By Paul Culp, MA (Oxon.), CFT, GCDF, CCSP
Some of our commandments are applicable mainly to student life, but most of them are equally appropriate for life after college. This one definitely falls into the latter category.
The Eighth Commandment for College Success:
Thou shalt safeguard thy health.
Being sick is bad for you in general, of course (remember, you heard it here first!), and it can exercise a decidedly deleterious effect on your scholastic performance. Irregular hours and insufficient rest, whether attributable to socializing or a heavy schedule of extracurricular activities or studying, invite a reaction from the body. So do poor eating habits and lack of vigilance about handwashing and the sharing of foods and utensils. For a thorough discussion of student health problems and preventive measures, see These Go to Eleven: Our All-Star Lineup of College Illnesses, and College, Flu, and You.
I regret very much that I cannot recall who it was who, while majoring in literature, developed keen insight into Dante’s Inferno while cramming during the agony of a severe toothache. I do recall in which book I read this, but my highlights were too faint because I was trying to stretch the life of my well-used highlighter, and they have faded into oblivion.
Whoever she was, we congratulate her on a meaningful learning experience and we admire her ability to relate personal misfortune to great literature and vice versa, but we do not recommend illness as a pedagogical implement.
Finally, don’t forget that fun times bring their own hazards; we recommend TCE’s Illustrated Guide to a Healthy Spring Break Trip.
That’s your Eighth Commandment for college success. Be sure to join us for the last two, and if you haven’t read the first seven, you’re cheating yourself.
Getting into the college of your choice and finding the wherewithal to pay for it is wonderful. That’s what The Coaching Educator is here to help you do. But that’s not the only reason we’re here. We also try to be expert in all things related to college success, and to pass that knowledge on to our student/clients and our readers. The quest for college success begins with the college search process and continues until you take your diploma and shake hands with the president.
To learn more about our philosophy and capabilities, be sure to watch our free webinars, listen to our podcasts, sign up for our four-week College App Boot Camp, consider our Ultimate Programs and our special services for athletes and performing-arts students, and book a consultation to hear what we can do for you and how we do it. Keep reading this blog, and look for us on social media (see links below) as we keep our clients and admirers advised of new developments in our effort to help students get into and succeed at the right school.
Paul Culp is certified as a global career development facilitator and writes about college admissions, college costs, financial aid, and college life in general for The Coaching Educator team. A former journalist and corporate ghostwriter who now operates Shenandoah Proofreading, Editing & Composition Services (SPECS), he has also been a humanities teacher at all levels from university down to sixth grade. Paul has degrees from Oxford University, Jacksonville State University, and Samford University, and also is certified as a fitness trainer.
Image: Moses with the Ten Commandments by Rembrandt
Recommended Reading About College Success
Culp, Paul. “Beyond Tuition, Fees, and Books: The Other Costs of College,” The Coaching Educator, 7 June 2018, http://tce.local/2018/06/07/beyond-tuition-fees-and-books-the-other-costs-of-college/
Culp, Paul.”Getting to Grips With Test Anxiety,” The Coaching Educator, 28 November 2018, http://tce.local/2018/11/28/getting-to-grips-with-test-anxiety/
Culp, Paul. “More Than Half of American College Students Leave Without a Degree. Here’s Why,” The Coaching Educator, 8 September 2018, http://tce.local/2018/09/08/more-than-half-of-american-college-students-leave-without-a-degree-heres-why/
Culp, Paul “The Myth and Madness of Multitasking,” The Coaching Educator, 18 November 2018, http://tce.local/2018/11/18/the-myth-and-madness-of-multitasking/
Culp, Paul. “The Prez, the Prov, the Profs, the Veep, and the Redge: Who’s Who on Campus,” The Coaching Educator, 17 December 2018, http://tce.local/2018/12/17/the-prez-the-prov-the-profs-the-veeps-and-the-redge-whos-who-on-campus/
Culp, Paul. “Remedial Nation: The Ghastly State of College Preparedness,” The Coaching Educator, 19 January 2019, http://tce.local/2019/01/19/remedial-nation-the-ghastly-state-of-college-preparedness/
Culp, Paul. “These Go to Eleven: Our All-Star Lineup of College Illnesses,” The Coaching Educator, 19 October 2019, http://tce.local/2018/10/09/these-go-to-eleven-our-all-star-lineup-of-college-illnesses/
Culp, Paul. “What the Cap and Gown Mean and Why They Matter,” The Coaching Educator, 21 December 2018, http://tce.local/2018/12/21/what-the-cap-and-gown-mean-and-why-they-matter/