The Range of Barriers to Effective Interpersonal...

The Range of Barriers to Effective Interpersonal Communications These will look at cultural, personal and environmental issues. The role of available support services that are accessible to individuals, with the restrictions on available services will be evaluated. The effectiveness with which the skills of communication are given and received will also be evaluated. There are many barriers to communications between a vast range of people and cultures. Barriers to communications, because of cultural differences, can arise because of the lack of understanding between each culture, this could cause a†¦show more content†¦The way in which it is received can be a positive step towards knowledge and independence. Environmentally there could be a fear of areas in certain cities, which hold a possibility of threat. This could be towards any age person not just elderly people. This could be because of high numbers of thefts from cars, reported physical attacks, and other crimes. These things deposit bad thoughts and negative feelings towards those areas. There could be a lack of public transport for all individuals to access, this lack could be increased if you are disabled and are restricted to a chair. If you have little or no support you would find public transport unavailable for use. Other barriers will then appear like being cut off from normal things able bodied people take for granted such as access to the shops, social events and so on. These factors can then develop other stress symptoms such as mental health symptoms, depression and can exacerbate lack of self-esteem, confidence and personal skills can lead to the development of barriers to communication that can grow into bitte rness and resentment.Show MoreRelatedhealth science937 Words   |  4 Pagesrequire good communication skills in order to carry out their roles effectively. It is therefore important for those embarking on a career in health and social care that they gain knowledge and understanding of skills involved in communication. This unit will develop and enhance communication and interpersonal skills, and will consider communication theories. On completion of this unit a learner should: Understand effective communication and interpersonal interactionRead MoreUnderstanding The Principles Of Effective Communications1294 Words   |  6 PagesUnderstand the principles of effective communications. Reece Lamb-Durkin â€Æ' Contents Interpersonal skills 2 Verbal conversations 2 Lip reading 2 Signing 2 Cues in verbal exchanges 2 Body language 2 Intonation 3 Nodding 3 Paraphrasing and summarising 3 Barriers to effective communication 3 Language 3 Distractions 3 Noise 4 â€Æ' Interpersonal skills Interpersonal skills are what we use every day to communicate and interact with people. Those who have strong interpersonal skills are usually the onesRead MoreCommunication Barriers That Can Hinder The Smooth Flow Of Communication Essay1398 Words   |  6 PagesCommunication is one of the most powerful and effective ways of expressing one’s thoughts and emotions. Success for a student depends largely to the extent of their ability to communicate effectively. There are many factors responsible for a breakdown in communication, known as barriers to communication. This paper will begin by discussing the intrapersonal barriers that can impede on a student’s ability to communicate effectively. It will then examine intercultural language barriers and how theyRead MoreUnit: 1 P1,P2 M11498 Words   |  6 PagesP1- Explaining the role of effective communication and interpersonal interaction in a health and social care context. Effective communication is way in which people communicate towards each other. There are wide ranges of ways that communication can take place for example one to one conversations, group conversations. This can either be informal or formal depending on the individual’s outcome. An example of effective communication that can take place in a health and social care setting is a hospitalRead MoreThe Importance Of Effective Communication For Different Social Groups And Use Specific Interpersonal Strategy1329 Words   |  6 PagesThe definition of communication necessarily involves â€Å"an exchange of ideas and an ability to stimulate meaning for the recipient of the message†(Grover, 2005). Effective communication can be influenced by varies components such as gender, hierarchy, trust, self-disclosure, empathy, mutuality and context. This paper will discuss the importance for nurses to use effective communication skills in regards to different social groups and use specific interpersonal strategy. Additionally it identifies howRead MoreWhy Working Partnership With Others Is Important For Children And Young People1351 Words   |  6 Pagesselfishness, creating leadership skills and teamwork †¢ Improved outcomes for children and families through access to a wider range of services †¢ Benefits for staff and services, such as less replication between different service providers †¢ Increased efficiency in the delivery of services through better links between different providers †¢ To make work more effective †¢ To meet children’s individual needs Identify who relevant partners would be in own work setting. †¢ Social services Read MoreEffective Communication As A Health Care Professional1313 Words   |  6 PagesCommunication is about more than just exchanging information. It s about understanding the emotion and intentions behind the information. Effective communication is how you convey a message so that it is received and understood by someone in exactly the way you intended (L. Robinson, J. Segal, Ph. D., M. Smith. 