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Augustana commencement speaker gives graduates the secrets to success

A recent study done by Gallup showed students who had six specific experiences in college were better prepared for their future endeavors. The Gallup “Big...

A recent study done by Gallup showed students who had six specific experiences in college were better prepared for their future endeavors.

The Gallup "Big Six" experiences were whether they had a professor who made them excited about learning, whether they had a professor who cared about them as a person, whether they had a mentor who encouraged them to pursue their goals, if they worked on a project that took a semester or more to complete, if they had an internship or job that applied what they were learning in the classroom, and if they were extremely active in extracurricular activities while at college.

In a separate survey, Augustana students reported they agreed with these "Big Six" experiences and that they felt ready for their futures.

The commencement speaker for Sunday's ceremony was Brandon Busteed, the Executive Director at Gallup Education. Along with the "Big Six" experiences, Busteed also explained Gallup's research about the two secrets to success.

"The first one is whether you strongly agree that you have someone who strongly encourages your development, and the second one is whether you strongly agree that you have a chance to do what you're best at every day," said Busteed. "Those two things literally nail what it means to have a great life and a great job."

Busteed explained if people have a great manager or mentor who helps them grow and they are able to do what they are best at on a daily basis, they will be happier and more successful in life.

562 graduates walked across the stage on Sunday to receive their diplomas.

"Augustana helped me find my passion," said Rebecca Post, a 2015 Augustana graduate. "I want everyone to just feel proud of themselves, this is really about what they've accomplished."

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