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March 21, 2024

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Success coach motivate students to achieve goals

Some Hollywood celebrities like Beyonce, Bow Wow, P-Diddy and Christina Aguilera have had success coaches to help them throughout their career, but BG students also could have a success coach from their sophomore to senior year for free.

Janice Twork is the retention coordinator in the Center for Multicultural ‘ Academic Initiatives.

“I came here three years ago, in which they created my position because they felt upperclassmen needed more contact with the program,” Twork said. “I mean to obtain a Bachelor’s degree is a four year or more process because there is a lot of distractions such as illness, roommate problems and personal issues.”

There are 266 sophomores, juniors and seniors that come to Twork for guidance during their academic year.

“I am not a counselor, I am a success coach,” Twork said. “I listen to the students’ problems, I help them make a written game plan such as for academic goals or budget, I encourage them to use the tons of resources the University offers for additional help in the area they need it.”

Twork said this service she provides is like an improving ground for the students to go through while they transition from freshman year to getting their degree.

“I give the tools to the students so they can exhibit good characteristics for future employers such as having the skill of time management, communication skills and having good knowledge of the area in which they want to be part of,” Twork said.

But, even though Twork guides the students they must have a game plan and meet their plan’s goals.

Taurence Armstrong, sophomore, said the best part of the program is accountability.

“When you come here, you have to have a plan or ideas to write down as a game plan for the week, whether it is what time to study and not to study,” Armstrong said. “Accountability comes in when you come to the next meeting and she asks you if you did what you told her or what you had written as a game plan.”

Armstrong said it feels awkward if he has to go into a meeting and he didn’t complete his game plan.

“It makes me feel like less of a man or a person if I didn’t live up to what I said I was going to do for that week and come to her,” Armstrong said. “It’s like this silence about what should I say.”

Twork said she doesn’t have to say anything when the students don’t follow through with their written game plan.

“It’s not about making them feel guilty because they didn’t complete something, but it is more about why didn’t they follow through and how to avoid it from happening again,” Twork said.

Armstrong said this program really has helped him improve in academics and how to balance priorities.

“When I was a freshman I put my school work off until the last minute, but now as a sophomore my grades have definitely improved,” Armstrong said. “Sophomore year I knew I had to get it together because I didn’t like being an average and typical college student.”

Armstrong said he found out about the program through his advisor, Joy Hartwell-Lein, through the Center for Multicultural ‘ Academic Initiatives.

“Having a success coach has made me more responsible and more aware that my academics rest on my shoulders,” Armstrong said. “The idea that you have to have a game plan written down makes me look at it in another perspective.”

Armstrong said he is the type of person who thinks a lot so he didn’t think he would have to write what he thought down until Twork became his success coach.

Twork said she helps out the students because they go through pains, trials and tribulations like everyone else.

There are a lot of distractions in students’ lives such as stress, death in the family or the many organizations on campus.

“There are a lot of organizations that students can be part of, but they have to figure how many organizations they can handle, while still having good academic standing,” Twork said.

But, Twork is there to help the students balance their priorities, help them improve on academic goals and help them cope with personal issues.

Also when Twork helps out the students she also refers them to other services around campus.

“I’m like an octopus; I branch off and use the community to help students,” Twork said. “Students are not amp to go out and use services such as the stress clinic because of distractions.”

Therefore when Twork refers the students to go out and use the services she gives them a referral card to fill out to make sure they used the service.

Some students have already heard about Twork and plan to have her as a success coach next year.

“I’ve heard a lot about Ms. Janice Twork and how she helps students meet their goals, while comforting them,” said Shayla Herron, freshman. “I think that I will take advantage of that program because it is very beneficial.”

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