2015). This paper looks at the requirements of effective communication as a health care professional and the essential concepts to have as a registered nurse. Effective communication assistsRead MoreOutline of Week Five993 Words   |  4 PagesOutline of Week Five Cynthia O’Brien COM200 Interpersonal Communication (ACM1546D) Instructor: Reginald Doctor December 7. 2015 Congratulations Allan and Jennifer this letter is to help you learn essential communication skills. With education and learning interpersonal communication skills, I hope to pay it forward so you and Jennifer will not end up in the statistics of a failed marriage. As you may know, educators are focusing on communication skills personal and professional. This letterRead MoreImportance of Interpersonal communications in Information Technology Career907 Words   |  4 PagesInterpersonal communications can be a very important part of a person’s professional success. Information Technology is an industry that relies on certain areas of communication. Wendy, the person I interviewed, emphasized the importance that people in her industry must be up to date (educated) on the constant changes. Communication, gaining communication and interpersonal skills is again such an easier said than done skill for any profession. Communication is such an essential skill it couldRead MoreCommunication : Effective Interpersonal Communication1223 Words   |  5 PagesInterpersonal communications The work of the health care professional is improved by effective interpersonal communication. Through this 800 word essay I aim to evaluate, explain and analyse effective interpersonal communication in the health care profession, how it can be improved and the positives of communication on a personal level. Communication is used as a way of interaction, passing information or even influencing other s thoughts and feelings into communication and prompting feeding back

Compare And Contrast The Views Of John Searle And Rene...

Edin Palmar PHI2010 Prof. Schuh Module 2 Chapter 4 – Who am I? My mind, other minds, and the Nature of Reality 1. Compare and contrast the views of John Searle and Rene Descartes on dualism. Rene Descartes holds that the mind and the body are two different things. The former being material while the latter immaterial. He also states that these two substances â€Å"interact with each other at some point in the body† (Roca and Schuh, 89). Descartes idea that humanity s mind is its immaterial being and that this being is separate from the material body. John Searle, on the other hand, opposes Renà © Descartes views on dualism in the sense that although there are both the immaterial and the material substances, that the immaterial†¦show more content†¦In his view, the self is ever-changing meaning that â€Å"you are never the same person one moment to the next† (94). This view is related to Milarepa’s in the sense that one cannot find an actual perception of the self. Milarepa states that if one looks carefully into the mind, then one can actually see that there is no self. This correlates with Hume’s claim of the self being an illusion, something that is wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses. Ch. 5 – Free will and determinism 5. If a computer app beats you every time you play chess, is the computer smarter than you? Does your computer think? I do not think that a computer is smarter than me. Computer applications like chess are programmed with all possible movements and positions that can be applied in each situation. This doesn’t mean they’re smarter or that they can think. They just had someone, a human, program them into making the best move at the appropriate time. 6. Is free will possible if there is such a thing as God’s plan? I believe free will is possible if there is such a thing as God’s plan. If God already has a plan in place that means each of us are already playing a pre-determined role. However, the notion of free will is still present. We still have the free will to do what we can or want. Although we have God’s plan to follow, we can follow it doing whatever we can. There isn’t a guideline we have, we just got to do what we can

The Declaration Of Independence And The Second President...

