Introduction
Personal responsibility refers to the readiness of an individual to accept standards that have been set by the society on how to live an authentic life. It is reflected in the efforts of the individual to live by those standards (Brown, 2009, p.36). In addition, it refers to the attitude of accepting mistakes and finding ways to correct them. Personal responsibility diminishes when individuals blame other people for their mistakes and failures. Responsible people accept their mistakes and find ways to rectify them. Personal responsibility is a vital aspect of life because it guarantees success and full attainment of personal goals and objectives by encouraging time management, healthy lifestyles and rational decisions (Brown, 2009, p.38).
Discussion
Personal responsibility has a broad meaning according to my understanding. It refers to the act of making rational decisions and the readiness to take the consequences of the actions. It involves the ability to take care of oneself through adopting a healthy lifestyle, developing effective methods of managing emotions, treating others with respect and evaluating the possible consequences of personal decisions before taking action. Personal responsibility involves understanding of the effect of one’s actions on the welfare of others and acceptance of one’s mistakes and failures. Responsible people do not blame on others whenever they make mistakes or fail to achieve their goals (Haskins, 2009, p.52).
There is a strong relationship between personal responsibility and success in college. Personal responsibility enables students to work hard in college in order to achieve their goals. It is directly associated with aspects of college life that are vital for achievement of success (Nelson, 2003, p.42). These aspects include time management, personal initiative, good behavior, stress management and goal setting. Responsible individuals manage their time effectively, set academic goals that enable them exploit their full potential, and adopt healthy lifestyles that help them manage stress. In addition, responsible individuals are accountable for their actions and learn from their mistakes in order to achieve better results. Personal responsibility encompasses values that are vital in determining whether students succeed or fail in college (Nelson, 2003, p.46).
Incorporation of effective strategies in one’s education is important in order to succeed. A plan to incorporate these strategies includes aspects such as effective time management, engaging in regular exercise, adopting healthy eating habits, learning from mistakes and making improvements, avoiding procrastination, doing assignments on time and making rational decisions that are vital in ensuring success in my education. One of the most important aspects of success is passion. I will ensure that I pursue a career that I like, and that is related to my hobbies and preferences. This will ensure that I will be always motivated to work hard and face the challenges that I will encounter in college. Procrastination and laziness are causes of failure in college. I will ensure that I complete my assignments and projects on time. I will also seek help from my instructors whenever I fail to understand certain parts of the coursework material. Another strategy is to engage in group work with fellow students. Group work enhances performance and success because it encourages open sharing of information and knowledge (Staley, 2011, p.47). Stress management will be one of my priorities because it is a major cause of failure. Stress leads to procrastination, class avoidance, laziness and lack of energy (Staley, 2011, p.51). I will ensure that I engage in physical activity in order to keep fit and increase my energy levels. In addition, I will adopt a healthy lifestyle to ensure that I am physically, psychologically and emotionally fit to pursue my education.
My preliminary plan to practice personal responsibility in my education includes several strategies and measures. These include making decisions and being ready to face the consequences of my actions, learning from my mistakes, making improvements, and desisting from blaming other people for my mistakes and failures. In addition, I will respect other people and ensure that my actions do not inconvenience them in any way. Another strategy is learning to manage my stress and emotions. This is beneficial because it will increase productivity, raise my motivation and aid in the establishment and maintenance of healthy relationships (Halonen and Santrock, 2012, p.82). Time management is a critical success factor. I will manage my time well by prioritizing my tasks and responsibilities. This will involve creating time for studies, leisure and socialization in order to ensure balanced success in all aspects of my education.
Conclusion
Personal responsibility refers to the willingness of an individual to accept the standards that have been set by the society on how to live authentic lives and showcase of efforts by the individual to live by these standards. In addition, it refers to the attitude of accepting one’s mistakes and looking for ways to correct them. The concept of personal responsibility becomes ineffective when individual blame others for their failures and mistakes, and when they disrespect them. Personal responsibility is a core factor in ensuring success in all aspects of life, especially in education.
References
Brown, A. (2009). Personal Responsibility: Why It Matters. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group.
Halonen, J., and Santrock, J. (2012). Your Guide to College Success: Strategies for Achieving Your Goals. New York: Cengage Learning.
Haskins, R. (2009). The Sequence of Personal Responsibility. Web.
Nelson, R. (2003). Being Responsible. New York: Lerner Publications.
Staley, C. (2011). Focus on College Success. New York: Cengage Learning.