Скачать или смотреть 3 Secrets to Success in College: A Speech on Planning and Accountability

In this video, I share the three essential steps to achieving success in college: creating a plan, organizing it, and putting it into action. Drawing inspiration from Varsity Tutors and my personal journey, this speech highlights how SMART goals, breaking tasks into manageable steps, and staying consistent can lead to academic success.

Whether you’re a student navigating your own college experience or simply seeking motivation, these tips can help you turn challenges into opportunities.

This video was originally created as part of a college assignment for SPC 2608 (Public Speaking), but it’s public to inspire anyone who might find it helpful.

My personal opinion goes far beyond any resources likely to be found on the internet. First, I believe success in college has a lot to do with having good luck and being wealthy, in a way.

My actual story:
My journey in higher education has been anything but easy. Over the years, I’ve been called the most determined, dedicated, and motivated person by those who know me. For many years, I worked on school and jobs for 18+ hours a day, 7 days a week. Recently, I’ve learned to slow down—thanks to a good friend—and I’ve realized how important it is to avoid burnout.

My college journey began at Daytona State College in 2004. Back then, nearly everything was done on paper, from registering for classes to financial aid applications. Even the FAFSA required a handwritten signature! After completing my first semester, a delay in sending my signed FAFSA resulted in financial aid not being processed in time. I had to drop my classes before the semester started. Unfortunately, due to administrative delays, I was given four F grades, dropping my GPA to 0.57 and making me ineligible for financial aid. I had no choice but to transfer to a different school with another accreditation to continue my education.

In 2014, I enrolled at Keiser University and agreed to pay $50 per month for expenses not covered by financial aid. I stuck to the agreement at first, but life got busy, and I forgot about the payments. Months later, I returned, ready to pay what I owed. Right before my final class to graduate, I was called into the Bursar’s office and told I owed $5,000—far more than I expected. It turns out the $50 monthly payment was a mistake in verbal communication, and the actual contract required $500 per month. Because of this error, I was unable to pay and had to leave without graduating.

Despite completing nearly all of my coursework, I left Keiser with a debt of $62,000 in federal student loans and $24,000 in private loans—and no degree.

Now, I’m back at Daytona State College, where finances are more manageable, and I’m determined to finish what I started. With 75 credits completed, I’m just 10 classes away from earning my Associate’s Degree—almost as many credits as a Bachelor’s Degree requires!

The lessons I’ve learned from these challenges?

Always plan for financial mishaps.
Save money for unexpected expenses.
Most importantly, read your contracts carefully before signing.
No matter how determined or motivated you are, life can throw curveballs. Prepare for the unexpected, and don’t let setbacks stop you from achieving your goals.

#CollegeSuccess #StudentTips #PublicSpeaking