Thomas Jefferson, writer of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States of America, was born on April 13, 1743. The future president was born to the parents of Peter Jefferson, a well-known and successful planter, and Jane Randolph, a prominent member of a very well-known and distinguished Virginian family. Jefferson was the third of ten children who were raised on the Shadwell slave plantation in Virginia. Starting from the early age of nine, Thomas Jefferson began studying Latin and Greek at one of the local private schools. Quickly after, Jefferson was studying classical languages, literature, and mathematics with Reverend James Maury at the age of fourteen. By the time he was seventeen, Jefferson was†¦show more content†¦One of the many colonists that greatly supported the American independence movement was Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was soon elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1768 which was being led by Patrick Henry and George Washington. In 1774, Jefferson wrote, A Summary View of the Rights of British America, and it displayed his deep passion and commitment to the cause. Jefferson then attended the Second Continental Congress where the Continental Army was created and George Washington was appointed as Commander-in-Chief. The Congress soon appointed a five-man committee consisting of Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston to write a Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to be the first author to pen the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. Over the course of a seventeen day period, it was believed that Jefferson had written one of the most powerful and influential documents ever produced in the world’s history. The document went through many revisions before it was finally brought to the table and held high by the founding fathers. Nevertheless, many of the words and phrases are originals that came from Thomas Jefferson thus cementing him in history forever. Jefferson’s most famous words to be solidified in history are, â€Å"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator

Animal Farm Literary Analysis - 710 Words

George Orwell, a writer of many novels and other literature, one of his most known is Animal Farm.This book is where Orwell’s political style as well as other techniques he used in his writing were used most. Animal Farm is about farm animals who are being neglected by their owner, and they decides to overthrow him and take control of their farm. However, that is only the the outer layer of the story, looking under the surface, this is an allegory detailing the Russian Revolution. The author wrote this novel in response to the Russian Revolution and what was happening to everyone. George’s use of it being an allegory and using anthropomorphism seems that he wanted his work to be read by the everyon. Ultimately, Orwell achieves his goal of†¦show more content†¦Orwell wanted this to be read by people who were interested in writing and different types of literature, also to be read in the magazine Gangrel. George’s purpose in creating this essay was to sho w how his experiences helped him write so much, and also to gain money. The author used first person point of view in order to show his struggles he went through in his eyes, and how he feels personally about writing and process he had to go through. Not as many stylistic senses were used here, compared to his other works, but the main two used were pathos and logos. Ultimately the tone of this essay is very informative and straightforward, showing several amount of times during this essay. On the surface, George Orwell’s essay â€Å"Politics and Language† informs you about the solutions in writing and argues against euphemism. Perhaps, Orwell wrote â€Å"Politics and Language† in response to the tragedies during that era and the politicians’ perspective towards that. The author’s explanation of phraseology leads us to believe he intended the essay to be read by the common people. The essay is written to expose the corrupt political language that clouds the judgement of citizens. Orwell uses first person point of view to inform us about the politicians and their use of language. Orwell used mainly anamorphism and allegory to be artistic and political in his work. Using anthropomorphism in Animal Farm so people who read the story understand how the bookShow MoreRelatedLiterary Analysis : Animal Farm1050 Words   |  5 PagesLiterary Analysis Mollie In Animal Farm there are many controversial figures who also have interesting connections to the Russian revolution. Mollie is among these controversial members of the mythical animal run society. She has connections to the rich prissy people in Russia that when the revolution took place who immediately looked for an easy way out as soon as they had to do work to earn their due. In Orwell’s Animal Farm Mollie is vain, selfish, and did not care about the revolution leavingRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Animal Farm1614 Words   |  7 Pagesperspective. Recognizing these patterns in literary works can enable a reader to understand a dense text that they would ordinarily find troubling. George Orwell’s Animal Farm is an emblematic novel that reflects the events leading to the Russian Revolution, on the surface level. Understanding the symbols and patterns in both literary works and history allowed me to apply an even deeper meaning to the book. Animal Farm involves a rebellion of the animals against the oppressive force, the farmerRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Animal Farm By George Orwell1310 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary Analysis of Animal Farm Although they claimed the farm to be a utopia, the pigs secretly were deceiving their fellow animals and turning the farm into a dystopia. In George Orwell s Animal Farm all of the animals are mistreated by Farmer Jones, but they wish to be treated as equals and live in a utopia so they rebel and take over the farm. The animals first write commandments to avoid chaos, but the leader pigs selfishly modify the commandments in their favor. In the end, the farm isRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Animal Farm By George Orwell1460 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary Analysis of Animal Farm A quote from Wayne Dyer, a late American author and motivational speaker, says that â€Å"[f]reedom means you are unobstructed in living your life as you choose. Anything less is a form of slavery.