If you do not see the podcast, click here to listen.

Taking the initial step to enroll in your degree program took guts and hope. You had the courage and the confidence to register, but do you doubt your ability to succeed? 

Here are four ways you can start building your academic confidence and the belief in your ability to earn the degree you desire. 

1. Embrace Growth

Remember that you are here to learn. Your intelligence is not fixed. You can improve, learn more, and expand your knowledge and skills. It can be easy to believe that some people are just born smarter or that you aren’t good at math, but embrace a growth mindset. A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence is not fixed but changeable, malleable, and can increase with study and practice (Dweck, 2007). Based on her work with students, Dr. Carol Dweck (2007) asserts that students with a growth mindset are not as discouraged by poor outcomes. They are more motivated to put in the effort for small gains over time. She insists that while students may not all begin at the same level, all can improve with effort (Dweck, 2007). Never forget your capacity for growth. 

2. Stack Your Wins

Prove your ability to succeed to yourself by creating opportunities for victory. Create a to-do list with small, specific tasks. Instead of a general task, like “study for the unit exam,” chunk the work into smaller, more specific, and achievable steps, like “read chapter 12” and “make 5 flashcards.” As you complete each item on the list, check it off or cross it out. Celebrate each small accomplishment as a win and recognize the evidence that you can successfully follow a plan.

3. Take Action

Being prepared for a situation helps us walk into it confidently. Prove to yourself that you are prepared through active study techniques. Instead of passively reading the text you highlighted or reviewing the same set of notes again and again, use strategies like active recall, practice quizzes, flashcards, or even explaining a concept to a friend or family member to prove your knowledge and preparedness before your next quiz or exam. 

4. Ask for Help

When you run into a roadblock – a question, a glitch, a broken link – ask for help! Knowing who to ask and getting the help you need is a way to show yourself that nothing can get in the way of your success. You have a team at your back! Bookmark your Academic Success Center and Technology Support team, and save the email addresses of your instructor, TA, and advisor in your contacts for easy access. 

You will have disappointments, not everything will be perfect, but you can finish the degree you started, and you can finish it with confidence! 

Until next time, this is Dr. Linscott with another Learning for Success podcast. Happy Learning! 

References

Dweck, C. S. (2007). Mindset: the new psychology of success. Random House.