Personal Responsibility - the Key to Academic Success

Personal Responsibility: the key to academic success

Individuals that are being personally responsible take ownership of their actions and hold themselves accountable for their performance and the decisions they make. There are many factors that contribute to scholastic achievement, but each student has the power and capability to choose his or her own path that will lead to success or failure. Those students that look within and admit they have control of their accomplishments have a greater chance of reaching their academic goals than an individual that chooses to blame others when they are unsuccessful.

Many students coming out of high school not emotionally or morally mature enough to manage the changes in their lives, especially those that live on campus. In addition to the day-to-day tasks, such as getting enough sleep, eating properly and arriving on time for their classes there are relationship issues and other distractions that cause a student to deter from academic studies. Ceplak (2012) repeated a student's comments stating that the student liked school because of his classmates, socializing and friendships even though he received poor grades. An Individual that copes with his or her new found freedoms and all the distractions of college life are better equipped to do well and earn their Bachelor's degree. Holding yourself responsible for your conduct and changing your behavior so school work is the primary concern are positive steps toward the personal responsibility that is needed for academic success.

Another factor that can aid an individual during pursuit of a degree is proper organization of all aspects of his or her life. With proper management of time, a student will find that there are plenty of hours in the day to make a commitment to attend every class, complete all assignments and thoroughly study for each test with ample free-time to spend with their friends, attend events and relax. Excellent organizational skills are part of being personally responsible at school and in your private life.

With all the new freedoms and distractions that come with college life, individuals need to be self-motivated and self-disciplined to ensure they are focused on what matters most; academic accomplishment that leads to a career in their desired field. It takes dedication and resolve to overcome peer pressure, unrestrained action and external obstructions to remain on the path to completion of a degree. Brick walls are not there to keep us out, they are there so we can show how badly we want something. (Pausch, 2010)

In today's society inundated with politicians, celebrities and athletes that consistently discount their personal responsibility and accountability, it can be easy for individuals to follow suit