† This promotes the idea that ultimate freedom to control one’s life is the only way to live. One way to achieve this freedom, if not given, is to stage a revolution against authority. In Animal Farm, a novel by George Orwell, parallels are drawn between his characters and theRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Animal Farm By George Orwell1405 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary analysis of Animal Farm The rebellion was to escape from people and their cruel ways, but can they escape the death-grip of their own kind? The animals of animal farms are mistreated and have no rights. Mr and Mrs. Jones were the owners of Manor Farm, the human oppressors, and authoritarians of the animals. The animals rebel against the Jones and take over the farm. They create a utopian society for themselves, but the utopia quickly turns into a dystopia when the pigs take control ofRead MoreAnimal Farm And Fahrenheit 451 Literary Analysis811 Words   |  4 PagesNegroes were being discriminated against. Again this theme of â€Å"the struggle for freedom† is shown in the book Animal Farm by George Orwell, and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. In both of these novels the characters struggle to gain their freedom from the restrictions society placed on them. Freedom is only attained when it is fought for as shown in â€Å"I Have a Dream†, Fahrenheit 451, and Animal Farm. In the novel, Fahrenheit 451, Montag struggles for freedom despite societys restrictions. This is demonstratedRead MoreAnimals Take Over in Animal Farm by George Orwell1370 Words   |  6 PagesIn the novel â€Å"Animal Farm† by George Orwell, the animals take over the farm and develop their own independent society. Just as it happened during the Russian Revolution of 1917. George Orwell underlies the tension between the oppressed and the exploiting classes between the condescending ideals and harsh realities of socialism. During the course of the literary piece by George Orwell makes it clear how the animals are mistreated by â€Å"Mr. Jones â€Å", because of this treatment they are receiving; OldRead MoreAnimal Farm Paradox Analysis1013 Words   |  5 PagesPublished Sample Analysis: In this part in Animal Farm, the pigs wish to enact rules that will benefit them at the expense of the other animals on the farm. In one of their rules, a paradox is created whose function is to expose the truth that despite governments claiming to treat everyone equally, they tend to favor certain groups over others. The paradox is created through the statement that some are more equal than others, which is a contradicting statement because if some are more equal thanRead MoreAnimal Farm Film Analysis838 Words   |  4 Pages This essay is a comparative analysis between the film and novel, Animal Farm. Animal Farm was written by George Orwell in 1943 and published on the 17th of August 1945. A motion picture of the novel was later produced on the 29th of December 1954 by director Joy Bachelor. There are many differences and similarities between the novel and film involving the use of characters, symbolism, themes, dialogue and events. Animal farm was a successful novel as the length was 112 pages, therefore the movieRead MoreComparision of The Chrysalids and Animal Farm Essay2185 Words   |  9 PagesChrysalids and Animal Farm, which will be compared and contrasted in the following essay, demonstrating the fact that they both target the general audience and not one particular group of readers. The comparison between both novels will be done via the contrast of specific literary elements such as the plot and the moods of the novels, the point of view of the narration and the style of the author, and also via the themes the authors try to convey to their audience through their literary work. It

Law Free Essays

1. What is one way the U.S. We will write a custom essay sample on Law or any similar topic only for you Order Now legal systems affects U.S. businesses? Answer: There are several ways the legal system can affect businesses but the one way the U.S. legal system affect U. S. businesses are the antitrust law which changed the way businesses operate. This law controlled some a banned others in the way businesses compete/operate. This law would hinder business from competing in the way they desire to. This law was passed to enable every organization the same opportunity to gain access to the free enterprise system (Jennings, 2006). 1.a. How do specific aspects of the U.S. legal system help further commerce? Answer: The first part of question #1.a.: The commerce is furthered by the international business and the creative business deals are accomplished to increase profits around the legal system. When combined with certain other aspects of the U.S. legal system (for example, class action litigation, high legal costs, joint and several liability, and contingency fee structures), the potential for a significant award—even if it is perceived as unlikely and unmerited—can create a strong incentive to settle an actual or threatened case. This incentive exists even though it is recognized that actual punitive damages awards are unusual and that, even when punitive damages are awarded by a jury, they can subsequently be reduced by a court decision (Diamond, Levine, and Madden, 2008). 1.b. What would happen if those characteristics were not present? Answer: The first part of question #1.b.: The legal system would become more arbitrary, and people as a whole would have less faith in the ability to produce just outcomes.† The area of tax law would be much less influential if the characteristics were not present (Diamond, Levine, and Madden, 2008). 