnAchieves Ambassadors! tnAchieves Ambassadors are scholarship recipients who represent the program through leadership, team building, and mentoring.
 

Earlier this month, tnAchieves hosted several "kick-off" events for our newest Ambassadors. The first group got to experience the Marvyille College Mountain Challenge. Students explored the woods in teams with other Ambassadors from their college. 


They were tasked with completing activities that tested their patience and creativity - such as the "human seesaw," the "spider web," and the WALL.

The most successful groups were those who worked as a team. Check out this rather humorous video of one group attempting a "balancing act" - aka Human Seesaw!
 

One student said she enjoyed the Mountain Challenge because "we were forced out of our groups and had to get to know complete strangers and learn along the way."

Another group came to Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville, TN for a clean-up event. These students volunteered to sift through rotten wood, an old barn, and some questionable poison ivy. Ijams staff members nicknamed these students the "Special Ops of tnAchieves!"






Shelby County Ambassadors spent the day with Team BRIDGES in Memphis, TN. BRIDGES "unites and inspires diverse young people to become confident and courageous young leaders committed to community transformation." Students learned more about how to be a leader on campus and worked together to complete some rather difficult tasks, including lifting each other to the top of the Memphis Grizzlies Climbing Wall. 

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell kicked off the event with some encouraging words!

Congratulations to the 189 ROCKSTAR students serving as 2014 tnAchieves Ambassadors. These students will continue to assist tnAchieves with special events, including attending and giving advice to new college freshmen during this summer's New Student Orientations. We are so proud of you!

View more photos from Ambassador Retreats here.