Back
Create Your Success Plan

Your Success Plan is designed to help you achieve your educational and career goals in a way that matches your needs. Think about how you can use your strengths and resources to succeed.

Time Management

Life involves much more than school. How do you manage commitments to education, work, family, church, community, and more? As you identify and balance your various responsibilities, plan your time carefully, and seek the Lord’s help, you will succeed.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  • Besides school, what other commitments do you have?
  • Which commitments are your highest priorities?
  • What have you done in the past to organize your time? What other time-management methods could you try?
  • How might prayer help you manage your time and commitments?

RESOURCES

young african student receiving lectures online, taking notes Happy volunteer looking at donation box

Physical and Mental Health

Strong physical and mental health will help you succeed in your education. Adequate sleep, good nutrition, regular exercise, positive relationships, and well-managed stress will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Small adjustments can lead to big benefits!

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  • Do you have time to eat, exercise, sleep, and feed yourself spiritually the way you want to? If not, what can you do to prioritize these important things?
  • Are you taking time to care for yourself? How are you managing stress?
  • Who in your life helps and supports you?
  • What is one small change you can make to work toward your health goals?

RESOURCES

Women are putting coins in a piggy bank for a business that grows for profit and saving money for the future. planning for retirement concept

Finances

Finances are part of your ability to continue your formal education. Your success and confidence will grow as you create a clear plan to pay for your education.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  • On a scale of 1–10, how confident are you in your ability to pay for your education?
  • What financial resources do you have to help you pay for your education?
  • How might developing financial skills (budgeting, saving, etc.) help you in your education and your life?

RESOURCES

Coursework

Academic participation is a key to your education. Developing good study habits and test-taking skills will help you improve the areas in which you may be struggling academically. You have many resources available to help you develop the skills you need to succeed!

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  • Think of an experience or period of time when you felt successful as a student. What were you doing (or not doing) that may have contributed to your success?
  • How might you improve your study skills?
  • Have you considered tutoring? What are some of the benefits of tutoring? Why might you be hesitant about it?
  • How can relying on the Savior help you to persevere when things are challenging?

RESOURCES

Indian lady lead videocall, pc screen view over woman shoulder

Career Development

You may want to earn a certificate and/or degree to start, change, or advance your career. Identifying what skills you want to learn will help you build motivation, understand how to reach your career goals, and find new employment opportunities.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  • What certificate(s)/degree(s) interests you? Why?
  • What could you do to learn more about the career(s) you are interested in?
  • What skills or knowledge do you need to develop to achieve your career goal?
  • What will it mean to you and your family once you have earned your certificate/degree?
  • Have you turned to the Lord for help and guidance as you make these important decisions?

RESOURCES

Self-discipline and Staying Motivated

You are effective as a student when you know what assignments need to be done, when they are due, and how to complete them. You may struggle if you tend to miss deadlines or lose track of important tasks. Learning how to discipline yourself and stay motivated will help you succeed!

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  • What inspired you to start or continue your education? What motivates you to continue?
  • Do you have a system in place to keep track of assignments and important deadlines?
  • What does managing assignments effectively look like to you?
  • How do you manage your schedule currently? What is one new technique you might try?

RESOURCES

BYU Pathway students posing in front of a brick wall

BYU-Pathway Community: Feeling Like You Belong

Being an online student can be lonely at times, but thousands of other online students experience similar challenges and struggles! Remember that you are not alone, and you deserve to pursue your education. You have resources and a community to connect with.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  • Have you accessed the online resources (see below) available to you?
  • What information do you need to be successful? Where can you find that information?
  • Have you connected with other online students through social media?
  • Who do you know that is also earning a degree online?

RESOURCES

Understanding Your Long-term Goals

Having a clear picture in mind of earning a degree and graduating is important. Your vision of reaching your goal will motivate you and help you succeed!

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  • When you imagine holding a certificate or diploma, how do you feel? What would that mean to you?
  • What is your definition of success?
  • How does completing a certificate/degree fit into your long-term goals?
  • What could get in the way of completing a certificate/degree? How might you prevent that?
  • How does education fit into Heavenly Father’s plan for you?

RESOURCES