Personal Development for Students Entering University

Preparing for the start of your university experience is just as important as beginning this next step of your educational journey. It’s a moment of transition and wide-open possibilities. This period is also a prime opportunity to cultivate the skills and habits that will serve you well in your university experience, your future career and your personal life. It’s a time to start becoming the person you want to be.

Personal development is the process of developing your potential. What is your purpose in life? What are your passions? How can you develop your talents? Learners around the world have endless opportunities to explore these questions and develop themselves, charting a path toward the person they want to become. Online and in-person learning experiences abound. The biggest challenge isn’t how to find opportunities for personal development but how to focus yourself on what matters most.

By following the three steps below, you can set yourself on a path of personal development.

Personal Development Step 1: Finding the Time

When you take a detailed look at what you are actually doing with your time, you can find spots in your schedule to reduce activities that bring little value to your life, like scrolling on social media. This doesn’t mean you have to eliminate all your personal downtime—far from it! Simply identify the moments you might consider “wasted time” so you can set aside more time to focus on what is truly important to you. Even fitting in five minutes a day to develop a new habit will bring benefits to your life.

Track what you are doing for a 24-hour period and examine how you approach time management. You might be surprised at what you discover! Consider your current priorities and how you allocate time to each area of your life.

Personal Development Step 2: Discovering How Your Learn

Every learner is different. We all have different preferences for how we learn, but we’re not necessarily good at identifying our ideal learning styles by ourselves. To help you do so, take an online self-assessment that gives you a better picture of the learning methods suited to your growth. Find out to what degree you’re a kinesthetic, auditory or visual learner. By understanding your ideal learning style, you can use the tactics that deepen your ability to learn.

In fact, you can learn by any learning style, but by identifying and leaning into the styles that are most enjoyable for you, you’ll find the learning comes easier and you’ll be more motivated in your journey.

Personal Development Step 3: Identifying Goals

Now that you’ve identified ways to devote more time to personal development and have gained a better understanding of how you like to learn, it’s time to focus on what you want to learn.

Dive into goal setting. Concentrate on defining your short-, medium- and long-term goals. The goals you establish might be family, social, health, career, financial or learning targets. Not everyone needs to focus on all six areas at the same time, but being aware of the big picture is paramount in setting good KPIs.

What is a KPI you ask? A KPI, or Key Performance Indicator, is something you will encounter in the business world. KPIs are a regular feature in many jobs across a variety of industries. Establishing and working toward a KPI helps you to monitor and foster your progress toward personal goals that also align with or contribute to the goals of your team and your organisation.

By getting a head start on setting KPIs for yourself during your higher education, you’ll be more prepared to do so when you embark on your career and will already be enjoying their benefits to your own personal development.

When setting KPIs, focus on creating SMART goals. The acronym SMART is a simple but powerful tool for creating goals that are clear and attainable. It stands for:

• Specific – Make your goal clear and specific. Narrow it down.
• Measurable – Establish specific criteria to identify when you have achieved your goal or to measure your progress toward it.
• Achievable – Confirm that your goals are realistic and reasonable.
• Relevant – Set goals that are relevant to the things you value and the person you want to be.
• Time-bound – Create a clearly defined timeline. Set a start date and a deadline.
  
  

Creating a Stage for Success

The process above is the same one we follow at AIHM. All new students are guided through a Professional Development course in their very first month. Creating a vision for yourself and concrete ways to work toward it is one of the best things you can do for your future.

If you’re a student at AIHM, you’ll find an environment dedicated to helping you develop yourself and achieve your dreams. AIHM is unique in that it’s a higher education institute focused on a specific field. All of your fellow students share similar goals. During your time at AIHM, you’ll be surrounded by likeminded peers who want to make a difference in the hospitality industry. Progressing toward your goals together, you’ll have ample inspiration and opportunities to receive and share advice with friends and classmates. AIHM’s faculty and staff are likewise devoted to your personal development. You’ll always have access to mentors and caring instructors who want to help you embrace your passions and create the future you dream of. We look forward to sharing the journey with you!

Are You Dreaming of a Future in the Hospitality Industry?

AIHM attracts a diverse and passionate student body. Together, our students explore careers in hospitality management and work toward their own specific goals.

Our Bachelor of Business Administration in Global Hospitality Management sets you on a path for success in the hospitality industry and even beyond. Discover more about our hospitality management degree and start imagining your future today.