College Student Success Tips

Colleges and universities around the United States are now back in full swing. As someone who has been at a university continuously since 2006 (undergrad 2006-2010 at John Carroll University, PhD 2010 - 2014 at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business , faculty at Colorado State University 2014-2016, faculty at Michigan State University - Eli Broad College of Business State University 2016-today), I have seen many things evolve in academia. This said, factors that predict student success have remained relatively unchanged. I wanted to distill down a few of these factors for any students connected with me and especially their parents. Here goes: •Get to know your professors. Attend their office hours or schedule appointments to discuss content (especially if you are unsure of your understanding). This said, be respectful with professors' time. We have many responsibilities beyond teaching (illustrating this, before becoming interim department chair, only 30% of my annual evaluation was based on all my teaching activities). •When meeting with your profs about questions, be sure to have exhausted your own efforts. Come showing the work you have done. Don't show up during office hours saying, "please explain this for me." •Actively participate in class. Answer questions and engage in dialogue (believe it or not, student disagreement on a topic is something we like to see, as it provides a great opportunity for students to foster critical thinking). This said, don't dominate conversations and give your peers a chance to answer questions. •Stay up to date on the news (economics, politics, etc.). Especially for business classes or political science, this makes it easier to relate content to contemporary examples. •Have fun yet manage your time wisely. Time management is possibly the number one factor that predicts college success. I had a great deal of fun when I attended John Carroll University, but I also remember many nights staying in to study (especially around midterms) when my friends went out to party. I recommend adding all major assignment due dates across courses to your calendars, so things don't sneak up. Midterm week was always the worst for me (finals week is much easier because you don't have a regular schedule) Implication: I've been around academia a long time. If you have any questions of this type (e.g., benefits of small versus large universities), pop them in the comments and I'll provide my thoughts. #education #college #supplychainmanagement #supplychain

As I reflect on my first year of college, I realized there were some missed opportunities and valuable lessons that I wish someone had shared with me. So, to all the incoming freshers, here's my advice to make the most out of your college experience! 🚫 Don't Be Shy: Connect with classmates, join clubs, and form friendships. Embrace the diversity of college life! ✔️ Do Embrace New Experiences: Step out of your comfort zone, try new sports, and attend events that shape your journey. 🚫 Don't Procrastinate: Start assignments early to reduce stress and excel academically. ✔️ Do Seek Support: Ask for help when needed, and utilize college resources for guidance. 🚫 Don't Overcommit: Balance is key. Focus on meaningful activities rather than spreading yourself thin. ✔️ Do Create a Study Routine: Establish a consistent study habit for academic success. 🚫 Don't Fear Failure: Embrace challenges and grow through setbacks. ✔️ Do Foster Relationships with Professors: Build mentorship and support from professors. 🚫 Don't Neglect Self-Care: Prioritize relaxation and maintain a healthy work-life balance. ✔️ Do Stay Curious: Attend lectures, workshops, and never stop learning beyond the classroom. Remember, the first year of college is a precious time of exploration and self-discovery. Learn from my experiences, avoid common pitfalls, and embrace every opportunity that comes your way! 🌟 #LiCampusToCareer

Earlier this week, I passed by Birmingham Business School to discuss mental health and Wellbeing Intelligence in the context of academia. No silver bullet especially with the renewed pressures we are facing in the sector. But we tried to consider which of the following we can prioritise" 1. Protect energy: strong boundaries, knowing when to say no Not always easy to say no but we as academics have more agency than we think. 2. Invest in colleagues: cultivate collegiality, mutual support Colleagues are an incredible source of support and resilience when things get tough. Supporting other always comes back and creates a positive cycle of kindness. 3. Limit comparison Upward comparisons are everywhere. There is always someone doing better - better papers, better data, better citations, better position. It is exhausting. We have to appreciate ourselves for what we have achieved (not always easy when promotion, jobs, etc tend to work on comparisons!) 4. Letting go of what can’t be controlled Even the review process can't be controlled! Same for teaching materials - we can always improve its reception but there is still a part we can't control. 5. Refuse to be defined by feedback and setbacks Rejection is a daily experience. Not easy to get used to it and much easier to say than do! 6. Enjoy and celebrate the wins We tend to forget to take a break to enjoy wins. We immediately turn towards the next step... 7. Take proper breaks There is a transformative power in taking actual holidays and disconnecting. Too often, WE and holidays are to catch up on research. Yet we may well be a lot more productive when we are rested after total disconnection.

