Student Success Resources
Your Academic Values
Liv Marken
Take a few minutes and write down short answers to the questions in Activity 1, below. Be honest with yourself, and write down what you really feel.
A good place to start when pursuing a goal is to reflect on your values, or what you consider important and worthwhile.
Reflecting on your values can help you know what you want from life and from university. Take a moment and consider the list of things in Activity 2 that are valued by some people. For each value, rate how important that thing is to you.
Activity 2: Your Values
Following is a list of things that different people say they value. For each item on this list, indicate how important it is to you yourself by ranking it as very important (5), not important (0), or somewhere in between.
| Value | Not important | Very important | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Making a good income | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Learning from Elders | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Learning new things about your interests | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Fixing things | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Having intelligent conversations | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Staying current with the news | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Playing sports | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Hanging out with friends | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Playing computer or video games | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Cooking | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Socializing (online or in person) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Maintaining good mental health | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Reading a good book | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Traveling | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Budgeting, economizing | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Influencing others | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Engaging with activist causes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Expanding learning | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Watching television | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Enjoying time alone | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Getting out in nature | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Working | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Playing a musical instrument | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Meeting new people | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Going to movies or other entertainment | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Eating nice meals out | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Exercising, being physically active | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Being your own boss | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Having a positive romantic relationship | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Engaging in your hobbies | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Setting your own schedule | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Volunteering your time for a good cause | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Cleaning house | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Attending classes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Maintaining your religious or spiritual practices | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Gaming (board games, etc.) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Spending time with your children | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Participating in clubs, organized activities | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Other: __________________________ | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Other: __________________________ | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Look back at the values and activities you rated highly (4 or 5) in Activity 2, which probably gave a good indication of how you enjoy spending your time. But now look at these things you value in a different way. Think about how each relates to how you think you need to manage your time effectively while in university.
Most university students feel they don’t have enough time for everything they like to do. If some of your highly-rated values seem antithetical to being a good student, try “flipping” them. For example, cleaning house means that you have an organized, clean and calm space for studying, or meeting new people will mean that you will form valuable networks and connections. Combining values can lead to some interesting plans, too: if you value gaming and volunteering for good causes, join a campus gaming club, many of which combine their activities with fundraising for charity. Actively ask around and search online for these types of opportunities; check poster walls, student’s union ratified club listings, and talk to orientation leaders or older students.
Students who enter college/university with their eyes open and who think about their own values and motivations will be more successful. If you have a good idea of what you want from life, the rest of it can be learned.
