Athena
What is the greatest piece of advice you’ve ever received?
It’s easy to find generic advice online, but some of the best advice is not really projected. I want to know what piece of advice helped you most in A.) College, and B.) Life in general.
#college-advice #life #advice
23 answers
Deb Mccomas
Deb’s Answer
I know I’m extremely late to responding but that’s a good piece of advice. It seems like all of the best experiences I’ve had so far have been from stepping out of my comfort zone or saying “yes” to opportunities (particularly scary ones). Thanks!
Athena
Sara Floss
Sara’s Answer
Yvonne Koh
Yvonne’s Answer
Hi Athena, the best piece of advice given to me was "Keep on believing yourself even after somebody puts you down or criticizes you". Social norms have taught us to focus on the negative aspects about ourselves and it is very easy for us to compare ourselves to others. All these make seeing our own achievements and growth extremely difficult, and we started to feel inadequate and sink into self-doubt. But don't get tricked into thinking that. We are our own worst enemy, and as long as you are focusing on your own goal, learning from mistakes and improving yourself constantly, don't beat yourself up just because someone criticizes you or is doing better than you. Learn to overcome self-doubt and be more confident! I really appreciate this advice and it acts as a reminder to myself from time to time.
That’s really great advice, especially because it’s so easy to get into our own heads about things (something I do a lot). Thanks for that reminder!
Athena
Brienne Sexton
Brienne’s Answer
Hi Athena
The best piece of advice I ever received was; Fear can prevent you from reaching your fullest potential. Challenging yourself is going to feel scary, that is a good fear. It will help you grow and develop you as a person. Instead of running from what you are afraid of, run towards it. Learn it, master it, and conquer that fear. Once you realize you have the power to do that, nothing can stop you! Best of luck!!
Fears are always hard things to overcome so I’m glad that you posted this because it’s a great reminder that we are more than our fears and that there’s a lot more we can accomplish once we challenge our ways of thinking. Thanks for your advice!
Athena
Growth only occurs outside of the comfort zone!
Dan Wastchak
Eric Harder
Eric’s Answer
Hello, the two most important statements that have stuck with me through my life has been told to me by my grandfather and a college professor. Of course being young, I didn't understand then till I got older. The first, "People don't care how much you know, till they know how much you care". This mean, don't just tell people advice or answers. Show them that you care and you are there to help. People are alot more receptive at that point. Second, Be true to yourself. Never compromise who you are. If you try to change or be fake to impress people, you will eventually fail. Always be true to your character and you will always be proud to back your results. This will allow you to be proud of who you are and always hold your head up high.
That’s sound advice. I think it’s important for people to help one another and also to be passionate about what they do so that’s a nice mantra to remember. Staying true to yourself is also a good piece of advice because many people don’t do that and find themselves stuck somewhere they don’t want to be so it’s good to be reminded to be who you are. Thank you for replying!
Athena
Sinead Lynch
Sinead’s Answer
The best piece of advice I've received is - if you don't try you'll never know. This is applicable to both work and personal life.
If there's something you've been wanting to try, an area you're interested in and have never explored - go for it! The worst, worst thing that can happen is that it doesn't work out and then at least you know? There's a strong chance you'll have learned something from the experience aswel, which I'm sure will be useful again so it's never a waste of time.
Good luck!!
Terry Bryant
Terry’s Answer
Ok, this is a great question. I will have to say from my experience, I received the best advice in the biggest transition periods of my life. Going into college and when I went into parenthood. First with college; my first professor that I interacted with was an English professor from San Antonio, TX. He told me after grading my first paper, that I did well on; that no matter how well you done, there is always an opportunity to eclipse that mark. He said if I go through life never settling and going the extra step, failure would never be able to deter me.
Now the other advice I received was from my fathet, as I held my first child. He looked at her, then looked at me and said that from this point on, every decision that I make will no longer affect just me. He said now you live for her and as long as you remember that, you will always make the best decision.
Now I hope that when you go through life that you have influences that lead you to be a better person like I did.
