What Are Modern Symbols of Success for Today's Students?

No generation has the same concept of what success looks like, and we’re now living through an era where students have a unique set of expectations and ambitions in this regard.

With the sheer volume of different tokens, trinkets and symbols of success in play, there’s a lot to break down and process. To that end, here’s a look at the indicators that mean the most to the college crowd right now, and why they’re so popular.

The Gen Z students who dominate education today are part of the first true digital native generation, so it’s not surprising to see just how much emphasis they place on digital credentials over their old-school equivalents. They are also facing larger economic challenges than their predecessors, with just 37% of this group feeling that they have ample opportunities to make progress.

So, when it comes to the digitizing of credentials, there are a few reasons that they matter more than tangible certificates. Specifically:

• It’s easier to showcase achievements and skills when they can be added to platforms like LinkedIn, thus improving job prospects
• Prospective employers often actively require candidates to provide digital proof of their education and certification, so this is mandatory rather than purely for bragging rights
• Digital credentials are entirely controlled by students, so they can pick and choose how and where they’re displayed

There are even entire platforms set up specifically to collate and showcase skills and expertise digitally, with Credly being a leader in this niche. The efficiency this offers for portfolio creation and distribution is also appealing.

Even soft skills can be highlighted and conveyed succinctly via digital means, hence why there’s so much focus on including them as symbols of success in the current student epoch.

Merchandise with conspicuous branding is a $282 billion market, and while it’s primarily associated with promoting businesses, there’s also a part for it to play in student life. Most significantly, it allows those still in full-time education to build pride in the institutions they attend and also draw attention to their accomplishments as individuals.

This includes:

• Customized hoodies featuring info on achievements attained in a team setting
• Accessories such as pins and patches that single out the personal milestones a student has reached
• Event-specific items that are produced in limited numbers to act both as keepsakes for the long-term and bond-building tokens that bring student groups together in the short-term

All of these reasons explain why universities and other educational organizations offer branded gear to students. It’s good for morale, as well as serving as a useful marketing tool to promote the institution far and wide wherever they’re worn.

The concept of propping a traditional trophy or plaque on the mantelpiece is rightly seen as somewhat old-fashioned by the students who are in line to receive such accolades today. Instead, there’s more of a push towards adopting awards that are a little left-field, individual, and personal.

This includes:

• Certificates with quirky, bespoke designs that turn the spotlight on skills and achievements that aren’t normally recognized, whether that’s innovative thinking in a team scenario or providing emotional support to others
• Awards which are hand-made and thus much more meaningful because of the extra effort and attention involved in their creation, rather than being off-the-shelf
• Prizes that are experiential rather than tangible, including access to paid-for trips and events that reward those who’ve achieved in an academic setting with memories instead of a hunk of wood and plastic

All of this reflects the legacy of challenge coins which emerged as a unique signifier of military achievements, and have gone on to influence customized awards in a student context as well. Pride comes from feeling recognized as an individual, even if your efforts are part of a wider team-based initiative.

We’ve already touched on the impact that digital credentials have on student success recognition. It’s important to unpack the wider influence of tech tools over how these are created, verified, and shared.

There are a few trends at play here. For instance:

• Platforms including Badgr and Accredible set out specifically to provide digital awards that are independently verified and securely stored, providing added credence to the claims any student makes as they approach things like college applications and job interviews
• Social media is a key way for milestones to be shared, discussed, and celebrated within peer groups as well as further afield, hence why it can improve college opportunities in its own right

There’s also the aspect of gamification that tech brings to the table, since progress towards a particular achievement can be tracked, delivering increased motivation to students who have a goal in mind and want to be able to signify it in a shareable way later on.

With 21 million students entering the higher education field each year, the idea that academic performance is the be all and end all of success no longer holds water. There’s now a more holistic approach which places greater emphasis on personal growth and making meaningful contributions to the wider community, instead of zeroing in on grades.

The upshot is that measuring achievements comes in different forms. In particular:

• Leaders are expected to embrace the accountability that comes with their roles
• Extracurricular activities, especially those with a community focus, are a bigger symbol of success
• Individuals who pour their heart and soul into creative passion projects get more kudos for this

Each aspect matters as part of the university admissions process, in addition to holding sway over how employers view students when they apply for internships or their first post-college job. Even summer activities hold more weight at the moment.

In short, there’s no blanket approach to symbolizing student success. Instead, we’re going through a period in which aspects like personal milestones and collective accomplishments are increasingly important, and the ways to showcase them are more varied.

Students and the institutions they attend will be better off if they embrace this change, and adopt a broader definition for success itself along the way.