Lerner Daniel - U thrive: how to succeed in college and life

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

Maya Angelou

A t its very best, college offers us the opportunity to turn dreams into realities.

College is about possibility. The moment you set foot on campus, you will be in the middle of one of lifes greatest turning points, taking your first real shot at being an adult. No matter what your roots, cultural background, or financial status may be, college holds the promise of rich experiences, lifelong friendships, and an amazing chance to pursue your passions. This is where you can find your voice, determine your path, and begin to unlock your true potential. In short: college is a game-changer.

Yet for many, college is more about surviving than thriving. It can be a slog through stress and anxiety. It can be four years spent worrying that you might not be up to snuff, make the grade, or reach the bar set by your parents, your peers, or yourself. For a growing number of todays students, college can be discouraging rather than inspiring, making them feel like they arent in line for a fulfilling future, causing their dreams to slowly evaporate until poof they seem completely unattainable.

Every year, more than 4.6 million students begin their freshman year at colleges and universities nationwide, spilling onto campuses with high hopes, overstuffed duffel bags, and a unique mash-up of bravado and bewilderment. As mental health experts and instructors of the largest elective class at New York University, we know that look well. We see it on pretty much all 450 faces in our lecture hall on the first day of school, and we feel you. After all, you just spent the past twelve years busting your humps for this, constantly reminded along the way what a great accomplishment this would be, what a major milestone it is, how leaving home is this magical rite of passage. All of which is true. But you are also leaving behind a lifelong support network of families, friends, and communities for the unknown, which makes this step in your life as scary as it is exhilaratingan emotional bungee jump into the Grand Canyon.

We are going to show you how to minimize the fear and maximize the thrill.

The guiding principle of U Thrive is simple: with proper preparation, you can thrive in college. Period.

Based on our course The Science of Happiness, you might consider this the ultimate study guide. A cheat sheet for the most wonderful, complicated, fascinating, and maddening subject youve ever encountered. The crash course in the one subject you need to master to squeeze the very best out of the years to come.

That subject? You.

We could drop charts right here showing that optimistic freshmen tend to have substantially higher GPAs and better social experiences, graphs indicating that hope results in greater academic and athletic success, and diagrams revealing that positive emotion predicts greater accuracy and speed in the face of stressful situations. Well get to all that, but first, lets just quote a few of our several thousand students who have been generous enough to give us a 99 percent approval rating:

I so wish I had taken this class when I was a freshman!

I never thought that I would be able to truly pursue my passions. Thank you for showing me that it is possible.

This class has changed how I experience college. Now I love it even more and I am doing better in my classes than ever!

Every time that I have this class, I know that the rest of my day is going to be that much more awesome.

The Science of Happiness saved my life.

And a common one

You guys have GOT to write a book.

So we have. And here it is.

U Thrive is meant to be a reference book, a workbook, and even a journal of sorts. Just like in our class, we want you to be informed, entertained, and engaged. The exercises we provide will help you with challenges and make the most of the opportunities ahead.

As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, Alan has spent more than a decade helping young adults deal with their challenges, while Dans expertise in positive psychology and strengths-based performance coaching has focused on helping people realize excellence and reach their unique potential. It is with these complementary skills that we strive to address both the tough times and the incredible opportunities that abound in college, sharing the theory, science, and application of thriving. Weaving research into story and practical application, our style and our focus on experiential learning seek to both inform and transform, turning fear into excitement and anxiety into possibility.