For college students, resourcefulness is an invaluable survival skill

Attending college can pose various challenges on many fronts, but there is one skill that is key to overcoming most of those challenges. That skill is called resourcefulness.

Being resourceful implies that one is actively seeking information, support, tools or ideas that will help to address challenges. When starting college there is a lot that you may not know about but asking lots of questions and searching for answers and opportunities can make a world of difference.

Here are a few tips to help you get started on your journey to being a resourceful college student:

• Attend informational presentations or fairs such as financial aid workshops, work-study presentations, career and resource fairs, etc.
• Explore various departments at your college online and in person and ask questions with curiosity. You may be surprised to learn about resources or opportunities you didn’t even know existed.
• Ask for help! If you have a specific issue you are struggling with or wanting to resolve, don’t be too shy and ask around for help. Especially to upperclassmen or people who work at the university.
• Strategize! Sometimes there are opportunities you can only take advantage of under specific circumstances. Familiarize yourself with the required criteria and plan (e.g., if there’s a scholarship opportunity for study abroad that is only available for summer programs but you were planning for fall, consider rearranging your courses in order to take advantage of that scholarship).
• Advocate for yourself and lean into your strengths and assets. Recognize your weaknesses and plan on how to overcome them so they don’t get in your way (e.g., if you know you’re likely to get distracted by studying in your room, plan to study in a different space that better suits your productivity).

These are just a few tips to get you started. Onward!