Tag: life-long learning

“Am I good enough for this institution? Am I competitive enough for my peers? Am I smart?” were thoughts that haunted me every night of my sophomore year until 2:00 or 3:00 AM in the morning while a dim light from the street was the only hope I could possibly see for a brighter future.  

Being lost and overwhelmed is a common feeling for many students transitioning from high school to college. According to data collected by the American College Health Association in Spring 2019, 46.2% of college students that felt too depressed to function were first and second-year students. In particular, students who identify as members of historically oppressed identity groups such as low-income, LGBTQ, students of color, and international students are more prone to experience microaggressions and emotional trauma during their college career. To help students with their transition, colleges should carefully design their first-year seminar classes, across multiple disciplines, around topics of identity development and learning as a life-long journey. Such a curriculum will teach students about the art of discourse and skills to bridge the information gap in their knowledge.