Intentional Talks towards Academic Success

“You see, in this country are a number of youths who do not like to work, and the college is an excellent place for them.” - L. Frank Baum, Ozma of Oz

      While the above quote may seem an interesting start for a blog post about practicing and studying higher education, I remain a realist (as I told the RAs I supervise today). Baum is correct in that many college students do not like to work, yet still have an amazing experience. Divisions of Student Affairs across the country provide students with plenty activities to participate in outside of the classroom and assist with the procrastination from reading, writing, and arithmetic. However, I am also happy to say that there is also much those Divisions do to steer them back towards the studies.

     I surprised myself today with how strongly I felt about that function of my Department - that of assisting students in achieving academic success. I was reviewing our department's programming areas with the RAs I supervise, allowing them to come up with their own answers of the "why" for each of the areas (thank you to my colleague Lexi for that idea!), and then providing my own supplemental discussion of the "why." I found that the longest, most passionate, and best articulated supplement I gave in the area of academic success - not leadership development, social justice, or even community building, as I had expected.

     Part of this may be due to coming from a very academically-focused institution, or possibly even my background working in an office advising on applications for scholarships. On the other hand, though, I do see it as an essential part of Residence Life to help facilitate what is often the primary reason our residents are in school: to learn. And no matter how well-prepared they are or believe themselves to be, there is still so, so much that RAs can do to better prepare them, and most of this is through intentional conversations. Here are some essential topics of such intentional talks:

1. The main differences between high school and college academics.
2. How to read a syllabus and plan accordingly.
3. How to approach a professor for help and best utilize office hours.
4. How to best manage your time to make sure that you sleep rather than study at night.
5. Why you should study / read even though there is not an assignment or paper due.
6. What resources on campus are available for tutoring and/or help writing papers.
7. What are the best ways to get into class that may be full (may not apply to all campuses).
8. How to plan your course-load so that you graduate on time.
9. How to pick a major or minor to help you towards your professional goals.
10. How to constructively manage academic stress.

     The points above are not comprehensive, but you hopefully agree that they are important points for students to consider during their college years - the earlier the better - and having a decent conversations around them could better prepare them to tackle their studies. They do not have to enjoy the work, but they have to complete it in order to learn and graduate, and ideally these conversations will help them do so and make college an even more "excellent place" for them.

Quote Citation: Baum, L. F. (1907) Ozma of Oz. Chicago: Reilly & Britton.

Photo By: Me