I learned more about building a legal career from 75 one‑on‑one conversations than from any course outline or book. Last August I barely had a network in Toronto. So I set a personal challenge: speak with 75 lawyers and record what actually helps a career move forward. I stopped tracking job titles and started tracking sentences that changed how I work. Here are 9 that reshaped my habits. I grouped them so you can act on them right away. 1. Reputation “Reputation compounds. Protect it more than a single win.” If a tactic helps you win once but costs quiet trust, skip it. 2. Communication “Your emails are your reputation.” Write like the other side, a client, or a judge could read it tomorrow. 3. Initiative “Stop waiting to be invited to lead. Lead by organizing the next step.” Own loose ends. Summaries. Debriefs. Next-action lists. People remember who brings order. 4. Relationships “Law looks transactional from the outside. It is relational from the inside.” Track touches. Send follow ups. Remember small facts. That is how work finds you later. 5. Learning “Do a short 'post-mortem' after every file.” What went well. What went poorly. What will I do different next time. 90 seconds. Massive payoff. 6. Focus “Early in your career you think speed is value. Clarity is value.” Pause before you respond. Confirm the real question. Then answer it cleanly. 7. Boundaries “You teach people how to treat your time.” If you always reply in 2 minutes, that becomes the expectation. Set a sustainable rhythm now. 8. Resilience “If you feel like you are drowning, call someone who has already survived that wave.” Isolation makes problems bigger. One candid conversation shrinks them fast. 9. Courtesy “Say thank you to everyone. Even opponents. Especially opponents.” The profession is smaller than it looks. Courtesy is strategic endurance. These are not slogans. They became small daily filters I (try to) use before I hit send, say yes, or move on. Which one hits you hardest right now. Or drop the single best line of advice you have received so another student or junior lawyer can use it. Save this if you want a quick reset checklist later. Share it with someone starting out next month!

In the past few weeks, while conducting audits of universities, my conversations with faculty and some counsellors reminded me how overwhelming the transition from school to university can be for a learner. I often hear quiet stories of students who seemed confident but often sat alone, sharp minds slowly dimming under the pressure to fit in, toppers' groups that felt more like scoreboards than support systems. There are many more such examples. In the next 3 months, thousands of students full of hope and quiet uncertainty will soon step onto campuses. Studies show that nearly 1 in 3 first-year college students experience anxiety or depression. We still don’t talk about it enough. Having worked closely with educational institutions, and as a parent, I often ask myself-Are we truly preparing our children for the life that lies beyond grades, essays, and admissions? When my child started her higher education, instead of big advice, I shared a few simple reminders with her as some gentle truths! 1. It’s okay to say “no.” You don’t have to accept everything. Not every invite or opinion deserves a yes.  Saying “no” is not rejection. It’s protecting your time, energy, and focus. 2. Your mental health matters. Bad days happen. Don’t carry them alone. Talk to someone. Asking for help is strength and an essential life skill. 3. Don’t chase what’s popular, choose what’s right for you. Courses, clubs, electives- pick what truly excites you. NEP encourages personalised learning for a reason. 4. Find your tribe. You don’t need a big group, just a few genuine connections. Look for those who support and respect you. Build strong relationships that will be your anchor in challenging times. 5. Stay curious. College is more than exams and degrees. It’s about asking questions, exploring ideas, developing skills and growing in ways that last a lifetime. 6. Time won’t manage itself. College comes with freedom but use it wisely. Plan your week, lock study hours, prioritise rest. This is a fresh start, full of possibilities. 7. Learn how to manage digital distractions. In addition to the academic freedom, college life also comes with constant online noise. Learn when to disconnect. Set time limits for social media and don't look for validation there. 8. Build a habit of reflection. A few quiet minutes a day can build awareness. Journaling, walks, or just thinking counts. 9. You’re allowed to make mistakes. You will mess up, miss a class, say the wrong thing, choose something that doesn’t work out. That’s okay! Mistakes are part of learning, not signs of failure. What matters is how you bounce back, reflect, and grow. Be kind to yourself in the process. 10. Hold on to where you came from. When things feel shaky, remember your values, your roots, your family. They’ll guide you through more than any Google search or an app ever will. To every student entering this new phase: We believe in you. We see your strength, even if you don’t yet.

