We're excited to feature Student Voices, our blog series that brings unique student perspectives to our blog. From academic challenges to tech-driven success stories, hear directly from students about the tools, strategies, and experiences shaping their education. Stay tuned for inspiring insights!
Yana Arora shares her experience at Virginia Tech that redefines student success.
For college students, success is defined in a multitude of ways. Some students consider waking up for class on time every day a success, while others measure their success in terms of how many internships they have or if their LinkedIn connections exceed 500. People think these wins can define success, but in reality, true success is so much more than that.
Success means supporting students from anywhere and everywhere and equipping them with tools for life beyond college. This support can come from friends, family, or professors, but perhaps the most important supporters are institutions themselves and their commitment to providing holistic solutions for students. Colleges must commit to equipping students with tools that extend beyond the classroom and beyond graduation.
It is no secret that institutional support is one of the defining factors of my current success. I was able to graduate from Virginia Tech with my undergraduate degree in just three years and am now on my way to earning an accelerated master's degree. This officially made me a "non-traditional" student. But the support I received from Virginia Tech made my dream a reality. Whether it was answering my million and one questions about financial aid, ensuring that all my credit hours were accepted, or my advisors and mentors reassuring me that I could really achieve this, Virginia Tech adapted to me, not the other way around. My journey is just one example of how institutional flexibility and support can redefine what's possible for students.
I hope that other institutions will support more students like me by implementing key initiatives.
Here are four ways institutions can redefine success for today’s students:
- Universal access to support
- Life-ready skill development
- Career and life integration
- Technology enablement
Universal access support can look like 24/7 help centers and multilingual resources, while life-ready skill development can come in the form of workshops on financial literacy, communication, leadership, and digital tools. Having access to networking opportunities can boost career and life integration, and exposure to mobile-use platforms and personalized learning paths can make success attainable for anyone.
Solutions like these can bridge the gap between traditional definitions of success and the reality behind them. Every student wants to feel empowered enough to tackle their future: the daunting yet inviting period of our lives known as adulthood. College is that stepping stone. Yes, GPA and graduation rates are important. But what about after? Having consistent support from institutions is vital to ensure all students can thrive with proper life skills.
It's time for colleges to evolve their definition of success, because every student deserves to be supported from anywhere and prepared for everywhere.
