Student Success
Although college is challenging, I am going to be successful by listening to advice from experts, by utilizing effective strategies and tools, and by setting goals for myself, and taking advantage of the benefits of a college education.
As a first-year student, I am facing some challenges in college. I am a mature adult and grandmother of three. There is a vast group of college students’ on campus, my son’s age. After being out of school for so many years, I find it very challenging fitting in.
“I'm Affriad I Won't Fit In”Many middle-aged adult returning to college are concerned about standing out and not fitting in with younger students. According to the U.S. Department of Education, college students 25 years or older
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I am proficient in Microsoft Word 2008, but many of the computer programs, PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel have newer versions, and becoming familiar with these programs while trying to execute school- work, is indeed the challenge. Furthermore, staying informed, knowing your resources can help aid you and keep you abreast of the latest technology. Marsh, Tim. "How To Keep Abreast of New Technology." Http://www.stepbystep.com/education/, 17 Jan. 2013. Web. 22 Sept. 2015. “These days, there are countless monthly and weekly magazines highlighting new technology. Subscribe to a couple of reputed magazines and read them whenever you have spare time. They will not only allow you to keep abreast of the latest technology; in fact, you will also be able to save a lot of money as you can choose the right products with the help of the technology …show more content…
Furthermore, under the skillful guidance of Assistant Professor, Mary Dubee, I observed a video, discussing, “How to Structure a Paragraph, supporting and developing your main idea and your closing paragraph.” Without the advice from experts, we cannot be proficient in writing. College is equipped with a diverse group of professional teachers that offer expert advice, ranging from technical, advisory, and educational.
The Faculty of professors here at Thomas Nelson, support student growth through various strategies given orally or through testing, visual aids. The VARK test included, visual, aural, read/write, kinesthetic awareness, giving us a greater scope and strategy for learning. Another tool invented by George Boole, an English mathematician in the 19th Century, called The Boolean internet search. It is an in-depth database search engine; having a sophisticated way to do
I always heard that college would be tough, but I went in to college with a set mind that I was going to finish strong and at the end be successful. I kept my head focused and always made sure to get my work done no matter how hard it was.
While first-generation college students are over half of all students in postsecondary education, exclusionary practices block their admittance into elite institutions. The outliers who receive admittance to the Ivory Tower may think they have made it—that their American Dream and long-held belief in the meritocratic ethos has finally paid off. Instead, they are confronted with educational stratification and social reproduction that was stacked against them long before they received the piece of parchment granting them access. The onerous task of navigating through unfamiliar academic and social situations often results in leaving. Can first-generation college students learn how to activate, manage, and accumulate social and cultural capital to navigate elite universities?
Although perhaps supportive of higher education, their parents and family members may view their entry into college as a break in the family system rather than a continuation of their schooling. In families, role assignments about work, family, religion and community are passed down through the generations, creating intergenerational continuity. When a family member disrupts this system by choosing to attend college, he or she experiences a shift in identity, leading to a sense of loss. Not prepared for this loss, many first-generation students may come to develop two different identities: one for home and another for college, the student might feel he needs to do better in college than his parents.
First generation college students are students who comprise a distinct minority within most institutions of higher learning. These groups of students are the first generation of students in their family lineage to attend a college or university (Allwood, 1966). Due to the lack of family guidance in navigating through the college experience, first generation students face an array of obstacles upon entering the realm of higher education. These students are less likely to obtain their bachelor degree due to finance, family support and retention, all which ultimately limit their college experience. Not only do these students experience issues migrating through high school into college, they also lack the necessary resources some students need to achieve higher standards. For instance financial assistance, mentorship, and other motivating factors that can help a student grow into a professional.
Longitudinal research conducted on 7,300 students in 2002 by the University of Georgia’s Institute of Higher Education found that, “The number of students defined as ‘first generation’ could vary from as small as 22 percent to as large as 77 percent,” (Smith). Defining what a first-generation student looks like constricts the discourse surrounding the provision of aid for students, which in turn devalues the experiences of any students who would otherwise identify as a first-generation student. This paper will discuss the different ways in which first-generation students at DePauw participate in self-presentation. Specifically, I will look at the ways in which first-generation students interact with their peers who are non-first-generation students, as well as, their families and friends who did not attend college, and I will examine if DePauw University can take further steps to aid first-generation students in their acclimation to college and bridge the gap between first-generation and non-first-generation students’ access to resources.
