Online Reporter
Latwell Nyangu
Youth Interactive Writer
In the end, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves.
The process never ends until we die, and the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.
In the journey of academics at college or university, the choices students make usually have lasting effects.
While it may seem overwhelming, being a teenager and a college student is also the perfect time to practice decision-making.
Far from home, the first taste of freedom usually feels overwhelming.
However, this newfound independence offers a clean slate to practice making your own decisions.
It all starts with the little things, by asking yourself how best to juggle college life.
The more you practice with trivial decisions, the more comfortable you will become when it’s time to consider the bigger decisions.
This can help you build confidence in yourself, especially when facing high-risk choices, such as determining your housing situation for your sophomore year.
Additionally, even if you try to avoid making decisions, you will never actually stop making them in life.
As I would have told my first-semester self, there is no need to stress.
Decision-making is a skill, and the more you practice, the more your comfort and confidence in yourself will grow.
This week, I am back with another important discussion about making the best decisions.
As usual, I write what I observe, particularly how students navigate their choices.
Students should make decisions on their own.
Sometimes, students regret the decisions they make under peer pressure, while others confidently decide what they want without interference.
Of all these decisions, the best choices are the most desired.
Being a college student fresh out of high school is a uniquely formative period.
This is when our belief systems, habits, and lifestyles begin to cement and shape who we are.
Therefore, everything from the classes we take to the people we interact with impacts our identity and future.
As a result, decision-making may feel stressful and difficult.
Through my experiences, I have learned that building confidence through practice and self-trust can lead to better decision-making, or at least to decisions that leave you feeling satisfied.
While some researchers argue that learners should be entrusted with making more decisions about their education, others provide evidence that learners can be poor judges of their own abilities.
Proponents of choice argue that the responsibility of determining how one learns should fall on the student, as it is assumed that the learner is the best judge of their learning needs.
The ability to make good choices begins to develop in early childhood.
If a child is not allowed to explore the world and make simple mistakes early on, they cannot be expected to choose wisely and understand consequences as a teenager.
Students need to explore and learn things for themselves.
They need to learn decision-making.
As kids grow into pre-adolescence, it is essential to seek out opportunities for them to engage in supervised environments without parental guidance through extracurricular activities, sports, summer camps, and more.
This way, when they become teenagers, they will be better equipped to overcome less structured spaces safely, and you will feel more confident in their abilities.
A teen’s developing brain places them at greater risk of being reactive in their decision-making and less able to consider the consequences of their choices.
Most children begin to understand “right” and “wrong” behavior from an early age.
As their language develops, they can articulate clear reasons for why certain actions are undesirable.
Unfortunately, college students often struggle with decision-making, leading to negative consequences.
The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.
While academic success is often attributed to hard work and talent, it is equally influenced by the decisions students make throughout their educational journey.
Poor decisions can lead to significant setbacks, including dropping out of school, failing courses, and, in tragic cases, even losing their lives.
Every day, students face choices that can shape their futures.
Those who fall victim to bad decisions often suffer the consequences.
From how they manage their time to whom they associate with, these choices are pivotal.
The pressure to succeed can cloud judgment, leading students to make decisions they later regret.
Before a student sets foot on campus, they should be mindful of their decisions.
Unfortunately, many students fail to make sound choices upon arrival, leading to regrets.
Understanding the gravity of any decision is crucial for managing a successful campus life.
One common pitfall for students is poor time management.
With many distractions, students often prioritise leisure over academics.
In their pursuit of excellence, many overlook the importance of sound decision-making.
Another critical decision point is choosing a major.
When students lack passion for their studies, they may struggle to find motivation, creating a cycle of failure.
The company students keep significantly influences their decisions.
The repercussions of poor choices extend beyond the individual; they can affect families, communities, and educational institutions as a whole.
When students drop out, they not only forfeit their education but also contribute to a larger cycle of poverty and instability.
Communities suffer when educated individuals are lost, and the potential for future generations to thrive diminishes.
Until we meet for a toast.
Feedback: nyangu.latwell27 @gmail.com
