What is Your Biggest Fear about Starting College?

I asked this question to some readers and got the following responses:

What is/was Your Biggest Fear about Starting College?

My biggest fear was failure.  Finding certain material too hard and not being able to find the right help.  I am about to start my third year in college and I still have the fear of failure. 


My biggest fear is not doing as well as I did went I was younger and had less responsibility; as a single mother, it's just hard to pick a up a book to read.


I have always had a fear of failure since all I ever heard from people in my family was you will never amount to anything.  I am now in college, married, children, and I am enjoying life.  Classes are going great.  My oldest son graduates in four years.  The same year I do.  I am not letting fear get in the way of something that has been my dream for the last 10 years.


Quote from my former student:
Two essential lessons that Perry's class taught me are: important information is everywhere if we spend the time to look closer; and it's more meaningful to find humor in our daily lives than to live with fear, pessimism, or divisiveness. Those lessons go a long way toward finding happiness and reaching the success that we all imagine.


My Thoughts on Fear and Education:
        To me, the greatest barriers to success, however you define that, are a fear of the unknown, a fear of change, and a fear of failure.  But you need a game plan, and hopefully you can lean a little on what you learned in school to figure out that route. No matter what you do in life, you always will have your education.
        You have already accomplished a huge milestone.  The biggest step was just showing up.  That’s it.  The secret most people don’t get until it’s too late.  Just showing up as young freshmen is a threshold event.  Trying something which may be hard for the first time.  Experiencing new things, even if it’s unknown whether the objective is attainable.
        Many times the things you do won’t work.  And you will fail at some things you try. That’s just a fact of life. Abraham Lincoln once said: “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.”  And you will make mistakes. A lot of them! Both in your careers and your lives. That’s just another fact of life. But that’s okay. The trick is figuring out how to deal with setbacks. Your family and friends will always be there for you. And your education will continually serve as a foundation to get you back on track.
        Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “We are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of our own minds.” Students, each of you must unlock your mind and blaze a path built on reason and purpose. Life is too short to spend it bouncing around like a random and aimless ball in a game of Pong.  Whether you are 17, 18, 19, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, or 80 years young, it is never too late to test the boundaries of your dreams. 


Excerpt: 99 Motivators for College Success

L.I.G.H.T. B.U.L.B. Moments for New Teachers Published in The Teacher's Gazette

July 2012 Issue

L.I.G.H.T. B.U.L.B. Moments for New Teachers
by Perry Binder, J.D.

I never dreamed of being a college professor.  Does anybody?  When my third grade teacher asked us about our dream job, Molly said an astronaut; Evan, an actor.  Perry: “Obtain a terminal degree and lecture on legal morasses.”

Every student wants a good laugh, I think.  Humor can be found even in the most stressful situations.  For example, I tell students that I can’t offer legal advice.  But that didn’t stop “Steve” from calling me after class in a panic: “The judge gave me ten days for speeding; they’re taking me away!”  So that night, I drove to the county jail, where the innkeeper ushered me into a tiny drab room facing glass.  Steve appeared on the other side, looking weary and wearing an ugly orange jumpsuit.  I never practiced criminal law, so I just put my hand up to the glass and spread my fingers apart because I saw that done on TV. Steve finally smiled and put his hand up to mine.  He told me what happened, but all I could do was stare at our mitts and think: “Hey, this TV hand thing really works!”

While Steve’s dilemma was no laughing matter, I use that story on the first day of class to set the tone for our semester: Understanding the law is serious business and applied unequally to young college students without counsel.  But we will laugh and learn a lot together.

Click here to continue reading L.I.G.H.T. B.U.L.B. Moments for New Teachers

Excerpt: 99 Motivators for College Success

Professor Perry Binder's Seminars & Keynotes on College Success & Career Choices

FEAR-FOCUS-PASSION:  USING YOUR PERSONAL OBSTACLES TO FUEL CAREER SUCCESS

Perry teaches participants how his harrowing events at ages 15 (Fear) and 21 (Focus) prepared him for his career direction and choice at 27. (Passion)  Using examples from his new book, 99 Motivators for College Success, Perry demonstrates how to use fear, focus, and passion as the fuel to drive career decisions.