🎓 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬? 𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭! 🕒 👋 Are you juggling a full-time job or other responsibilities along with pursuing higher studies? 🤔 If so, you're not alone! Many of us are striving to advance our careers while also furthering our education. But let's be real, it's not always smooth sailing.⛵️ 🚧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬: 1.𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞: Balancing work deadlines, class schedules, and personal commitments can feel like trying to walk a tightrope with a blindfold on. 2.𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬: Ah, procrastination, the bane of every student's existence. It's too easy to put off assignments when work deadlines loom large. 3.𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬:  Running on fumes? Yup, we've all been there. Trying to do it all can leave us feeling drained and overwhelmed. But fear not, intrepid learners! There are ways to conquer these challenges and thrive in both your professional and academic pursuits. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰: ⏰ 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬: 1. 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬:  Outline what you need to accomplish each day, week, and month, both for work and school. 2.𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬: Identify the most important tasks and tackle them first. Don't let busywork distract you from what truly matters. 3.𝐔𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬: Schedule dedicated blocks of time for work, study, and relaxation. Stick to these blocks religiously. 4.𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐢𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧: Large tasks can seem daunting. Break them into smaller, more manageable chunks to make progress less intimidating. 5.𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Minimize interruptions during focused work/study sessions. Consider using apps or techniques to block distracting websites or notifications. 🚫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 1.𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭: Recognize that procrastination only adds to stress in the long run. Embrace the mantra: "Do it now, thank yourself later." 2.𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞: Start with just five minutes of focused work. Often, getting started is the hardest part. 3. 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐲: Partner up with a friend or colleague to keep each other accountable and on track. Regular check-ins and shared goals can provide valuable support and motivation. 4. 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟: Set up a system of rewards for completing tasks on time. Whether it's a coffee break, a Netflix binge, or a guilt-free nap, find what motivates you. 5.𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬: Picture yourself acing that exam or landing that promotion. Keep your eyes on the prize to stay motivated. Share your wisdom in the comments below! 👇 #workstudybalance #timemanagementtips #nomoreprocrastination

Dear Law Students, It’s no secret: the legal profession is transforming fast. Gone are the days when just knowing the law and having good grades was enough to stand out. Today’s legal world needs adaptive, tech-savvy, business-aware lawyers. Here’s where I see smart law students focusing their energy right now: 1. AI won’t replace you — but lawyers using AI might. Tools like ChatGPT, Harvey AI, and Lexis+ AI are changing research, drafting, and due diligence. Start learning how to use them, not fear them. 2. Tech, ESG, and data privacy are hot. Look beyond the traditional practice areas. Fintech, crypto, AI ethics, climate law, sports law — these are booming fields where young lawyers can grow fast. 3. Your network is your secret weapon. Your classmates, professors, internship mentors — they’re your first professional circle. Nurture those relationships. And yes, LinkedIn is not “cringe” if used well. 4. Soft skills will set you apart. Critical thinking, business sense, negotiation, emotional intelligence — these matter as much as your black-letter law knowledge. 5. Internships = discovery, not just CV lines. Prioritize internships that expose you to different practice areas, work cultures, and client types. That’s how you figure out what excites (or drains) you. Final thought: Law school is the start, not the finish line. Stay curious. Experiment. Ask questions. Build skills outside your syllabus. The best lawyers tomorrow will be the ones who prepare for change today. If you’re a law student reading this — drop a “learning mindset” in the comments and let’s connect!

