Personal Responsibility
Stephen Helena
Gen 200
07/11/13
Mr. Hutcherson

Personal Responsibility

Results that are good and bad are the byproduct of decisions made at critical junctions in time. The word accountability is one of those haunting words that looms when errant decisions find their way into moments of decision making weakness. Patterns of thought are what guide day to day decisions and help form productive habits. The development of positive patterns of thought will create mental momentum, not only in school, but in personal life as well. Personal responsibility, at this point, will become paramount. If priorities are firmly established and goals are set at the beginning of college enrollment, then this will considerably aid in the decision making process. Personal responsibility will be the pathway to college success because initiative, resourcefulness, and determination always end with positive results.
Showing the initiative to begin the college process is a critical step in making progress in one’s life. Someone that never starts is someone that will never finish. The desire to have something more than the minimum to survive is innate in human nature. The insight to see a path to something more is vision. When desire and vision are combined with initiative, the currents of accomplishment begin to stir. Nothing will ever get accomplished without taking that first step. Without initiative, talent is a desert mirage. A wise man once said “genius is 1% talent and 99% hard work.” This man was Albert Einstein. He is the most renowned physicist in the modern era, his accomplishments speak for themselves. Without the initiative to begin, one of the most celebrated minds in modern history could have possibly never been fully realized, and his talents would have remained a secret to all of humanity.
Resourcefulness is an ability to deal skillfully and promptly with new situations, difficulties, and hurdles that present themselves along the pathway to a college degree. U.S. Navy Divers have a saying “Adapt and overcome.” This should be the mantra and approach of every student, at every college, trying to learn and succeed within their college career and beyond. Resourcefulness, when employed, gives an individual the ability to improvise and create solutions to maneuver over, around, and through figurative obstacles and challenging situations that present themselves within the college environment. From time to time obstacles will always present themselves. It is how those obstacles are confronted and dealt with that determines a successful or unsuccessful outcome. Nobody has all the answers to all the questions all the time, but by employing some resourcefulness, all reasonable questions have an answer that can be found.
Determination can amplify that driving voice within our core, responsible for maintaining the pursuit of college success. It keeps one foot constantly being placed in front of the other. U.S. Navy Seals have a saying, “The only easy day was yesterday.” This saying speaks to one’s ability to persevere in the face of constant opposition. Perseverance is synonymous with determination, and only a determined man can persevere. Determination summons the will to get up no matter how many times you have fallen, and the will to keep going no matter how many obstacles land in your path. It is the resolve needed to finish what has been started, no matter how long it takes, and see difficult situations through to their desired conclusions. Determination is what separates good men from great men.
Setting goals and creating a game plan of how these goals are to be attained before school starts will establish a sound philosophical basis for college success. Where philosophy ends and practice begins is called implementation. As school begins, the implementation process of your goals and your game plan begin as well. It is important to maintain flexibility as your game plan unfolds. This will allow for resourcefulness and determination to assist with any unforeseen situations, because not everything can be anticipated ahead of time. Certain goals, such as having 100% attendance, are easy. You are either present in class or you are not present in class. This is a black and white goal, no gray area. Other goals, such as getting straight A’s, can be unattainable due to a variety of factors. Since there is a large focus on group work, the personal goals that have been set can sometimes be at the mercy of the group and the other members efforts as well. This is a good reason why students should set their goals as high as possible. One just needs to stay focused and do his or her part to the best of their ability. However, even if all the goals that have been set are not attained, as long as you maintain a positive attitude, take the initiative to get things done, employ resourcefulness as needed, with a determined “never give up” outlook, college success will be firmly in hand.

References

Brown, A. (2009). Personal Responsibility: Why it Matters. : Continuum International Publishing Group, Limited. http://www.questia.com. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.questia.com/library/psychology/personal-and-emotions/personal- responsibility

Turnitin Originality Report * Processed on: 29-Jul-2013 12:23 AM CDT * ID: 342870058 * Word Count: 830 * Submitted: 1
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