Opinion: "Habits for Success" Is Necessary for Incoming Students

by Cordie Troxell

Cordie Troxell

When students begin their registration for their first year at Southwestern Adventist University, they will notice a required course titled UNIV 107: Habits for Success. Many at that moment disregard it as a “filler” class. Why is it necessary to attend a one-credit course on “how to be a student,” an idea that might feel like an administrative afterthought?

However, those who view Habits for Success as a mere hurdle miss the point of why it exists. In the high-pressure environment of college life, this course isn't just about learning how to use a planner; it’s about building the infrastructure for a sustainable life.

Habits for Success is a class created by the Office of Student Success on campus and is designed to provide students with tools to succeed in their career paths. Intended to help students build habits for personal, academic, and career success, the Office of Student Success strives to help students flourish in college from the start. However, many students find it pointless.

The Habits for Success course is designed to help educate students on the work field after college, giving classes on how to write resumes, conduct job interviews, time budget, study cognitive strategies, and more.

A university is only as strong as its support systems, but those systems are useless if students don't know how to access them. This course serves as an introduction to the Office of Student Success, effectively showing the help available on campus.

In an environment like SWAU, success isn't just a GPA, it is the integration of physical wellness, spiritual grounding, and mental clarity. This class forces a pause in the week to check in on those pillars. It’s an investment in the whole person, ensuring that when students walk across the stage at graduation, they aren't just educated; they are resilient.

Just as athletes are expected to compete without training, we shouldn't expect students to navigate higher education without a playbook. Habits for Success isn't a remedial measure. It’s a competitive advantage, providing the tools to not just survive the freshman year, but to thrive throughout a four-year journey and into a professional career.