The 3 Ps of Success

Ideas developed successfully by Abraham Maslow, a well-known humanistic

psychologist, believed that human needs are arranged in stages in a hierarchy. To move
on to another higher stage, one must fulfill the current needs of the immediate stage. So,
where does education come into play within Maslows hierarchy? Is education the basis
of each stage and its completion? When examined on the surface, the hierarchy doesnt
seem to have any real connection to education. However, when looked at in a deeper way,
the evidence that education is of importance is revealed. While there are many stages to
this hierarchy, the last stage, and most sought after and important, is the one I want to
focus on. Self-actualization includes realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking
personal growth and peak experiences. However, Maslow stated that only one in a
hundred people reach self-actualization for a few reasons. So how, through education, can
we increase the number of people who can reach self-actualization? The answer is
simple: purpose, passion, and perseverance.

Purpose
purpose
prps/
noun
1. thereasonforwhichsomethingisdoneorcreatedorforwhichsomethingexists.

Formostpeople,collegeisaplacetomakefriends,havefun,anddecideyourfuture.
Also,formostpeople,collegeisexpensive,timeconsuming,anddifficult.Theaverage
costofcollegeforstateresidentsthatattendapubliccollegeisabout$9,000.Theprice
significantlyincreasesforoutofstateresidentsandforprivatecolleges.So,howdoyou
getabangforyourbuck?Consideryourpurposeforgoingtocollegeandultimatelywhat

definesyouasaperson.Whenapurposeisevident,thetimeandcostofcollegewill
seemlesslikeaburden.

Passion
passion
paSHn/
noun
1.anintensedesireorenthusiasmforsomething.

Passionandpurposegohandinhand.Whenyouarepassionateaboutasubject,you
determineapurpose.Itisimportanttounderstandthenatureofyourpassionaswell.
Whereisitcomingfrom?Why?Ultimately,passionwilldriveyoutoyourfullest
potential.

Perseverance
perseverance
prsvirns/
noun
1.steadfastnessindoingsomethingdespitedifficultyordelayinachievingsuccess.

Bumps in the road are only natural. College isnt going to be a walk in the park. The
demands of college are high and challenging. Natural selection in every college is
present. It weeds out the unmotivated and weak. So allow each bump to make you
stronger and to challenge you. If you determine your purpose, and understand your
passion, perseverance will come naturally!

InthewordsofMaslow,Ifyouplanonbeinganythinglessthanyouarecapable
ofbeing,youwillprobablybeunhappyallthedaysofyourlife.InPlatosTheRepublic,

hetouchesonthesubjectongettingtoocomfortableorstayinginourowncavesof
familiarity.Theprisonersarechainedtowhattheyknowandrefusetoleave.However,if
weneverleave,howdowefindwhatwearepassionateabout?Whatourpurposeis?And
howdowelearntopersevere?Andtheansweristhis:takearisk.Learnwhoyouareand
determineapurposeforwhyyouwenttocollege.Takethatfirethatpassionignitesand
useittowardsyoureducation.Andpersevereallthebumpsthataretocome.