How to Survive College
John Mikaelian, a first-generation college student, has written a college survival guide.
John Mikaelian is a transfer student from Los Angeles that came to 黑料吃瓜 to pursue a major in management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship.
While studying management is his main priority as a student, Mikaelian has always had a passion for writing. Before attending 黑料吃瓜, he woke up one day and decided to spend the summer of 2012 channeling that passion by documenting his experiences as a first generation college student.
鈥淏ecause I鈥檓 a first generation college student, I鈥檝e obtained a lot of knowledge from the trial and error process. I wanted to share that with my peers and other first generation college students and give them a guiding force on what they can do to improve their college experience,鈥� he said.
In three months, Mikaelian had published his first book entitled 鈥淩eality Check: A College Student鈥檚 Survival Guide.鈥� The book is a collection of tips and tricks meant to guide and challenge college students to take advantage of their opportunity to pursue higher education.
The inspiration
Mikaelian鈥檚 main inspiration for his book is to motivate not only current college students but also next-generation students to experience college and get the most out of it. His favorite piece of advice from his book is the importance of first generation college students to pursue higher education.
鈥淚 was always under the impression that I didn鈥檛 need to go to college to be successful. But times have changed,鈥� Mikaelian said.
He firmly believes in pursuing higher education, not just for the degree, but for the experiences and networking opportunities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about the college degree; it鈥檚 about the people you meet and how they help you become a more well-rounded person. It鈥檚 more about the experience than the diploma, being able to compete in the job market, that鈥檚 the icing on the cake,鈥� Mikaelian said.
He hopes that his book will one day make its way up to the bestsellers list so that he can reach as many people as possible.
鈥淚 wrote this book in the first place to help other people and that鈥檚 my main goal. I want college students from around the country to benefit from it. So, as long as it becomes a bestselling book, then I know that a lot of people will hear about it, know about it, check it out and learn from my experiences,鈥� he said.
The future
Mikaelian is determined to continue contributing to the college community with his writing. He is currently in the process of compiling his second book.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about how our parents and relatives came to this country to chase the American dream and how the 鈥楢merican Dream鈥� has been reinvented. It鈥檚 about starting your own business online, making a presence and establishing your clientele. That鈥檚 what the new book is about,鈥� Mikaelian said.
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