One of the downfalls of having students who are so busy and have schedules packed with activities is that they may not feel they have the luxury of downtime. But I want to suggest that it would be time well spent for students of all years to do some first month reflections and think about what they have experienced so far.
Here are some questions that might prompt their thinking:
Which class(es) excite me? Which classes and make me really want to learn the material, or I come home from class truly energized and want to tell others what I learned?
What is it about that class that makes it so good for me? Is it the professor? The format of the class (e.g., lecture vs lab vs. discussion-based)? Is it the topic itself that motivates me?, etc.
Where on campus is my go-to study place, where I can get my work done with maximum focus and minimum distraction?
What did I think I would like…but I haven’t liked it after all? And why do I think that is?
What have I done outside of class that has brought me joy? Is it a student organization? a volunteer service role? spending time outdoors? etc.
Who have I met that has become a friend to me this fall? What do I value in that friendship? What do they bring to my life? What do I think I add to theirs?
Do I have someone that I can confide in if needed, whether that is a hallmate, RA, faculty member, fellow student? And if I don’t have that person, what might I need to do differently in the next month to forge that kind of connection?
Have I pushed myself out of my comfort zone since being at school? If so, how?
What things am I doing that don’t serve me well and I should consider doing differently over the next month?
When and where have I been the happiest since school started?
You get the idea. The goal here is to make sure that our students are taking some time to examine what they are doing in both the classroom and in their daily life, look for patterns of things they like (and want to continue) or don’t like as much (and want to try different things instead).
If we just flit from activity to activity or day to day without thinking about it, we miss the opportunity to make meaning of our experience. The more your students examine themselves, their activities, and their feelings, the more likely they will have the data they need to make better choices with each passing month. Having a sense of discernment and knowing oneself well will serve students in their future relationships, careers, and for the rest of their lives. Now is a great time to hone this skill.
A reminder that our Weekly Message for First Year Familiescomes out each Monday. You can see this week’s message about Midterm Exams. And ’26 students received their Letters So Dear; view the archive.
We’ll close on a program note: the World Cultural Festival will be held tomorrow (Friday, September 30th) from 5-8 pm in Benson 401 (it has been moved indoors because of anticipated rain). This is always a really fun event, with food, music, and more. I hope your Deacs go.
