What can you do to get the most out of your time at Butte College?

For most of us, going to college is about getting the education we need to start a meaningful and rewarding career, but the transition from college to the perfect job does not come automatically. Having a degree or certificate in something is not by itself a guarantee that you will end up with the job of your dreams. Most professions these days are extremely competitive, and more often that not it takes much more than that coveted piece of paper from a college or university to find yourself in the perfect position. So while we should focus on our learning while we are in college and on making sure that we do the best we can in our classes, I think getting the most out of one's time at college also involves looking at the bigger picture and thinking further down the road.
One of the first things a person needs in order to be successful is to have clearly defined long term goals. As the Cheshire Cat told Alice in Wonderland, "if it doesn't matter where you're going, then any path will do!" For some of us, our exact career choice or educational path is still unclear, and that's OK, but we should remember our future is not something that we want to just ignore either. It is hard to argue with the fact that those of us who have clearly defined goals are more focused, more determined, and generally more successful than those of us who do not. In order to get ahead, spend some time with yourself to define as clearly as possible what your goals are, and keep these goals in sight.
College campuses are wonderful environments for many reasons. One of these reasons is that there are so many resources available to help students achieve their goals, and Butte is certainly no exception. If you want to get the most out of your time here, I strongly suggest that you make the effort to find out about what is available on campus and then take advantage of everything that is relevant to you. You probably already know about some of the resources such as CAS (the Center for Academic Success) and EOPS, but there are many other resources around to help you too such as a the career center, the library, and even your instructors. Talking with instructors in your field of interest is a great way to find out what opportunities are out there and which direction you may wish to go. Remember, your tuition is helping to pay for all of these resources, so you might as well take advantage of them.
Finally, I think one of the best ways to get the most out of college is to get involved. This is more difficult for some of us than for others, but finding ways to be active in the college community can make your experience a lot more rewarding and can also help you get ahead. Consider your interests and your long term goals and look around for opportunities that are related. Join a sports team or class. Find a job or volunteer opportunity that will give you experience in your field of interest. Join a club or start one of your own. All of the extra things you do are what will give you a competitive advantage over others who may have the same goals as you. In all cases, you get out of something exactly what you put into it, so make sure your time in college is as productive and rewarding as it can be.