Students Develop in College?!

I have always said students learn more outside of the classroom than they do in them. Usually this follows having to stay in on a Saturday night to study CS&E 200 or finding out that I didn’t do as well on an exam.  It was my rationale to place my student involvement and social activities on the same level as my academics. Fortunately I have done well in school, and I have been able to maintain my involvement on campus in various ways.  This involvement has developed me into the person I am today. (Also I have to give some credit to my education in the classroom as well.) Development is an important part of the college experience, and student development theories allow us to examine just how much developing we do in college.

As student leaders, understanding student development theories can provide insights and benefits into how we interact with our peers on campus.  These theories will allow us to understand where different students fall in terms of development, and also how to incorporate this information in our actions with others. Looking at Chickering’s 7 vectors model, I was intrigued to see where I fell on his spectrum. As a senior, I can definitely say that I am working on the last 3 vectors of freeing interpersonal relationships, developing purpose, and developing integrity.  Reading about these theories as we live through them offers a very interesting perspective. It allows me to see where I am recommended to be at after I graduate college. Now of course, it is only a theory, and I will not assess my success as a college student based on where Chickering wants me to be at when I graduate. We all develop at different points in our lives, and that development usually is fostered through life experiences. It is learning to grow from those life experiences that will determine where you fall on Chickering’s model.

Through student involvement on campus, we learn how to maximize time management, how to interact with others, and learn vital social skills. However, when done right, all three of these things can be acquired in a classroom. The real beauty of development is the reflection of the experiences that impacts us the most. Without reflection, we inhibit ourselves from gaining the development needed for sustained growth. True personal growth requires one to reflect on the experience, being honest with yourselves and others, and being vulnerable to grow. This vulnerability can be in the form of trying new things, opening up to others, working on personal shortcomings, being open to criticism, and finally being open to change. By allowing yourself to be vulnerable you open yourself up to new experiences, emotions, and insights into the real you!  

            I have used reflection, honesty and vulnerability in order to grow and learn from my past relationship. It was important for me to realize what I wanted in a relationship, and how I can improve for my next relationship. Every relationship teaches you incredible and valuable aspects about yourself. It is easy to put the blame on the other person in a relationship, and not accept the fact that we all have plenty of room for improvement. Allowing yourself to look within and reflect on what you enjoyed about the relationship, what you didn’t, and what you can improve on will only make you a better person. I believe that everyone comes into our lives for a reason, and being blind to that only hinders you from becoming the person who you were meant to be.

Keeping a journal is a great way to reflect on life’s wonderful experiences. I try everyday to answer a simple question; what could I have changed about today to make it the best day possible. This is a way for me to not only reflect on the day, but an opportunity to improve myself. It could be simple things like I wish I would have called my Mom today or I wish I would had studied a little more.  An important element to remember is that obviously I cannot go back and change the day, however, I hope that by acknowledging what I should have done; I will not commit the same actions in the future. It has worked for me, and it may be something to look into!

(Picture from freshman year.....yes that is a lanyard.) 

(Picture from the end of my junior year. As you can obviously see, the maturity level has increased exponentially.)