99 MOTIVATORS FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM

- For students  Perry applies 99 Motivators for College Success to teach college or high school students how to succeed in the college classroom. His unconventional tips include how to study for multiple choice exams and how to write model essay exam answers.

- For new professors or teachers  Perry applies 99 Motivators for College Success to teach new professors or teachers his innovative and contagious teaching methods for students to succeed in class.

CLICK HERE for PERRY'S LAW SEMINARS & KEYNOTES

Contact Perry

Perry Binder, J.D.
Member: NSA, ASTD, PAGE. ALSB, The Florida Bar
MPI Platinum Program Speaker, 2009-present

National Speakers Association Profile

Perry Binder

P.O. Box 3774

Alpharetta, GA 30023

404-402-1892

E-mail: PerryBinder@gmail.com 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Perry_Binder

New study backs up College Motivator #49: Distraction from Learning is the Key to Learning

College Motivator #49: 
Distraction from Learning is the 
Key to Learning


To Stay on Schedule, Take a Break

By PHYLLIS KORKKI

Published: June 16, 2012

The New York Times

A growing body of evidence shows that taking regular breaks from mental tasks improves productivity and creativity — and that skipping breaks can lead to stress and exhaustion. ...

Employees generally need to detach from their work and their work space to recharge their internal resources, he says. Options include walking, reading a book in another room or taking the all-important lunch break, which provides both nutritional and cognitive recharging.

Continue reading in The New York Times:

To Stay on Schedule, Take a Break

Article: GSU professor writes motivational book

GSU professor's book helps transition to college

Intended for students, parents, counselors

The book is not just for high school graduates.  It's for parents to see the pressures that are put on college students and high school guidance counselors to assist students.

The Johns Creek Herald
June 14, 2012

Johns Creek resident and Georgia State University professor Perry Binder has released a book intended to help college students.

"I've been teaching for a long time and probably the biggest transition that I see is when high school graduates go into college," said Binder, an assistant professor of legal studies at GSU's Robinson College of Business and author of "99 Motivators for College Success."

He said the skills one learns in college are different from those one learns in high school. College tests critical thinking skills, while most high schools focus on memorization.

Click below to continue reading...
GSU professor writes motivational book

Professionalism and Humor for Paralegals

Join us during Paralegal Week in Georgia:
Wednesday, June 13th, 12:00 - 1:30
Lunch and Learn: Professionalism and Humor, by Perry Binder, J.D. – no charge
Sponsored and hosted by: Esquire Solutions
PARALEGAL REGISTRATION: complete online form

Location
Esquire Deposition Solutions
2700 Centennial Tower
101 Marietta Street
Atlanta, GA  30303

Topics include:

Do we need an Attorney to Paralegal “Bill of Professionalism Rights”?

  1.   L. isten to your Paralegals

 2.    I. nspire and challenge them with interesting work

 3.    G. ive hope to everyone in the firm

 4.    H. eap compliments on Paralegals for quality work

 5.    T. each to your strengths as an attorney

6.     B. e patient with your Paralegal

 7.    U. nderstand that new Paralegals lack your knowledge of the law

 8.    L. earn from your Paralegals

 9.    B. e willing to walk in your Paralegal’s shoes

10.   S. ee to it that your Paralegal’s professional aspirations are a law firm priority

Adapted from Perry’s L. I. G. H. T.  B. U. L. B. Moment for Attorneys working with Paralegals

College Motivator #99 - Studying Abroad is a Life Changing Experience!

COLLEGE LIFE MOTIVATOR #99

If possible, study abroad for a summer or semester.  You’ll learn more about life and yourself than you will at your home institution.

GSU Law class, May 7-31, 2012

Piazza della Repubblica, Florence Italy

I had the privilege of teaching Introduction to Law and bringing 19 Georgia State University undergraduate students to Florence to CEA's classrooms.

