Ellen Bjorge

My advice to students...

Good communication - it will make or break you in school and life. Build channels of communication between yourself, your professors, the administrative staff on campus, and your peers. Each time you do, remember that you can set the tone, direction, and quality of that communication by how you approach the discussion.

You have enormous power in determining the quality of your education. If you bring a curious mind, a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, and the willingness to examine new ideas, all of these traits will generate opportunities and open flood gates of information.

True learning is not a passive activity. We have to work for knowledge. So show up early, stay late, ask the good/tough/complex questions of others and yourself, explore ideas outside the curriculum, engage in healthy constructive debate, examine your preconceptions, and every day try to be a little better than you were the day before.

Above all, take a breath. College can be overwhelming, life even more so. The best gift we can give ourselves is the luxury of a pause and some deep breaths. Nine times out of ten we'll find some clarity on the other side.