At my institution, fall break is over and mid-term grades have been submitted. My students should have a good idea if they are doing okay or not. That is why I asked them in their latest journal to tell me what is going on, more specifically, how have they changed in the last eight weeks.
In all the years of journal topics, I have never asked this question before, so I didn’t know what to expect. Were they going to tell me that they are more stressed than ever before? Were they going to confide they don’t think they can make it? The results were…actually…surprising. And in a good way.
I thought, then, their responses were worth sharing because as a parent of my own college freshman, I would want to know if what my daughter has been telling me about her adjustment is most likely, very probably true.
Here are the highlights of what I have learned:
- They are making friends. Good news, parents! Your students are making friends. They are actually going out and befriending people, talking to them, and trying to get to know them. Many of my students discussed that while they miss their friends from high school, they are learning how to branch out and find new friends. They are also learning how to choose friends who support their goals and to avoid (or limit their contact with) those who are enjoying themselves too much and not focusing on studying.
- They have a healthy attitude toward grades. They realize that grades do matter and that how well they do in their courses can pave the way for better experiences in the future. They seem to exhibit a positive mindset as well by using low grades as motivators to make changes in their studying. They report talking with their professors, going to tutoring, and using the study strategies they are learning in their student success course. Some also admit to spending lots of time in the library. (Shocking, right?)
- They are managing their time better than they have ever managed it. They agree that there is still improvements to be made, but many report they are learning how to schedule time for course work and complete their academic tasks before turning to activities for enjoyment. (Yeah, I know! I am surprised and proud!)
- They are figuring out the answers to big life questions. Many students reported that they are getting a better sense of their purpose. For example, many have deepened their resolve to pursue a specific career while others are recognizing other possibilities for a future career. And they are very excited about it. Some are still mulling over the idea of what they want to study, but they tell me that they know how to go about figuring it out.
- They are becoming self-reliant. Yes, they are admitting that they are acting like adults. They are taking care of “chores,” as one student described doing laundry and taking out her trash. But they are also realizing that they are responsible for themselves and seem to have a new sense of hope and power about that. (Aren’t your hearts melting just a bit?)
- They are still learning how to balance everything. All of these newfound skills are still being worked out, but they are learning–through trial and error–how to maintain a sense of balance. This, as we know as fully-fledged adults, is something we are always working on.
Think about where they were when you dropped them off just a couple months ago. Did you expect such gains in such a short time? Me neither. However, I do think we need to take a moment to recognize that there is so much going on in those heads and that for the most part, they are making progress. Despite what they have accomplished (or not) so far this term, they are most likely, very probably okay.