Wow that’s really nice to have those mentor figures during such pivotal moments in your life. I’ve had some figures who have been there for me in high school, but now I’m College it’s kinda like I’m floating. I like the advice that your prof gave you and will have to keep it in mind as I go through the next few years. Thanks!
Athena
Furgencio Herrera, MBA
Furgencio’s Answer
For Life: "A 10,000 mile journey begins by taking the first step." This to me is the best advise that I use every single day, helps me be patient, not get anxious and trust the process and myself (faith). It's all about: "Baby steps!." Taking it one baby step further, I internalize it as "don't compare yourself to others, and compare today-you to yesterday-you, or last-week-you. Can you say and believe (regardless of what others think or say) that you've gotten better? This is all that matters, life is relative, success is relative, life is about progress, not perfection. Will Smith has a couple of videos on youtube that speaks of you don't start with the idea of building the biggest greatest wall you can build, but start with you will build A wall; and then focus on layering each brick, one step at a time, one day at time, one brick at a time, place it the best way you can. You will get so present, so focus, on just layering this brick better than the last, that eventually you will take a step back, and see that the wall you've built is even better than ever imaginable.
Furgencio recommends the following next steps:
That’s really great advice because sometimes life gets overwhelming and it’s really good to break it all down. As you say, you can accomplish a lot with just baby steps, so thank you!
Athena
Lorraine Sainz
Lorraine’s Answer
Hi Athena! I'm going to share with you a few pieces of advice that have helped mold me into the woman I am today. First, you don't have to take the right action, but you have to act. It's it's ok to fail because that's how we learn and grow. It's not ok to sit back and wait for someone else to take action. Also, get comfortable being uncomfortable. We all have fears, whether it's public speaking, or trying something new. You have to learn to step outside of your comfort zone sometimes.
Oooh that’s good advice because it can be so easy to wait for things “oh I’ll do that later/after the weekend/after I graduate/etc.” So I appreciate that advice. Failure builds character and experiences and success is, well, also pretty great. Thank you!
Athena
De'Maje Smith
De'Maje’s Answer
No matter what it is in life, always
Be curious
Ask Questions
Take Action
That’s great! It can be easy to stay in our little bubbles but approaching the world with an open and curious mind and not being afraid to ask questions and put yourself out there are integral parts to learning more about the world, ourselves, and the different paths that are available. Thank you!
Athena
Gloria Ortiz
Gloria’s Answer
I also volunteer quite a bit. I have a network there too. They may call me to tell me about volunteer opportunities that I could not have learned about on my own. I had someone that I volunteered with let me know about an opportunity to work with a charity who specifically needed photographers (another passion of mine) and recommended me. I now get to practice my skill to benefit a charity. It's been an incredible gift.
Nathan He
Nathan’s Answer
Though it sounds so simple that’s actually really good advice! Smiling can really help you have a positive attitude even when things maybe don’t go as planned so thanks for your input!
Athena
Kathryn Donegan
Kathryn’s Answer
The best college advice I received, be a sponge. Best career advice, focus on your desired outcome then go for it
Wow! That’s seemingly so simple but also really helpful. There’s a lot that happens in college whether it be within the classroom or beyond so it is good to absorb as much as possible. Your career advice is also good because sometimes it’s easy to get muddled in the less important details so thanks!
Athena
Rita Chuang
Rita’s Answer
We often have a plan in life and unfortunately, life or God has a different plan. That's ok. Don't think of these as a setback. Instead, think of these events as learning experiences. Sometimes, something better is suppose to happen for you.
I would also try to find a mentor. Find someone who you admire and would like to follow in their footsteps and ask for their advice.
A M
A’s Answer
Try everything and say “Yes” as often as you can. Take advantage of all the opportunities at your school and do not worry about failing.
Best life advice:
Take up your space. My dance teacher told me this when I was practicing for my dance performance in high school. She told me to dance bigger and take up space. This taught me to be confident and bold, and to not let others take up my space.
