Hi, welcome back. What's most important when you're packing, it's actually what's inside you, not anything that you're going to be putting into your suitcase. This lecture is about packing your values. What do you want to keep, even if you may take on some new values. College is a time when young adults embrace new values. It's a time of finding oneself and of personal development.
Some values are at your core. And though you may express them in new ways, you'll keep them If you value kindness, you may find that college friendships require that kindness be expressed in new ways that you aren't used to. College is a time to grow and learn about yourself as well as about your subjects. Allow that growth to make you a better a better person a better you when you're active. Pick your friends carefully. Pick people who share some of your values.
Our friends have a big influence on who we become. I think it's nice to have some friends who are Indian or other international students and some American friends. Give yourself time for making friends. Many US universities are known as being a party campus or party school. Perhaps you can't wait to party. I won't tell you, your parents.
If that's the case, be careful that you don't go overboard. It can suck you into things that you don't want to get involved in. Know when to say no. Keep up with your studies and get to know people at a deeper level than just the party scene. Others of you are thinking I'm not into the party scene. You will find others Students who aren't party animals, but who are into sports or hiking or nature or movies or their studies.
You don't have to become a party animal to fit in and make friends. Also pack the values and attitudes that will help you to succeed. for academic success, you need a certain set of values, discipline, willingness to work hard, perseverance, the ability to say no to fun distractions, but for overall success, you need some other values. These values carry you through life. People who have these attitudes are more likely to do well during times of transition. Pack flexibility, be willing to learn some new ways to do things.
Maybe you like hot milk on cornflakes American slike cold milk on their cereal, adjust, cuddle and enjoy the adjusting. pack a sense of humor. Most importantly, pack the ability to laugh at yourself. funny movies are great, but laughing at oneself is what keeps us from taking ourselves too seriously. Generally in the US, it's considered very rude to laugh at others, unless they are also laughing. Never laugh at another person's bad fortune.
Like if they fall down. It looks really funny on the way down. You might not be able to control your laughter but follow it with I'm so sorry. You just look so funny on the way down. Are you okay? Be willing to risk.
The reason risk is scary is because there is a chance to failure There are actually some good things about failure. We get to learn for one. What you learn from failure may be more important than what you learn from all your successes. You will need the ability to ask questions and seek help. This is a survival skill. When you're in a new environment, it helps to have an informant, someone who can help you understand what's happening.
Choose your informant carefully. It isn't always the first person that's friendly to you. In fact, it's often not that person. Take some time to get to know different people before knowing whose opinion you should be listening to develop observation skills, observation skills will help you to know what to do without having to ask. It'll help you to understand what's happening. If you see other Students putting their jackets on the back of their chairs do the same.
If you see that everyone is starting to wear boots in the middle of November, get yourself some boots. Winters are long in the northern part of the United States. Be a learner, maintain curiosity. Learners know that they can learn something from everyone. Perhaps something about a sport history, birds, where to shop in order to get the best price, how to clean my room. be interested in the people around you.
Ask them questions. learners are humble and other people enjoy being around them. Going with a positive attitude and rootedness in good values will help you to manage the difficulties of college life. Take some time to think about how to nurture those in yourself.