Light on the path a christian perspective on college success

Light ON THE PATH This page intentionally left blank Light on the Path A Christian Perspective on College Success Third Edition John A Beck Marmy A Clason Australia • Brazil • Japan • Korea • Mexico • Singapore • Spain • United Kingdom • United States Light on the Path: A Christian Perspective on College Success, Third Edition John A Beck, Marmy A Clason Senior Publisher: Lyn Uhl Director: Annie Todd Senior Sponsoring Editor: Shani Fisher Assistant Editor: Daisuke Yasutake Editorial Assistant: Cat Salerno Senior Marketing Manager: Kirsten Stoller Marketing Coordinator: Ryan Ahern Marketing Communications Manager: Martha Pfeiffer Senior Art Director: Linda Jurras © 2011, 2008, 2006 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced, transmitted, stored or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, scanning, digitizing, taping, Web distribution, information networks, or information storage and retrieval systems, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the publisher For product information and technology assistance, contact us at Cengage Learning Customer & Sales Support, 1-800-354-9706 For permission to use material from this text or product, submit all requests online at www.cengage.com/permissions Further permissions questions can be emailed to permissionrequest@cengage.com Print Buyer: Julio Esperas Senior Rights Acquisition Account Manager, Text: Katie Huha Production Service/Compositor: Pre-PressPMG Rights Acquisition Account Manager, Image: John Hill Cover Designer: Riezebos Holzbaur/ Angelyn Navasca Cover Image: Blaine Franger/ © Getty Images Library of Congress Control Number: 2009942968 ISBN-13: 978-1-4390-8552-3 ISBN-10: 1-4390-8552-8 Wadsworth 20 Channel Center Street Boston, MA 02210 USA Cengage Learning is a leading provider of customized learning solutions with office locations around the globe, including Singapore, the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, and Japan Locate your local office at: international.cengage.com/region Cengage Learning products are represented in Canada by Nelson Education, Ltd For your course and learning solutions, visit www.cengage.com Purchase any of our products at your local college store or at our preferred online store www.CengageBrain.com Printed in Canada 14 13 12 11 10 Dedicated to the success of Aaron, Peter, Jonathan, Jared, Jacob, and Hannah Dedicated to the happiness of Bernie, Barb, Tom, Steve, Annette, Jim, and Sue, who know that endurance is the basis of success Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever (Ps 23:6) This page intentionally left blank Table of Contents Preface xix Putting Light on the Path Advantages of a College Education Challenges for First-Year Students You Can Do It! 2 There Is Help in This Book There Is Help in God’s Word A Word of Encouragement Student Voice: Hannah Duncan Plan to Succeed Spiritual Health Academic Habits Physical Health Relationships Effective Goal Setting Write Intention Statements Turn Your Intention Statements into Goal Statements Develop an Action Plan Implement the Action Plan And Then There Is Motivation Exercises for Success Exercise 1.1 Exercise 1.2 Exercise 1.3 Exercise 1.4 First-Year Student Fears Success and Survival Plan Let’s Set Some Goals! Picture Your Motivation Review Questions Spiritual Reflection Journal Time in Prayer On the Web 5 6 7 8 10 11 11 14 14 15 15 16 16 16 17 17 vii viii Table of Contents Turning the Light on Higher Education The Purpose of Higher Education World View and Higher Education Christian Theism Deism Rationalism Romanticism Empiricism and Pragmatism Existentialism Postmodernism The Christian World View and Higher Education Separate Integrate Resolving the Tension 19 20 20 21 21 21 22 22 22 23 23 23 23 25 Planning Your Academic Program 25 The Catalog Outline of Your Academic Program Registering for Your Classes Academic Policies 25 26 27 29 Student Voice: Emily Smith Your Academic Advisor 30 30 Choosing an Advisor Using Your Advisor 30 31 Exercises for Success 32 Exercise 2.1 Exercise 2.2 Exercise 2.3 Exercise 2.4 Exercise 2.5 Exercise 2.6 Join the Debate The History of My School Your View on a World View Our School Seal Get Down Those Critical Dates Connect to Key Campus Resources Review Questions Spiritual Reflection Journal Time in Prayer On the Web Endnotes 32 32 33 33 33 33 34 34 35 35 35 Table of Contents Making Time for Everything A Habit That Can Be Changed My Perceptions My Actual Time Use Building a Better Time Plan The Semester Plan The Weekly Plan The Daily Plan Distractions and Procrastination Distractions Procrastination Student Voice: Samuel Cocar Exercises for Success Exercise 3.1 Exercise 3.2 Exercise 3.3 Exercise 3.4 Exercise 3.5 Perceptions versus Reality of My Habit Develop a Weekly Plan Assess Your Weekly Plan Examine Other Plans What Distracts You? Review Questions Spiritual Reflection Journal Time in Prayer On the Web 37 38 39 40 41 41 42 44 45 45 46 47 48 48 50 51 51 51 51 52 52 52 Defining My Style of Learning 53 Initial Impressions of My Learning Style Verbal, Visual, and Kinesthetic Modes of Learning 54 Verbal Learners Visual Learners Kinesthetic Learners Student Voice: Hilary Hurst Take the VARK! Learning Styles and Personality Type Extravert/Introvert Scale Sensing/Intuitive Scale 54 55 56 56 57 57 57 58 59 ix 216 Chapter 13 Seeking Satisfaction in My Career the Lord predetermined