Most first generation college students are significantly older than the average, approximately 24 year of age (Pascarella et. al 2004). The surrounding low-income environments that many of these students are raised around can explain this late age. This financial pressure can also explain another category of first generation students, preparation (Chen & Carroll, 2005). These students are often less prepared to enter the college life. They have not been exposed to the necessary preparation needed to succeed on college admissions tests and furthermore don’t meet the performance requirements that universities and institutions require. Analyzing the prefaces that surround the environment of first generation college students aids in understanding current problems faced in college as well as assist in proposing solutions for this subset of
I worried so much about failing in college and not being about to fit in. But I am in need of this change to challenge me and prepare me for my future in which I’ll have more bills to pay, other than tuition, and a life on my own, completely free of my parents. College isn’t just a place for learning but also a place to grow personally and experience new things that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do if I was still a high school student or in other words, a child. There is still a lot of growing up I have to do but I am no longer afraid it because I know that being an adult and acting like one doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy my life like a child
A first-generation college student is someone whose folks didn’t attend or graduated from college. Many times, students face this reality and have no one to rely on. Some of the challenges this students face are unique psychological challenges. Although there is upportive staff in college, one of the most important roles of a family is support. Their family may see their entry to college as an insult or misunderstood their reason for wanting to have a major. In families, role are assign to each member such as working, cleaning or taking care of others. When one of the family members decides to interference with this system to attend to college, this one leading the student to a loss of personality.
Being a first generation college student has been my biggest struggle in life. For years, I was told to attend Allen Community College before any big changes of course I didn’t listen. For years I was told I wouldn’t last in a big university, I have been told I will be unprepared and behind. I have been told that three out of five first generations students do not complete a degree. Being told something isn’t possible is a hard thing to deal with.
...d the way in which she makes friends, also suffered. So what can other first generation college students do to avoid what has happened to Sarah? The answer lies in directing a passion towards learning and education in students and their families that will build self-motivation and avoid the negative predispositions of being the first in the family to attend college. While Sarah has not been attending the University of Miami for too long, her experiences thus far have given her a very good understanding of her position in this academic community, and nevertheless, gives a representation of first year first generation college students. Sarah is only one person though and may not be fully representative of the population first generation college students, but as a member of this community, Sarah’s input is essential to the ideas and views of the students in this group.
After years of research, Dr. Ryan Padgett and Megan Johnson (2012) found that first generation students lack interpersonal skills when entering college because they are unfamiliar on how to interact with individuals who have a postsecondary education. By demonstrating a certain lack of skills before entering college, Jennifer Guerra of the National Public Radio extends the findings of Padgett et al. by stating first-generation students feel out of place when assimilating to their college campus. When I began college I had a small group of friends, but when I was trying to introduce myself to new people it came as a surprise for them that my parents did not attend college. After the conversations ended, I felt uncomfortable on how to act or think because I had a feeling of misplacement when talking with my fellow peers. I began to lose the confidence that I belonged in school and how I could not be the “savior” for my family without
In conclusion, my dream is to become successful in college and benefit from college skills that will help me reach my future goals. However, I may have to be prepared for the obstacles that I might encounter, and learn to overcome them. Much of my success will depend upon my willingness to seek advice from experts and professors. In addition, I will have to learn how to build effective strategies that will help me achieve my dream of becoming successful students
As a first year student, college is an excellent opportunity to discover one’s own sense of identity and interact with a diverse range of people. Unfortunately, everyone will experience moments of confusion, loneliness, or even disengagement during their college years, which may cause a lack of interest for campus involvement. Through many studies, there are several theories that determine the parallelism between a student’s growth and their involvement interest, which also provides helpful methods for first year students to overcome challenges during this time. As Luckyday mentors this gives us insight to how to carefully approach different situations from mentees while forming a lasting impact on their transition from high school to college.
There are several qualities to have to be successful in college. These qualities can range from attending class to going above and beyond what’s expected. Success comes from the journey taken or the path chosen. Success also comes from being prepared. As a student, I must step up to the challenge and find the path to success along the way. Several ways I define success is to uphold academic integrity, have the ability to prioritize, and to motivate myself to stay on top of what needs to be accomplished.
As years pass, more and more high school students are continuing their education by going off to college. The importance of earning a college degree is higher than ever. College gives these young adults the opportunity to start a new life and work towards a career of their choice. With this new experience, these students have to learn how to balance their schoolwork, social life, and any other extracurricular activities they are involved with. As a result of this, students start to feel pressure from many places. Economic, parental, peer, and self-induced pressures have been problems faced by college students for many years, but since the late 1970’s, they have only got worse due to tuition rising, students overexerting, the use of