Topics included:

I.    The U.S. and Italian Court Systems

II.  Criminal Justice Issues in the U.S. and Italian Courts

III. Business Law Issues in Italy and the U.S., including Social Media and Privacy in the Workplace, Intellectual Property, and Domain Name Disputes

IV.  Civil Justice Issues in Italy and the U.S.

Random quotes from students on what they learned about themselves:

- Witnessing the possibility of everything life has to offer

- Being around such great, successful and motivating peers taught me a lot about myself - They pushed me and showed me that I can be better

- My exposure to the courthouses and guest speakers and trip to Italy has expanded my horizon

- The determination to never settle for the bare minimum has become a part of me

- Determination can outweigh fatigue and fear - struggling to do what you know you are capable of is one of the most rewarding experiences I could partake in

- The people we met had a great impact on me; I want to do something international - this experience has given a new path for me

- While in Italy, I became more familiar with the intellectual property side of the law - I could put my passion for fashion and litigation to use

- I have learned that I am blessed to be where I am in my life right now

For photos and schedule of class trips/speakers:
http://perrybinder.blogspot.com/

College Classroom Motivator #41: Intelligence is wrapped in many packages.

COLLEGE CLASSROOM MOTIVATOR

#41

Intelligence is wrapped in many packages.  “Book smarts” is only one measure, but you still need to strive for good grades.  The best way to figure out how to study is to attend class and observe what topics are important to professors.  Those subjects usually wind up on their exams.

QUICK STORY FROM THE CLASSROOM

Intelligence is wrapped in many packages.

As I sat in class during the first year of law school, I was confused at times when others raised their hands and offered wild legal theories.  What I discovered after the fact is that classroom discussion leaders do not always perform as well on exams as the shy, silent student who doesn’t utter a peep all semester.

Regardless, I don’t equate good grades with intelligence.  One psychologist, Robert Sternberg, identifies three types of intelligence in his Triarchic Model:

• Componential Intelligence – analytic, academic abilities to solve problems

• Experiential Intelligence – creativity and insight, the ability to invent, discover, and theorize

• Practical Intelligence – street smarts, ability to adapt to the environment

I once wrote a letter of recommendation for a student who received a “C” in my course because after many discussions outside of class, I recognized that he had the practical intelligence to succeed in his chosen profession.

This story is the basis for Motivator #41

Copyright 2012 99 Motivators for College Success

Career Motivators: Do what you love but don’t let your career choices jeopardize anyone you love. Including...

... Yourself.

CAREER PATH MOTIVATOR

#10

Do what you love but don’t let your career choices jeopardize anyone you love.  Including yourself.  Translation: Take care of others but don’t forget to take care of yourself, sometimes before others.  Listen to our airline flight attendants: “Put your own oxygen mask on first before assisting others with their masks.”

QUICK STORY BEFORE PICKING A CAREER PATH

Do what you love but don’t jeopardize anyone you love.  Including yourself.

Recognize and assess the risks in every major decision you make, and how they affect those around you.

When I left the full-time practice of law to teach, I was single and had no children.   Would I have made such a career transition if I had a spouse and two kids at the time?  I’d like to think so because in the end, career satisfaction is one key to personal fulfillment.  Some opportunities are rare and don’t come around often.  The difficult part is learning whether to jump at or pass on an adventure when your responsibilities require the support of those around you, and dictate a closer look at the risk and reward.

This story is the basis for Motivator #10

99 Motivators for College Success book (2012)

College Motivator #12: Figure out if you are a “structure” person or...

 ...someone who can self-motivate at any given time.

CAREER PATH MOTIVATOR

#12

Figure out if you want predictable structured working hours, or if you are motivated to work until the job gets done.  Also, figure out whether you are willing to work during hours when most people play.  (such as a real estate agent or someone in the hospitality field)

QUICK STORY BEFORE PICKING A CAREER PATH

Figure out if you are a “structure” person or someone who can self-motivate at any given time.

Years ago, I briefly did freelance work full-time and found it difficult to motivate myself day in and day out.  In that environment, you have to create a regimen and stick to it with discipline. 

I like some structure in my daily routine, but not too much.  Classes bring that framework

to my work life.  For me, just knowing that I need to be at a certain place on time brings me certainty, clarity, and anticipation.

This story is the basis for Motivator #12

99 Motivators for College Success