that Jeremiah would be a prophet of God who would speak to the nations (Jer 1:4) Based on texts like these, some Christians presume that God predetermines the vocation of all believers If that is your belief, then pray to the Lord so that he may reveal to you what he has planned your life to be By contrast, other Christians have been reluctant to generalize such Bible passages to all believers They believe that the Lord gives Christians the free will to select from any number of vocational paths although he knows the subsequent outcome of any choice they might make If this is your belief, then pray for insight from the one who knows the advantages and disadvantages of your options so that he may lead you to the path that will be best for you Christian Values Furthermore, the process of selecting a career path and a future employer will also be influenced by your Christian values Clearly one of the advantages of graduating from college and pursuing a career is that it will produce an income for you and for your family Unfortunately, the blessing of an income can turn into an obsession As the author of Ecclesiastes looks for meaning in life, he considers whether meaning may be found in accumulating more and more wealth His conclusion is clear: “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income This too is meaningless” (Eccles 5:10) This same caution comes to us in the New Testament as well Jesus told the story of a rich man who became completely obsessed with his growing wealth He was determined to build more and more storage barns for his grain and his goods, presuming that this would create a life of happiness and ease for him But Jesus noted that in the midst of his celebration, he failed to take into account his own spiritual health The very night he was planning his earthly life of leisure, he died and his property became the property of another “This is how it will be for anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21) Christians certainly take income into account as they select a vocation, but they carefully guard against an obsession with financial matters that distorts reality The Bible also affirms the importance of time off from work and time in God’s Word Among the Ten Commandments is a clear directive to set aside time each week to rest physically and to spend time in worship and meditation on God’s Word “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy Six days you shall labor and all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God” (Exod 20:8–10a) As you your vocational planning, ask whether the career you are considering will allow you time both to rest physically and to grow spiritually during the week Finally, the Bible challenges us to see our career not merely as a means of generating income for our family, but also as a tool that glorifies God and advances the cause of his church on earth This perspective is more and more difficult to maintain in a world that bombards us with the message that we are the center of life’s stage That is not the view encouraged in God’s Word When Jesus wished to summarize all of the law, he offered the following encouragement First of all love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind Secondly, love those with whom you share this world as you would love yourself (Matt 22:34–40) These words challenge us to think of our career in a way that the world does not And that teaching challenges us to consider ways in which the career we select may glorify God and help others Living College Life to Get an Interview STUDENT VOICE Peter Beck Major: Art Education Hometown: Lake Mills, Wisconsin School: Concordia University I did not enter college knowing what I wanted to with my life, but my experience in the last four years has filled me with a passion for teaching Before my senior year, I spent several months working in Nepal with orphaned children This powerfully shaped my understanding of the world’s need for teachers, particularly teachers who split their energies between self-improvement and improving the lives of those around them This kind of sacrifice is the fuel for social change Living College Life to Get an Interview All the advice and direction that you have read so far suggests that you can be doing important things now to select a career Once you have made that career choice, you can other things during your college years to position yourself for that first job interview These include gaining personal experience in the career you have chosen, gathering the evidence that you will use to make your case, and organizing your résumé Get Personal Experience You can read about it, but nothing is like being there So it makes sense to use every opportunity to make personal contact with someone in the career you have selected, or even better, the organization you hope will employ you when you graduate This personal contact can take a number of forms You can interview several people holding the career that is interesting to you Find out what they enjoy and what they find less enjoyable about their work One or more of those individuals may also be willing to let you shadow them as they go about their work This “job shadowing” may lead to a part-time job, a summer job, an internship, or a volunteer opportunity that allows you to have more sustained contact with this career or organization This personal experience will help you confirm your career choice as well as