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Preparing for Success in 2026: Tips From Our Faculty & Staff 

Bryan University

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Every new year is a chance to pause, reset, and think about what you want next. If you’re planning to grow your skills, advance your career, or return to school in 2026, a little preparation now can go a long way. Based on their experience working closely with students, our faculty and staff are sharing simple, practical tips to help you stay motivated, organized, and ready for what’s ahead.

Kim Giles, General Education Instructor

My advice to each of us as we go into 2026 is to remember our WHY- why we keep showing up and why we want to achieve our goals. Life gets hard for all of us from time to time. Being able to remember why it’s worth the late nights, frustrations, and challenging moments can make the difference between throwing in the towel and keeping forward with our goals and dreams. Know you aren’t alone. We are all here rooting for you and happy to help you in those moments when you feel stuck.

Jason Roach, Quality Assurance Effectiveness Specialist

1. What’s one mindset or habit that sets successful students apart?

Successful students treat progress as a series of small, consistent steps rather than giant leaps. They show up even on days they don’t feel like it, and that steady momentum can make a difference.

2. How can students stay motivated throughout the year?

Break big goals into manageable milestones and celebrate each one. When you can see your progress, motivation becomes much easier to sustain.

3. What’s one piece of advice you wish every new student knew?

Ask for help early and often. Your instructors, advisors, and support staff are here to guide you, and reaching out sooner can turn small challenges into big successes.

Lonsha Rose, Medical Assisting Adjunct Instructor

1. How can students stay motivated throughout the year?

Remember your “why.”

Brad Barber, Adjunct Professor 

Write your WHY somewhere you’ll see it every single day. Why are you earning this degree or certification? When life gets hectic and you feel like quitting, that reminder will anchor you. Your WHY becomes the fuel that carries you through the tough moments.

Kalyn K. Faulkner, Student Accounts Collection Specialist

1. How can students stay motivated all year? 

Create a vision board and hang it in your line of sight. Add photos of who/what/where you draw inspiration from and image of where you want to be this year and in the future.

2. What’s one mindset or habit that sets successful students apart?

Set short term and long term goals (30 day, 6 month, 1 year) and celebrate your achievements, share them with friends and family.

3. What’s one piece of advice you wish every new student knew?

Manifest positivity, try not to say or repeat anything negative for an entire day.

Janeen Galligan, General Education Adjunct Faculty

If you are feeling overwhelmed, don’t think about the whole assignment, start with five minutes. Commit to reading or working on assignment for just five minutes. Then after the five minutes, decide if you can do another five minutes or need to attend to something else. Come back to your studies within the hour and commit to another five minutes. A great idea is to spend five minutes in Yellowdig commenting on other people’s posts. After five minutes, determine if you have more time, but just focus on five minutes at a time.

Brooke Menzie, Clinical Healthcare Instructor

When you come up against roadblocks in class or even in life, reach out to your instructors early and often. We are here for you and want more than anything for you to succeed!

James Anderson, Healthcare Adjunct Faculty

Because our students often juggle multiple responsibilities, their daily bandwidth naturally shifts. The path to success in 2026 is about giving what you can each day without burning out, knowing that consistent effort, even at lower levels, still moves you meaningfully closer to your goals.

Jonathan Young, Exercise Science Faculty

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Cecil Broadnax, Director, Workforce Dev. & Career Services

Make learning part of your everyday routine. If you’re waiting in line at the airport or grocery store, take a moment to read or review an assignment. Use those small pockets of free time—they really add up and can make a big difference.

Brad Barber, Adjunct Professor

Think of school the same way you think of a gym. When you walk into a gym, the equipment doesn’t make you stronger — the effort you put in does. Learning works the same way.

Every time you log in to class, read a lesson, or work through an assignment, you’re giving your brain a workout. You can choose to do a light session — a few “mental reps” — or you can push yourself and really train. The more you challenge your mind, the stronger it becomes.

And just like physical exercise, sometimes you’ll feel mentally tired afterward. That’s a good thing. That means you grew. It means you stretched your thinking, built new skills, and added new strength you didn’t have before.

Remember: learning is not the same as doing. I’d like to let you know that doing so uses the skills you already have. Learning builds new ones. Learning is what makes you smarter, more capable, and more competitive in the business world.

Show up. Put in the reps. Push yourself a little past comfortable.

Your mind will get stronger — and your future self will thank you.

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