2. Reflect on characteristics of the traditional litigation system, such as suit, answer, discovery, trial, or jury. What are risks organizations encounter when dealing with traditional litigation? Answer: Naturally, business managers should take professional legal advice at every stage where their vulnerability analysis shows exposure to risk. Thus, all strategic and operational planning should consider the potential liability in contract and tort, recommending change to systems to reduce the risks of negotiating contracts which contain adverse terms, of breach of any existing agreements, of breach of any duty of care in tort, etc. Avoidance strategies for litigation should include effective commitment to ADR, and so on. In other words, attorneys keep firms out of trouble (Jennings, 2006). 2.a. What measures might managers take to reduce exposure to those risks? Answer: The first part of question #2.a.: Risk management involves identifying threats to business and creating ways to reduce their impact. The goal of risk management is to use knowledge about potential losses and risks to avoid, reduce or transfer the risk before unexpected events occur. Risk exposure varies widely from industry to industry and even from business to business within the same industry. Unexpected losses can derail even established, well-run businesses. When used in combination, risk management and insurance provide business owners with a powerful underpinning of security. Adopting good risk management techniques will have the added benefit of improving your company’s operations. It can also distinguish you from your competitors. Nothing is more appealing to prospective clients than a firm that is quality-driven (Jennings, 2006). 3. Select a dispute that commonly arises in a business or commercial situation. Answer: Problems arise every day between businesses, their customers, suppliers, partners and employees. Most of the time these are dealt with quickly and efficiently through common sense. A small percentage, however, escalate into a dispute. Disputes that remain unresolved may start affecting the profitability and productivity of the business. 3.a. Which ADR process would be best suited to resolve this dispute? Explain why? Answer: ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution’ (ADR) instead of litigation, where it is appropriate. In most cases ADR can offer small business a low-cost, quick and flexible system for resolving disputes. ADR is a viable alternative to litigation, typically achieving a success rate of around 80%, without costly and time-consuming legal action. For example, some studies show that using ADR in a dispute can cost as little as five percent of the cost of going to court. 3.b. Which processes would not be suitable? Why not?  Answer: The first part of question #3.a.: Arbitration is submission of a dispute to one or more impartial persons for a final and binding decision. The arbitrators may be attorneys or business persons with expertise in a particular field. The parties control the range of issues to be resolved by arbitration, the scope of the relief to be awarded, and many of the procedural aspects of the process. Arbitration is less formal than a court trial. The hearing is private. Few awards are reviewed by the courts because the parties have agreed to be bound by the decision of their arbitrator. In some cases, it is prearranged that the award will only be advisory. The reason why it would not be suitable because both sides might not like the decision the arbitrator might make toward the decisions of both companies (‘Lectric Law Library, 2010). References http://www.lectlaw.com/files/adr11.htm How to cite Law, Essay examples Law Free Essays Mary made an offer to Lima and Mike for them to paint her house for $2500. There Is no statement on whether or not they verbally accepted her offer which In this case does not make It an agreement. It makes It an offer and since Mary saw Bill’s advertisement, which Is considered an offer, and by her calling and making arrangements with Bill’s she accepted his offer. We will write a custom essay sample on Law or any similar topic only for you Order Now Mike and Llama can say that Mary Is In breach of contract but In fact no acceptance was made on their part. How did they know what time to arrive? Or what color to paint the house? Since acceptance Is what makes the offer an oral agreement and a blending contract, no match was made to the offer. When Mary made the offer to pay $2500 for Mike and Lima to paint her house, they should have responded by accepting her offer and even could have bargained by her paying them the money plus supplies. Mary should be the one to win in this case for the fact that her offer was not accepted initially at the time she offered it and therefore is not legally bound to pay them anything. However they could be noninsured as trespassing and destruction of property since they were on her property without her initially consent. Since they did not agree at the time she was unaware that they would be showing up. She in this case can be considered a consumer looking for the best deal. She offered the Job to Mike and Lima and the next day found a better offer. She is allowed to change her mind as to who is to paint her house. For example, it would be no different if Mary had offered to watch Mike’s child for $5 an hour. The offer was made but Mike is not required to bring his child to Mary and pay her if Jane will watch the same child for $2. 50 an hour plus feed the child at no additional cost to Mike. References Melvin S. P. (201 1), The Legal Environment of Business A Managerial Approach: Theory to Practice New York, NY McGraw Hill Irwin. Shuffler, D. (2006). Contracts: Deal or no deal? PAT, 14(7), 34. Law 421 By squabbling Mary made an offer to Lima and Mike for them to paint her house for $2500. There is no statement on whether or not they verbally accepted her offer which in this case does not make it an agreement. It makes it an offer and since Mary saw Bill’s advertisement, which is considered an offer, and by her calling and making arrangements with Bill’s she accepted his offer. Mike and Lima can say that Mary is in breach of contract but in fact no acceptance was made on their part. How did they know what time to arrive? Or what color to paint the house? Since acceptance is what makes the offer an oral agreement and a binding contract, no match was made to the to Practice New York, NY McGraw Hill Irwin. Shiftier, D. (2006). Contracts: Deal or no How to cite Law, Papers

