10 life lessons College will teach you

1. Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life.

Well done to you for taking the first small step in your new career. We can help by breaking your learning down into little steps so you can make everything manageable.

2. The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.

Now is the time to set yourself some life goals. You know what you are doing for the next year – what’s the plan after that – what do you want to aim for? Share your career goals.

3. Surround yourself with what you want to become

At College you will make new friends, engage with various lecturers, you’ll meet other people who are there to help you achieve success. You’ll meet people who will inspire you and they’ll become your role models. Look for opportunities for work experience, volunteer, enter competitions. Make a mood board with images/quotes you like that represent your future career. Choose your friends carefully. 

4. Believe in yourself a little more

As well as gaining a qualification and learning new skills, College will help you develop confidence in yourself and you will find that what you are looking for is not out there…it’s in you. We are good at spotting potential in our students and working with them to develop this.

5. Don’t wait for the right opportunity – create it!

At College you’ll learn how to build a network. This will lead to opportunities and you should embrace every one of them because you never know where they might lead you to. Work hard and get yourself known in your network as someone who can be relied upon to help, and for what skills and qualities you can bring with you.

6. Be somebody that makes everybody feel like a somebody

Be kind and respectful to others, find the strengths in your class mates and encourage and support them to achieve. Learn how to get on with others who come from a different background and how to work as a team. These skills are ‘pure gold’ and learning to polish these skills will really help you flourish in the workplace.

7. Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I learn

You’ll soon get to know what learning style suits you best. Get involved – don’t be passive – take responsibility for your learning and don’t wait to be told. Be curious and push yourself to find out more and find the passion in what you are learning about.

8. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. (Steve Jobs)

If you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work. We hope you end up loving your chosen career. If you invest time and energy and passion into your studying, you will reap the rewards and go on to achieve great things.

9. An essential aspect of learning is not being afraid to fail

College will provide you with a safe environment to learn and to make mistakes – we’ll give you support to help you learn from these mistakes and the next time you try, you’ll do better.

10. Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. (Nelson Madela)

Education helps to change lives. It is never wasted and what you learn will always stay with you and belong to you wherever you go in your career. We hope you enjoy the experience of learning with us. Never stop learning about anything and everything!