The college years give students opportunities to learn and grow while becoming more independent and self-sufficient. It is also a time when young adults find that they will be held accountable for their behavior, performance and results.

For many students, being expected to accept responsibility, make their own decisions and being judged on their performance is a new and sometimes uncomfortable experience. Learning life skills usually often requires them to operate outside of the comfort zones.

The boundaries of your comfort zone will always determine the limits your potential.

Students learn, grow and change by doing things they have never done before, things that make them uncomfortable and things that involve a learning experience. In college that can mean overcoming fear when:

– Making Presentations alone in front of the class

– Leading a group of students on a project

– Speaking Out on something that is wrong

– Taking Calculated Risks in order to accomplish a goal

– Trying something never done before

– Disagreeing with the current thinking

Students who attempt to expand their comfort zones often fail. That can leave them feeling worried or embarrassed. Other competitors may be quick to pile on. It takes a mentally strong and focused student to ignore the negative comments and try again.

There are many more things to learn outside of your comfort zone than within.

Important Question: How will you take advantage of new opportunities, achieve your goals and reach the dreams that are outside of your comfort zone?

– Research and read about new tools, techniques and ideas

– Be willing to try things that make you uncomfortable

– Focus on learning new skills

– Learn from those who can do what you want to do

– Be willing to see if the old rules still hold true

– Never give up

I am always doing that which I cannot do,in order that I may learn how to do it.

Pablo Picasso

Being scared can be good but should not automatically prevent you from doing things that will help you learn or make you more successful. Only people who can overcome their fears will be able to expand their comfort zones. Stretching and growing is what happens as students achieve goals that seemed impossible in the past. It is that success that will result in the confidence to try other things.

You are where you are today because of the choices you made yesterday.
If today isn’t the best day of your life, make choices today that will change your tomorrow.

Rudelle Thomas

Within a world that is always changing, students who practice continuous learning and work to expand their comfort zones will always find greater and longer term success than students who believe that remaining stagnant means they will be comfortable.

About the Author
Bob Roth, a former campus recruiter, is the author of five books, including: OMG, The Things I Learned In College, A Successful Senior Year Job Search Begins In The Freshman Year. Known as The “College & Career Success” Coach, Bob writes articles for College Career Services Offices, Campus Newspapers, Parent Associations and Employment Web Sites. Bob has created The Job Search Preparation System™ for colleges to use to help students find greater success in the job market. Visit Bob’s web site [http://www.The4Realities.com].

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