"Success Coaches serve as a resource for students to process through the demands of their lives, set goals and develop action steps to meet those demands."
Lori Driessnack knows a bit about the student experience as a Success Coach at CMU. Her job is to work with students to get them where they want to be – academically, professionally and personally.
"The best part of my job is partnering with a student who is experiencing that "light bulb moment," when they recognize that if they simply change a few things in their daily lives, then they will experience a great deal more success," said Lori.
In her opinion, community is one of the most important parts of the college experience – and the community at CMU is unrivaled.
"I graduated from a Big 10 university and the feeling was much different, much lonelier," said Lori. "At CMU, when a student reaches out, there is always a helping hand reaching back to lift them up, either a faculty member, a peer mentor or a staff member who is willing to go the extra mile to provide a resource or service."
For Lori, success is all about attitude and habits. Sometimes, she said, all a student needs to do to succeed is change their habits, prioritize their values and advocate for themselves. Plus, taking advantage of CMU's vast network of resources is always a good jumping off point.
Lori's tips for incoming students are simple enough:
"First, high school study strategies may not provide the same level of success in college-level academics. Second, the most critical "soft skill" that a freshman can learn first semester is to "advocate for themselves" to get what they need in and out of the classroom. And third, organization is key."
Fast Facts
1
Lori was born and raised near Mount Pleasant.
2
She worked in public relations in South Carolina before returning to Mount Pleasant.
3
Lori’s favorite thing about CMU is the community and the energy and excitement to learn and grow.