build a network of people who can help you in the future Gather Your Evidence and Support Team In almost all career fields, you will compete with other applicants for the position you desire Therefore, you need to know what makes you look like a desirable hire and how to begin collecting that evidence even as a first-year 217 218 Chapter 13 Seeking Satisfaction in My Career TRANSFERABLE SKILLS Although each career position is unique, certain transferable skills apply in many employment settings Be ready to showcase the transferable skills you have developed: Public speaking Commitment Integrity Teamwork Writing Critical thinking Leadership Interpersonal communication student in college It is unwise to assume you will know the type of evidence your future employer is seeking without investigation When you interview people who hold the type of position you would like to have and when you work part-time or volunteer at that organization, find out all you can about the qualities of a desirable applicant Each career and even each organization may have unique qualities they find desirable For example, is a minimum college GPA required for application? What is the GPA of those who are subsequently granted interviews? Is membership in or leadership of a campus organization viewed favorably during the hiring process? What type of volunteer work will make my application stand out from others? The answer to these and other questions will help you identify the evidence that will help your cause Furthermore, as you work, intern, or volunteer in the career field that interests you, you will network with individuals who may help you get your first career placement An employer that posts an opening in the organization is likely to receive dozens if not hundreds of applications One way to make your application stand out is to have a personal recommendation from a current employee Even if you have worked at a lower-level position in that organization, personal knowledge of your work ethic, your honesty, and your intellect can give you an advantage that other applicants not have It is well worth the time and effort you spend building a strong professional network Prepare Your Résumé Exercise 13.4 Challenge Yourself with a Career Evaluation Exercise 13.5 Prepare an Occupation Overview Typically, prospective employers ask to see your résumé as part of the application process A résumé is a summary of your qualifications and is intended to convince your prospective employer that you are worthy of an interview It is your first opportunity to sell yourself, so you will want to make it as effective and convincing as it can be A typical recruiter spends only eight seconds scanning your résumé before deciding whether to interview you, so you will want your prospective employer to see accessible and convincing evidence within those eight seconds The format of the résumé depends on the type of career path you chose To determine the general résumé format used by applicants in your career Living College Life to Get an Interview field, visit your academic advisor or the career center Generally, a résumé is one page long, providing the reader with a summary of your qualifications under several standard headings At the top of the page you will place your full name and contact information, including current address, phone number, and e-mail address Beneath this contact information the reader expects to encounter several standard categories that summarize your desires, experience, and strengths The first is OBJECTIVE Under this heading, identify the specific position that you wish to have within the organization Keep the language simple and clear, using terminology that is unique to the organization with whom you are seeking employment EDUCATION is the next category Provide the names of all the schools you have attended since graduating from high school, beginning with your most recent graduation Identify the institution(s) from which you have graduated, the degree you received, your major and minor, any academic honors you received, and your GPA as long as it is greater than 3.00 on a four-point scale The third category is EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Again, beginning with your most recent employment, identify the jobs you have had that promote your ability to the job you seek Provide the name of the organization or company, your title (if applicable), and a summary of your responsibilities Do all you can to showcase the skills your future employer would find desirable, particularly those that demonstrate the level of responsibility you carried The fourth category is the ACTIVITIES in which you have participated that were not directly connected to past employment Once again, provide the names of the organizations, positions you held, and any relevant accomplishments that suggest your desirability as an employee Under the fifth category, INTERESTS, list any unique hobbies or passions you enjoy Here you might communicate your interest in building your own airplane, reading mystery novels, acting in a local theater troupe, or driving a stock car This information will not play a larger role than your education or work experience in convincing your reader to give you an interview, but your unique interests may make your name stand out on the list of prospective candidates in ways that are difficult to predict The last item on your résumé is REFERENCES References are