Common problems for college students free essay sample

The following tips are for students to help themselves avoid some of the negative affects of these problems. While these issues are certainly not exhaustive, many college students will be affected by a number of them during their college experience. Reducing feelings of homesickness may be difficult for some but may be accomplished by remaining on campus during the week and on weekends. This may help students to get to know their campus and become more involved in athletic and social events. Students learn more about campus resources and make friends with other students, with whom they may find common ground. Stay in touch with those back home through phone, mail and email but force yourself to become part of the culture within your new academic world. Eating right and staying healthy will help you accomplish your academic goals and make your college experience much more fun. Get enough exercise and monitor the amount and quality of your food and drink consumption. This will increase the odds of staying physically and mentally healthy. Poor sleep habits will leave you ineffective in your work and play as a college student. Take this challenge and read a current study related to the need for sleep and the effects of sleep deprivation on our health, both our physical and mental health. Unresolved relationship problems commonly cause bitterness, resentment and anger. Any of these feelings can cause us to loose focus of the goals we are attempting to achieve. Even if we must move, separate or even just â€Å"agree to disagree,† successful attempts at relational conflict resolution are necessary in each of our lives. While the temptation to skip classes may be high at times, you are spending your money to gather information given during class times. When you are not there, you are not receiving the benefit of the instruction as well as information regarding grading, future assignments, and opportunities outside the classroom of which you may want to take advantage. You may also be failing to spend time with professors and classmates who may, upon graduation, become part of a valuable network for you. This takes us into problem six. When we do not get to know and spend time with classmates, professors and other academic advisors, we lack support and a place to go for ideas and answers when a problem does arise. Practical experience and internship opportunities should always be taken advantage of, in order to provide maximum networking opportunities for students. Know what your resources are and develop an appropriate spending plan. Seek the advice of a financial planner or counsellor. Don’t spend money unnecessarily or borrow money that may be difficult or even impossible to repay. Only the federal government can do that. Be careful about being drawn into credit card opportunities offered to college students. â€Å"Easy cash† is never easy and may also come with high interest rates. Facing considerably more freedom than the high school years, coupled with a lack of accountability it becomes easy to fall short of completing the necessary reading and studying to increase your odds of academic success in college. Failure to dedicate the appropriate time to studying and reading is likely to have a negative impact on grades. Some ideas to increase your odds of success are to be in class, every class if possible, be accountable to others for you academic performance, know each course, the syllabi, the requirements and the professor along with his/her expectations. While college is a social as well as an academic experience, these must be balanced in order to maximize success in both areas. Procrastinating may have been an acceptable exercise in high school but will likely become problematic in college. While getting to know other students/faculty, establish deadlines for assignments that minimize your stress level. In as much as college is a time when many people feel overwhelmed with the requirements of life, don’t let this go on for long. Consider seeing a professional counselor to help you organize, prioritize and better manage the demands being placed upon you. Every college student wants their experience to be memorable, but in the right way. High school students envision their college years will be full of fun, new social encounters, new experiences, and fond memories. However, there are also many problems college students face throughout their years there, and how they deal with them is essential in their academic, emotional, physical, and social success. Here are some common problems and some possible solutions for working through them. Finances One of the major challenges college students face is that of finances. Many students drop out prior to graduation because they cannot afford the cost. Some have help from parents, others have financial aid, but still with the rising cost of tuition, textbooks, room and board, gasoline, clothing, and other necessities, the challenge is often a difficult one to overcome. Planning is an essential part of handling the expense of college. Sound money management skills are required, and being creative and responsible when it comes to saving money is essential. Buying used textbooks, finding alternate means of transportation (bicycle, walking, and carpooling), eating out less, and doing without some luxuries can mean the difference is maneuvering your way through school free of debt or having to drop out. Studies College usually requires more studying than high school along with more assignments. It is easy to become quickly overwhelmed and fall behind. For those trying to attend school and work part or full time, the study problem is often a great hurdle to overcome. Dont overdo it, especially in your first semesters at school. It is best to pace yourself and adjust to campus and academic life at college. Carefully consider the number of credit hours you are undertaking as well as their level of difficulty. It might be a good idea to juggle classes so your schedule is not loaded with all the hardest subjects in a single semester. Your advisor can be a