Eric Thomas - The Secret to Success

The following advice is a result of my conversation with Lois Clay and my personal observation of Michael Jordan:

Get support.

One of the first mistakes I made as a freshman was playing individual ball. I knew I needed help but I was too embarrassed to ask for it. Other students made it seem like getting help was for people who were slow. When I struggled in a class, I just kept it to myself and as a result, I failed. I wasn’t going to make that mistake the second time around. In fact, I needed more help this time because I was living off campus and working full-time so resources were not as readily available. Like Mike relied on Phil Jackson, I too relied heavily on my advisor and other faculty to help me devise a game plan to overcome my past defeats. They kept me informed about meetings, study tables, scholarships, and special events that were offered for education majors.

Set up the Triangle Offense.

I saw how effective the peer-to-peer learning experience was from my time with my G.E.D. students. As a result, the first week of class I intentionally identified two other students in each class I could study with. Like MJ, I wasn’t interested in putting it all on my shoulders anymore - I needed some help. It just so happened that Frank Dent, T. Black, and I had classes together. Frank was a beast when it came to test taking. He could break a lesson down in story form and give it an acronym like nobody’s business. T. Black was a beast at organizing and scheduling study times. Between the two of them I went from getting a 1.3 G.P.A the semester I was dismissed to a 3.5 G.P.A. both fall and spring semester. Besides the grades, I was more motivated to study when we did it in a group and I felt more compelled to do well because we compared grades at the end of each test. I didn’t want to be the one with a C+ when they had the A. Like Mike, I now had great teammates and I wasn’t afraid to utilize their skills.

Add weapons to your game.

When MJ entered the league he was known for his highflying dunks that electrified the crowd. While fun and exciting to watch, that style didn’t lead to any championships. It wasn’t until he added some less exciting but equally lethal weapons to his game that he began to win, and win big. Developing a post game, 3-point shot, and a turn-around jumper, were the things that allowed him to become a champion and the greatest player ever. In the end, the dunks and circus moves just turned out to be icing on the cake. Like MJ, I too wanted greatness so it was time for me to add some new, less exciting, but equally effective weapons. I added the following weapons:

1. Utilizing resources

Taking advantage of the campus resources was one of the ways I made adjustments to my academic game. I sought out a mentor. Kenny Anderson was among many of them. He schooled me on the whole college culture. He said it was like anything else - you have to learn the game so you can successfully compete. That advice helped me get a full scholarship that year. I shared with several of the faculty my work in the community and my short and long term plan with my degree and before I knew it, Dr. Frazier said he would do all in his power to help me get my degree. Lois also shared with me the importance of knowing your professor, which was highly possible at a small school. Some of them attended the same church, shopped at the same stores and were advisors to many of the student driven organizations so there were plenty opportunities to connect with them. There were the traditional office hours in which you could meet with the teacher outside of the regularly scheduled class time. I found office hours extremely helpful, especially in the classes I struggled in.

2. Maintaining a balance

Maintaining a balance was another secret Lois taught me. I always wondered how she maintained such a high G.P.A. and graduated magna cum laude. When I paid closer attention, I picked up on her secret. Whenever there was a function, she would devote the first few minutes to her studies. Instead of waiting for the fashionably late people to show up, she studied in the meantime. And when everything was wrapping up, she did not just sit there, she cracked open her book. It was like she was always waiting for an opportunity to study. Between academics, work, family, and social commitments it was important for me to find a way to balance those competing demands. Creating a schedule was key to my success. I hated writing things down, it was frustrating to try to keep up with a pen and planner but it worked. There is nothing magical about a planner, it works because it helps you organize all your tasks and it keeps you accountable.

3. Establishing a routine time to study for each class

One of the things I learned from teaching the G.E.D. program was the importance of consistency. My students did better when we stuck to a routine and it was important that I incorporate that principal as well. Homework was another point I drove home. I taught my students that class was just the warm up. They would not dare play in a big basketball game or football game without warming up or practicing before the game. The same was true with learning. What I taught in the classroom was the appetizer not the entrée. If they really wanted to pass the G.E.D. test, the real work did not begin until they studied away from class. I told them that for every hour they spend in class, they needed to study two hours outside of class. I incorporated that strategy into my game plan as well. I made sure my routine consisted of studying for each subject at the same time and even the same place. My study routine also included more than just doing the assignment. I reviewed my notes from class, and even studied the syllabus daily to see where I was and how far I had to go. If I had spare time once I went through my entire routine, I would prepare for all my classes as if there was going to be a pop quiz. And as a former procrastinator, I always had to remind myself not to put off what I could do today.

4. Discovering my learning style

By discovering my learning style I was able to study effectively rather than just “winging it.” After taking a learning style test, I found out that my learning style was:

Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence

Has the ability to use words and language . These learners have highly developed auditory skills and are generally elegant speakers. They think in words rather than pictures.

Their skills include:

Listening, speaking, writing, story telling, explaining, teaching, using humor, understanding the syntax and meaning of words, remembering information, convincing someone of their point of view, analyzing language usage.

Possible career interests:

Poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, translator

Take the time to research the learning style that works best for you. Trust me; it makes a world of difference.

5. Take care of your body

Most students do not realize how connected their diet is to their academic life. I had to learn the hard way that studying on four hours of sleep and an empty stomach or junk-food was a sure fire way to keep you struggling academically. I realized getting 6 to 8 hours of sleep, drinking 8 glasses of water a day and exercising helped me immensely when it came time to study. I had more energy, could study longer hours in one setting, and I retained more information. During test weeks I avoided fast food, ate more fruit and vegetables and stopped drinking soda because it had so much sugar and caffeine.

Summary: Points for Academic Success

• Get support.

• Set up the triangle offense.

• Add weapons to your game.