people who either have volunteered to write letters of recommendation on your behalf or are willing to give an oral summary of your value as a potential employee Select two to four people who will give you the strongest recommendation, and always get their permission to offer their names as potential references Your future employer will let you know if they would like to contact these references So rather than consuming page space with a list of potential references and their contact information, simply state on your résumé that references are “available upon request.” Given the important impression that the résumé gives, have others read it and check for typographical and grammatical errors You not want an error in spelling, grammar, punctuation, or spacing to give the impression that you are careless and less than thoughtful in your work Because larger employers use computer technology to scan hundreds of résumés and sort them for their value, speak with your career center about selecting words for your résumé that not only are persuasive to the human eye but also will be detected by the electronic eye Exercise 13.6 Prepare Your Résumé 219 220 Chapter 13 Seeking Satisfaction in My Career The presentation of your résumé may seem too remote for consideration when research papers and lab reports demand your time and attention But now is the time to begin Create a file titled “Professional Résumé” and begin to enter evidence under each of the categories This file will remind you of things you can now to enhance your employability and store evidence that you may otherwise forget The process of coming to clarity on your career choice can be both complex and time consuming But the strategic investment of time and energy as directed in this chapter will pay off in the long run for you And as you think, also take time to pray that the Lord may guide you to a satisfactory career EXERCISES FOR SUCCESS Exercise 13.1 Develop a Mission Statement Effective career planning requires a vision of where you would like to be at the close of your career planning Franklin Covey has helped thousands of people come to greater clarity on this topic through workshops and published material Visit http://www.franklincovey.com/msb/, where you will be led through an exercise that helps you produce your own personal mission statement Exercise 13.2 Explore Your Career Personality and Values Visit the career center on your campus and find out which tools you might use to explore your career personality and values The advisors may point you to the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, the Strong Campbell Interest Inventory (SCII), SIGI Plus, or Focus II Many students have also used the John Holland Self-Directed Search to learn more about their vocational personality and values This inventory, available online at http://www.self-directed-search.com/index html, takes about fifteen minutes to complete and results in an eight- to sixteen-page personalized report that not only summarizes your personality and values but also provides a list of occupations that most closely match your interests A fee is charged for this service Exercise 13.3 Conduct a Vocational Interview Pick three careers that interest you Identify people who are employed in each career and interview them for at least fifteen minutes Find out all you can about what they every day at work, what they like most about their workweek, and what they like the least Condense the product of your interviews into a two-page summary report Exercises for Success 221 Exercise 13.4 Challenge Yourself with a Career Evaluation Pick one of the careers that you are most closely drawn to at this time and complete the following evaluation form Behind each statement place a “1” if it is true of you, a “2” if it is not true about you, and a “?” if you are not sure Write any thoughts you have about that statement in the box at the right Statement +–? Additional Thoughts My personality and values are in harmony with my choice I have visited the career center to learn more about myself I know what the entry-level requirements are for this career I can afford the time and money necessary to prepare for this career I have personally visited with someone who works in this career I know both the advantages and disadvantages of this career My teachers, friends, and relatives think I would be happy in this career My weaknesses will not be a problem in this career I am aware of the salary and benefits offered in this career I know the future outlook for this career I have spent personal time working or volunteering in this career area Exercise 13.5 Prepare an Occupation Overview Pick the occupation that has the most appeal to you at the moment Collect information on that choice by reading the appropriate entry in the “Occupational Outlook Handbook” found at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ Write a two-page summary of what you find there 222 Chapter 13 Seeking Satisfaction in My Career Exercise 13.6 Prepare Your Résumé Visit your career center to learn all you can about the type of résumé applicants use for the career that most interests you Prepare a blank copy of that résumé with its major headings and then fill in as much information as you can Keep this initial résumé in a file folder so that you can add to it throughout your time in college REVIEW QUESTIONS Describe three general trends in the work world that may affect