Thoughts on the Journey

This week we want to talk about having realistic expectations. Let’s start with an example (click to enlarge):

When we have a goal, we often want a straight line to achieve it. In other words, we want it to be easy.

But as the drawing shows, progression towards a goal is meandering. There are highs and lows. Points of learning and points of feeling lost. So it is, too, with college.

The meandering path towards the goal might be ‘mastering professor expectations,’ or ‘finding a friend group,’ or ‘learning how to manage my time,’ or ‘figuring out a major.’ The goal will be different for every student – and there may even be multiple goals at once.

But that goals chart can apply to parents and families as well. WE also need to have realistic expectations of our students’ transition to college, mastery of academics, finding friends, etc.

You have heard me say over and over again that the transition to college is at least the first semester, but more likely the whole first year (and sometimes a little into fall of sophomore year too). If you as parents and loved ones ever start to worry that your student is not acclimating to X quick enough, or achieving Y goal fast enough, remember this chart.

Every student will get their in their own time. It’s our job to help encourage them along the way.