College Educator Workshops & Conferences

Student Success, Retention & Engagement | On Course

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • National
    Conference
    • Spring Conference Overview
    • Spring Conference Agenda
    • Spring National Conference – Register Now!
  • Educator
    Workshops
    • National Workshops
    • Campus Workshops
  • On Course
    Textbook
  • Educator
    Resources
    • New Book! Engaging Learners through Zoom
    • Best Practices
    • Video Gallery
    • Workshop Strategies
    • OC Syllabus Collection
    • OC Campus Innovations
    • Articles
  • Clients
    & Testimonials
    • Clients
    • Testimonials
  • Evidence
    • Institutional Studies
    • Research Citations
    • Bibliography for On Course
  • About
    • History
    • Principles
    • Facilitators
    • Ambassadors
  • Contact

How to Get a 4.0 GPA

January 29, 2019 By On Course

RegisterRegister

Watch Dominic’s video or read his story below….

Dominic Grasseth, Student  
Lane Community College, OR

Enrolling in college at the age of twenty-eight was very intimidating to me. Having dropped out of high school at fifteen, I had a real problem with confidence. Even though I had a GED and was earning a decent living as a car salesman, I still doubted that I was smart enough to be successful in college.

I finally took the leap and enrolled because I want a career where I don’t have to work twelve hours a day, six days a week and never see my family. However, by the second week of the semester, I found myself falling back into old habits. I was sitting in the back of the classroom, asking what homework was due, and talking through most of the class.

Negative thoughts constantly ran through my mind: The teachers won’t like me. I can’t compete with the eighteen-year-olds right out of high school. I don’t even remember what a “verb” is. I can’t do this.

Then in my College Success class, we read Chapter 2 of On Course about becoming a Creator and disputing “stinkin’ thinkin’.” I realized I had taken on the role of the Victim almost my whole life, and I was continuing to do it now.

One day I was on my porch when I caught myself thinking my usual negative thoughts. It occurred to me that I was the only one holding me back, not the teachers, not the other students, not math, not English. If I wanted to be successful in college, I had to quit being scared. I had to change my thinking. So I made a deal with myself that any time I caught myself thinking negatively, I would rephrase the statement in a way that was more positive. I started to truly pay attention to the thoughts in my head and question the negative things I was telling myself.

After that I began sitting up front in my classes and participating more. I’ve always been kind of scattered, so I started using a calendar and a dry erase board to keep track of what I had to do.What amazes me is that I didn’t really make that big of a change, yet I finished the semester with a 4.0 average! All I did was realize that what I was saying to myself was my underlying problem.

I am responsible for my thoughts, and the choice about whether or not to succeed is mine. These days when I have a ridiculous thought going through my mind and I change it, I smile. It’s very empowering.

Filed Under: Creator vs. Victim Mindset, Newsletters, Student Success Tagged With: Empowering, Negative Thoughts, Student Story

On Course Logo

Spring National Conference

A Conference for
Learner-Centered Educators
April 28, 2023
Held virtually through Zoom!

National Workshops

Workshops near San Francisco & Baltimore/Washington D.C.
Workshops are held virtually on Zoom!

 

Learner-Centered Strategies that Improve Student Success and Retention

On Campus Workshops

Bring On Course Professional Development to Your Campus
Workshops can be held virtually or in person!

Interactive Workshops are Ideal
for All Educators

On Course Logo

Workshop Testimonials

I am so impressed with how well thought out and integrated every aspect of the workshop is!
Kendal Friedman
Director, Student Success
Rider University, NJ
This was an awesome experience for an educator who was burning out!
Shay Jones
Faculty, Foundational Studies
Harrisburg Area Community College, PA
You have created a workshop that, in my 25 years of professional development, is by far the best experience I’ve ever had.
Jennifer Meehl
Academic Advisor
Landmark College, VT
This workshop transformed my professional and personal life.
Susan Pitcher
Director, TRIO
Bay College, MI
Ways I think the workshop could be improved? You can’t improve on perfect!
Dan VillaireFaculty, EnglishSaginaw Valley State UniversityMI
I have never before felt a workshop I attended helped me to teach. This one will!
Lynn Ezzell
Faculty, English
Cape Fear Community College, NC
I’m a better instructor because of On Course.
Mary Lou Ng
Faculty, Mathematics
N. Alberta Institute of Tech., Alberta, CN
Our college needs to offer this workshop for all faculty, full and part-time.
John McGill
Associate Dean, Biology
York Technical College, SC
On a scale of 1-10, I rate the overall value I received from the workshop as a 15.
Deborah Rayner
Faculty, Computer Science
Harford Community College, MD
This workshop should be required for all faculty, staff, and administrators.
Lamar McWaine
Student Life Coordinator
San Jacinto College, TX

Copyright © 2023 On Course Workshop | All Rights Reserved