your search for employment Explain how Christian values will affect how you think about career selection and job satisfaction List three attitudes or behaviors that diminish the effectiveness of your career search SPIRITUAL REFLECTION JOURNAL Work has been part of the life of human beings since the Garden of Eden Through such work we can purchase the basics of life such as food, clothing, and shelter But the money from work can also be used for “luxury” items that can appear to be necessities Read the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:19–24 In your own words, explain what that portion of Scripture means to you as you think about your future career Time in Prayer In your personal time in prayer or in connection with others in your class, take time to pray for the following people and needs: • For the Lord’s guidance during your time of career investigation • That the Lord may lead you to clarity about the career you will pursue • That the Lord may encourage the person in your class who is struggling with this decision • That the Lord may lead you to full-time church work if that is his will for you • That the Lord may encourage those called to mission fields Endnote 223 On the Web The Internet can be a helpful resource as you look for ideas to make yourself a happier and more successful student Visit www.cengage.com/success/Beck/LightonPath3e Endnote John L Holland, Self-Directed Search Manual (Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources, 1994) This page intentionally left blank Epilogue H ow is it possible that that the first part of your first year in college has come to a close? It seems like just yesterday that you were unpacking your car and purchasing your textbooks With all the papers and exams, there has not been time to reflect on and to celebrate just how much you have changed You were once the least experienced person on campus, searching the hallways for your English composition class and feeling overwhelmed by the details of the class syllabus Now you know more than anyone else about what it takes to make it as a college freshman Old time management habits have given way to new ways of organizing and prioritizing your week You have modified old habits of reading and writing to meet the demands of the college experience And you have come to see that healthy relationships can be as important to your college success as going to class While some of you may wish to postpone the celebration of your growth until you graduate, we want to celebrate the success of this semester now You made it! We congratulate you on your accomplishment and give thanks that God has answered our prayers for your success We know that your achievements are no accident but have an intimate connection to his presence in your life You have found success because the Lord was with you, illuminating your path with the light of his Word Now what? What are you going to with everything you have learned? We have two suggestions First, realize that by reading this book, you have been studying not just a success plan for college but a success plan for life itself Success and happiness have eluded the grasp of many people because they have missed or ignored the 225 226 Epilogue basic advice given here As you take the next steps in your college education and into the world beyond, export what you have learned here into that life We promise that it will not disappoint you The second encouragement we offer is on behalf of the next group of first-year students who are waiting to take your place They are facing the same challenges you faced only a few months ago To become successful college students, they need to know what you know and what you have done Toward that end, we know that they will benefit immensely from the insights and support that you can share with them Recognize that God has been a blessing to you so that you might now be a blessing to others That is how his light on the path grows brighter Index academic habits, academic programs, 25–29 catalog, 25–26 core curriculum, 26 elective, 27 major, 26, 27 minor, 27 outline of, 26–27 policies, 29 registration for, 27–28 academic policies, 29 adult learners, 2, 3, 42, 44, 45, 104–105, 177 advantages of college, advisor, 30–32 alcohol and success, 198–199 anxiety, 131–132, 147, 200–202 attendance, 7, 85, 180 attentiveness, 86–87 banks, 167 brainstorming, 140 budget, 166–167 caffeine, 121, 194 career, 209–220 call to Christian ministry, 213 Christian influence in selecting, 214–216 choosing, confirming, or changing of, 211–216 danger zone, 215 future work world, 210–211 mission statement, 220 personal experience, 217 personalizing the choice, 213–214 résumé, 218–220 support team, 217–218 transferable skills, 218 work personality, 211–212 work values, 212–213 challenges in the first year, conflict management, 183–185 core curriculum, 26 Cornell note taking, 90–91 credit cards, 167–168 credit report, 168 critical reaction paper, 138 critical thinking, see thinking criticism, 11 decisions, 155–159 Christian and, 156–157 decision–making process, 157–159 differences between, 156 financial, 165–168 deism, 21 diet, 194–195 distractions, 45–46, 86–87, 102, 103, 104 diversity, 180–182 dualism, 159 eating disorders, 196 electives, 27 empiricism, 22 encouragement, 5–6 Enlightenment, 22–23 exams, 117–133 all-nighter, 119 anxiety management, 131–132 cramming, 120 essay exam, 127–128 first answers, 125 first five