I expect my college students to memorize these words and phrases. I ask them to talk about family and friends. These are qualities, attitudes, and experiences that should be part of the college experience:

1. Ethics: moral principles that govern one’s behavior, standards of right and wrong. 

2. Self-discipline: Discipline is training, instruction, or correction that develops self-control, character or efficiency. 

3. Sacred cow: an idea, custom, or institution held, especially unreasonably, to be above criticism. College should be the place where sacred cows come to die.

4. Serendipity: The unexpected discovery. 

5. Epiphany: The light bulb moment when you suddenly realize something you had missed or not known before. Sudden insight or understanding. 

6. Eureka: Literally Greek for “I have found it!”

7. Patriotism: Love and honor for our great nation, our culture and history, and our veterans. If you are a veteran, please let me know as I have something special to share with you. I believe college can and should cause students to be better citizens. 

8. Work ethic:  Belief that hard work is intrinsically virtuous or worthy of reward. A person with strong work ethics is driven to do one’s best,  to be reliable, to be honest and fair with one’s employer and the society he or she serves.

9. Integrity: Doing the right thing in a reliable way, being honest and fair.

10. Research: Systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

11. Objectivity: not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering, discussing, or representing facts.

12. Schedule: A plan for carrying out a process or procedure, giving lists of intended events and times.

I hope these words help you as they have helped me!