Part 1: I am currently on a mission to make access to opportunities everybody's business. It's been months since I graduated and I've had the privilege of interacting with students. What has struck me most is how many young people, particularly students, struggle to find information about opportunities that align with their interests and career paths. It's not that these opportunities don't exist—they do. The challenge lies in the lack of guidance, and information on how to source, prepare for, and apply to these opportunities. From my experience, I am sharing some tips that could potentially make a real difference for both current students and recent graduates. 🏫 For current students: 1. Start Early: Don’t wait until your final year to start exploring opportunities. Research internships, scholarships, and competitions that align with your field of study and career goals follow and interact on the different opportunity related pages, individuals and organizations aligning with your interest. 2. Network Network: Connect with professionals in your field, attend networking events, those career sessions hosted by your school they are free go there and engage, let the recruiters know your interest, make follow-ups plus this is a free of charge way to get career guidance opening doors to opportunities you may not find elsewhere. 3. Build a Strong Online Presence: Ensure your LinkedIn profile and other professional social media accounts reflect your skills, interests, and achievements. Recruiters often search for candidates online. Tell me when you google yourself what do you see? 4. Seek Mentorship: Find a mentor who can guide you through your academic and career journey this can be your current facilitator they have been there and most times if you ask they are open to guide you. 5. Stay Curious, Stop Comparing and Keep Learning: Stop comparing yourself with others and the road they choose to walk; focus on your own growth and progress, attend those workshops but don't just attend go with an intention, and stay updated on industry trends. The more you know, the better prepared you'll be when opportunities arise. 🎓 For recent graduates ( Congratulations we made it 🎉 ) 1. Invest in Personal Branding: Your personal brand is how you present yourself to the world. Make sure it accurately reflects who you are and what you bring to the table. 2. Acquire New Skills: The job market is constantly evolving. Identify skills that are in demand in your industry and take courses to build those competencies. 3. Stay Resilient: The job search can be challenging, but don’t get discouraged. Keep applying, refining your approach sometimes that one YES is all we need. 4. Leverage Your Network: Reach out to your connections let them know that you are searching and what you are looking for. Sometimes, it’s not what you know, but what who and who knows you. Do you have any tips and/or opportunities open to share drop them in the comment section, cheers!

"Yaar, case laws yaad kaise karte ho?" My friends. My batchmates. My LinkedIn DMs. Everyone asks me the same question before exams: "How do you remember so many case laws? Teach me your ways please" And honestly? First year mein mera bhi yahi haal tha. 😅 I used to read full judgments. Highlight everything. Make beautiful notes. And then walk into the exam hall and just... stare at the paper. Sound familiar? Yeah. We've all been there. So today I'm sharing exactly what I changed. I Stopped Reading Cases Like a Storybook At first, I read entire judgments from start to finish, hoping I'd remember them. Big mistake. Instead, I broke each case into: 📌Facts - What happened? 📌Issue - What was the legal question? 📌Arguments - What did each side argue? 📌Judgment - What did the court decide? 📌Key Legal Principles - What precedent did it set? Most students remember what was decided. Top students remember why because that's what wins arguments. •6️⃣ Techniques That Actually Work 1. The Feynman Technique After reading a case, close your notes and explain it like you're teaching a junior student. If you can't explain it simply. you don't know it well enough yet. No shortcuts here. Just honesty. 😌 2. Build Your Personal Case Law Bank Stop searching for the same case twice. Create a folder in Notion or Google Docs, categorized by subject. Each case gets just 2–3 lines. That's it. Contract. Torts. Constitutional Law. One search. Found instantly. 3. Mind Maps for Complex Cases Big constitutional cases with multiple judgments? Don't write paragraphs. Draw it. A quick mind map shows connections that your linear notes never will. 4. Use AI Tools But Stay Sharp LexisNexis, Claude, Chatgpt - great for saving time on summaries. But always cross-check the key paragraphs yourself. AI makes you fast. Your judgment keeps you accurate. 5. Apply Cases :Don't Just Collect Them The students who remember cases best aren't the ones who read the most. They're the ones who use them, in moots, papers, and arguments. Application is the strongest form of memory. Period. 6. Spaced Repetition - The Real Memory Hack Read once and move on? That's exactly why you forget. Revisit every case at: •1 Day later •1 Week later •1 Month later Three reviews. Long-term memory. Zero cramming. The Honest Truth : There is no shortcut for consistent, structured effort. But these 6 techniques mean you stop wasting hours re-reading cases you've already studied. You walk into every moot, every exam, every internship - knowing exactly which case to cite and exactly why it matters. That's the difference between a student who struggles and one who argues with confidence. 🫣 __________ Save this before your next exam - Trust me bud your future self will thank you. ✨