minutes, 124–125 honesty, 132–133 key words on essay exams, 129 matching, 127 math and science, 131 memorization, 121–124 memory strategies, 122–123, 124 multiple-choice, 126–127 online exam, 130 open-book, 130 plan the class session, 124–125 preparation schedule, 119–121 review techniques, 121 scope of, 118–119 take-home, 128, 130 true/false, 126 types of, 119 exercise, 195–197 kinds of, 196–197 weight loss and, 197 existentialism, 22 faculty, 179–180 fears of first-year students, 14 227 228 Index finances, 165–168 banks, 167 budget, 166–167 credit cards, 167–168 credit report, 168 God’s perspective, 165 planning, 165–166 first draft, writing, 141–142 goals, 8–11 action plan, 10 daily, goal statements, 9–10 implementing, 11 intention statements, 8–9 SMART characteristics, 9–10 GPA, computing, 29 listening, see note taking long-term memory, 122 major, 26 memorization, 122–124 minor, 27 mission statement, 220 motivation, 11–13 criticism and, 11 extrinsic, 12–13 intrinsic, 12–13 lack of, 12 stimulants for, 12–13 Myers-Briggs, 57–58 health, 191–204 alcohol and drug use, 197–199 diet and, 194–195 eating disorders, 196 exercise and, 195–197 food pyramid and, 195 mental, 200–204 physical, 192–199 sleep and, 192–194 stress, 200–202 tragedy, responding to, 203–204 higher education, 19–32 purpose, 20 world view and, 20–25 note taking, 83–96 attendance and, 85 attentiveness and distractions, 86–87 computer and, 86, 89 Cornell recall column style, 90–91 general tips, 91–93 outline style, 88 paragraph style, 88–89 partners, 86 preparation to take notes, 85 reasons for, 84 reviewing, 95 science and math classes, 93–94 systems for, 87–91 textbooks and, 112 unique situations, 94 visual map style, 90–92 Internet, see technology online learners, see technology learning style, 53–66 extraverts, 58–59 faculty and, 58, 64–65 feelers, 60–61 initial impressions of, 54 introverts, 58–59 intuitors, 59–60 judgers, 61–62 kinesthetic mode, 55, 56 multiple intelligences, 65–66 Myers-Briggs, 57–58 perceivers, 61–62 sensors, 59–60 strengths and weaknesses of, 63–64 thinkers, 60–61 VARK, 57 verbal mode, 54–55 visual mode, 55, 56 parents, 178 plagiarism, 148 position paper, 138 postmodernism, 23 pragmatism, 22 probation, 29 procrastination, 46–48 rationalism, 21–22 reading, 99–113 amount, 100 children and, 104–105 competing noise, 103, 104 distractions during, 102 intentional reading, 105–109 length of time, 103–104 location, 104 primary and secondary sources, 101–102 Index recycling the reading, 109–113 rereading, defeating, 105 right time, 102–103 speed changes, 108 SQ3R, 106–109 textbook marking, 109–111 types of, 100–101 registration, 27–28 relationships, 173–185 conflict management, 183–185 differing types of, 174 diversity, 180–182 electronic, 179 faculty, 179–180 friends, 174–176 God empowers, 185 healthy, 182 marriage partner, 177 parents, 178 prejudice, 181 romantic, 176–177 roommates, 178–179 stereotypes, 181 relativism, 164 research paper, 139 research tools, 148–151 books, 149 Internet, 149–151 magazines and newspapers, 149 reference librarian, 151 reference materials, 149 scholarly journals, 149 revising drafts, 142–143 roommates, 178–179 Romanticism, 22 short-term memory, 122 sleep, 192–194 amount, 192 best time for, 192–193 difficulty with, 193–194 speeches, 144–148 anxiety, 147 assignment, types of, 144–145 delivery tips, 145–147 informational speech, 144 practice for, 147–148 persuasive speech, 144–145 structure of, 145 visual aids, 146 spiritual health, 6–7 SQ3R, 106–109 stereotypes, 181 stress, 200–202 causes, 200 reduction techniques, 200–202 success plan, 6–8 suicide, 203 syllabus, 31 teachers, see faculty technology, 2, 3, 41, 42, 44, 46, 84, 85, 86, 89, 93, 94, 103, 130, 149–151, 179 theism, Christian, 21 thesis statement, 141 thinking, 69–78 creative, 73–74 critical, 74–75 effective, 70, 76–78 fact-based, 71–72 growth in your ability, 78 logical, 72–73 logical fallacies, 76–77 time management, 37–48 daily plan, 44 distractions and, 45–46 my time-use habit, 38–40 perceptions, 39 procrastination, 46–48 semester plan, 41–42 time tracking, 40 weekly plan, 42–43 tragedies, managing, 203–204 undecided about major, 215 values, 160–164 aesthetic, 160 intolerance and, 161 Micah 6:8, 162–164 moral, 160 personal, 160–162 relativism and, 164 visual aids, 146 vocation, see career weight loss, 197 work and school, 28 world view, 20–25 Christian, 23–24 definition of, 21 deism, 21 empiricism and pragmatism, 22 existentialism, 22 postmodernism, 23 rationalism, 21–22 229 230 Index world view (continued) resolving tensions between, 25 romanticism, 22 theism, Christian, 21 writing, 138–144 assignment, understanding of, 138–139 case study response, 138 critical reaction paper, 138 first draft, 141–142 initial research, 140–141 plagiarism, 148 position paper, 138 research paper, 139 revising, 142–143 schedule for, 139 thesis statement, 141 topic selection, 139–140 working outline, 141 .. .Light ON THE PATH This page intentionally left blank Light on the Path A Christian Perspective on College Success Third Edition John A Beck Marmy A Clason Australia • Brazil • Japan • Korea... the doorway of higher education that lies immediately ahead of you Chapter Putting Light on the Path Advantages of a College Education You are not alone in your quest According to the National... And it celebrates the passion of the Berean Christians: “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the