Those are good pieces of advice! I find it’s hard to say yes to things sometimes because I’m stressed about this or that but I’m starting to realize how enriching it can be to just “go for it” and stress less about grades or what other people think of me. Thanks Somya!
Athena
James Constantine Frangos
James Constantine’s Answer
Some would say the best advice I ever received was to go to London in 1978 and do a master's degree in nutrition at Queen's College London University. That would have set me up for WHO or UN work. I was worried about my father and his family history was riddled with heart disease. So I did not go. Longevity was not there amongst the Greek males of our family. Dad's brother had died at 38 years of age with a cholesterol of 17 millimoles per liter. I did not hold much expectation that my father would last. He died in 1985 of the age of fifty years.
I thought that besides that the greatest piece of advice I have ever received was to study the postgraduate diploma in Orthomolecular Nutrition from the International College of Nutrition I was speaking to Doctor Lady Cilento in 1981 and she advised me. Orthomolecular Nutrition elucidates the mode of action of the nutrients and ancillary food substances in treating diseases.
By far the greatest advice I ever had ever received came from a little book the Gospel of Saint John. John 5:24 which says
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."
I read this text and I cried profusely! I did not know it at the time but my father had just died 1000 miles away in Quilpie. Then I got the dreaded phone call!
Alejandra Cross
Alejandra’s Answer
The best advise for college is to be yourself, it's a time to find out who you want to be and what you want to do, go in with an open mind and talk to as many people as possible.
In life, keep learning. My grandmother used to say "education is the one thing no one can ever take away from you, no matter what." The more you know the more empowered you will be in life.
Thanks for answering! Now that I’m in college I am finding it to be a good time to explore my interests and really develop who I am as a person so I think it’s good that you’ve mentioned staying true to yourself as it’s really important to finding exactly what YOU and not others want to do. Your grandmother is very wise in saying that about knowledge and I’ve never thought of it that way. Thanks
Athena
Martin Epps
Martin’s Answer
The best piece of advice I've received was "the jack of all trades is the master of none". You have to focus on one thing at a time and master it before moving to another task. It's very difficult to master multiple task at one time.
That is good advice because I think a lot of us (or I, at least) are used to hearing just the “jack of all trades” part and get overwhelmed when we try to balance too many things at a time. Knowing to focus on one at a time is a good starting point and I appreciate you for commenting this.
Athena
Steven Bissonnette
Steven’s Answer
"Do one thing that scares you every day" . Get yourself out of your comfort zone, the biggest risk you can take in life is not taking any risks. Putting yourself out there is going to put you in so many good positions you never thought possible! I wish you luck!
That’s great because it can be intimidating to get out of your comfort zone but every time I have, I’ve had amazing experiences so thank you for this. It’s a good way to open doors that you didn’t even know existed!
Athena
Matthew Thomas
Matthew’s Answer
Don’t be afraid of being cliche, sometimes those little sayings we have really are the best piece of advice we can follow. I think that yours is really true—if we apply ourselves and work hard, we’ll be surprised by how much we can accomplish. Thanks for your feedback!
Athena
Simeon Snow
Simeon’s Answer
For general life stuff, learn to take some moments to be in some intentional silence to reflect on how you're doing/feeling. Give yourself some time for your emotions to catch up to you and see if there are any topics you hadn't thought to take time to reflect on.
Meegan Johnson
Meegan’s Answer
1. Live by the Golden Rule… Always treat others as you would want to be treated.
2. Remember to explain the WHY when asking someone to do something.
Monica Torres
Monica’s Answer
I have a few pieces of advice that have kept me going throughout life .
1. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
2. Fear of failure is the most paralyzing thing. Do one thing that scares you. Be FEARLESS.
3. Keep taking action and stay committed even when it's hard.
Monica recommends the following next steps:
As an awkward person in general, I really connect to the first two pieces of advice as they’re really helpful tips for overcoming inhibitions and getting the most out of life. I also like your third point because sometimes it’s easy to be discouraged but keeping with it will be worth it in the end. Thanks for your feedback!
Athena