valuable resource in helping guide you in your choice of subjects. Time, Energy and Competitiveness -Side by side the challenge of financing college education is the need to manage time and energy and staying competitive as a student. Many students, especially freshmen, have problems on how to divide their time and energy to the various school and personal tasks they need to do. A few will find coping with academic struggles difficult. Even non-freshmen can encounter the problem once in a while. College studies is very competitive. You have to be proficient in your field of discipline because you are preparing to become a professional in your chosen career. To solve the problem of time management and academic inadequacy, you have to master managing your time and develop study habits. Students Today Here are five of the most common problems facing college students today and solutions to overcome these problems. As a former instructor at a small community college in Indiana, I am always astonished at the number of students who begin the semester with so much enthusiasm and ambition, yet suddenly lose that eagerness to succeed academically just within a few weeks into the semester. Over time, I have recognized five of the most common problems facing college students today and offer strategies that could help bring students back on course. 1) The Problem: Lack of motivation. According to The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, one of the biggest obstacles that prevents students from obtaining a college degree is a lack of motivation. The most common mistake I have seen students make is skipping class. Sure, it’s tempting to skip that boring English class on a  warm, sunny Tuesday afternoon in October, but skipping class is usually never without consequences. Students who make a habit of skipping class often miss out on lectures that provide them with crucial information for upcoming exams and assignments. Not only could this possibly result in an overall poor grade for the class, but you are cheating yourself out of knowledge that can help you in your prospective career. The Solution: Consider the rewards of your education to help jumpstart your motivation. Did you know there is so much more to earning a college degree than just the financial benefits? In fact, according to College Board, a college education can lead to a healthier lifestyle, with reduced health care costs for individuals and society. Also, children with college-educated parents are more likely to be better prepared for school than other children. College is also an outlet for making lifelong connections with your professors and lasting friendships with fellow students. 2) The Problem: Lack of note-taking skills. Students might attend every class lecture, but this effort may be in vain if their note-taking skills are poor. I have observed several students sitting through entire lectures without writing anything down. Other students have complained they are unable to take notes because the professor speaks too quickly or issues too much information at once. Without knowing how to take sufficient notes during lectures, this can lead to disastrous results on assignments and exams. The Solution: Practice. Effective note-taking will improve immensely through plenty of practice. One helpful exercise you can try is a mock lecture. Have a friend or study partner read aloud passages from your text book while you practice taking notes. Practice writing in short-hand rather than in complete sentences. If you try to write everything at once, this can cause you to fall behind and miss out on other important information in the lecture. Be sure to revise your notes neatly and in complete sentences following the lecture while the material is still fresh in your head. 3) The Problem: Failure to proofread. Many students write their essays as if they were typing a text message to a friend, resulting in a paper full of spelling errors and SMS abbreviations. Failure to proofread your essays can have a negative impact on the overall grade for the assignment. The Solution: Avoid handing in the first draft of your essay. You must proofread your work for errors at least once, revising if necessary. If you think your essay looks OK, play it safe by asking a friend to proofread it for you. Sometimes an extra pair of eyes will spot a mistake you overlooked. Improving your writing skills isn’t only necessary for college essays, but for job resumes and cover letters as well. The Problem: Failure to seek outside help. Students oftentimes feel too shy or proud when it comes to seeking additional help. Rather than seeking outside help for a course in which they are struggling, they settle for the failing grade or simply drop the class entirely. Either way, they will more than likely still have to take the class again. The Solution: Schedule appointments with your professor or a tutor. There is nothing shameful in seeking outside help if you are having trouble understanding the material from class. In fact, getting tutored will not only help improve your study skills, but it offers you the one-on-one instruction you typically wouldn’t receive in a traditional classroom. By seeking additional help, you are showing your professor your dedication for learning the subject matter and your willingness to succeed in the class. 5) The Problem: Lack of confidence. I am surprised by the number of students who do not believe in their ability to do well in college. Rather than focusing on their abilities and what they are capable of achieving, they place more emphasis on what they feel they can’t achieve. I have observed that the â€Å"I can’t† attitude almost always reflects the grade of the individual student. If you tell yourself, â€Å"I’ve always been lousy at math, I am going to fail this course,† then chances are, you probably will. The Solution: Change your thinking. I always tell my students, â€Å"You are what you think. † Not too many people ever achieve their goals by concentrating on what they can’t do. Instead of â€Å"I can’t† or â€Å"I’ll try,† tell yourself â€Å"I can† and â€Å"I will. † Maintaining a positive attitude in both college and life will produce more rewarding results. Sara OConnor