A bit of reflection, Take One

Hi all,
For those that don't know, I'm the 'perpetual student'. There is something about being a student that I cannot get away from... ;)

Every now and then, I find an assignment worthy of being posted on my blog, and here is another one that I hope creates some personal thought, fond memories of your own school experiences, and the strength to realize that simply because you may not be in school, you never stop learning, growing, or loving. Skip this if you're not interested in learning my thoughts on theories, or read it if you think you could possibly perhaps be interested in theories (I don't mention any specific theories currently).

Theories.
I'm firmly in the camp that believes a theory is going to be difficult to remember until you can see it in action or directly relate it to a moment within your own life. Learning a flood of theories meant to help understand the college student has plunged me into a sea of reflection on my own college experience...and some of these theories would have been good to know a few years ago to know that "life's greatest tragedy" was simply a phase.

I also tend to reflect upon the experiences that my students tell me about in the trust I have developed as their hall director. Most of the students who talk to me are those who have been in my office to complain, gripe, or otherwise tell me that their college experience is being hampered by (visitation, the lack of a personal bathroom, their HORRIBLE roommate, the thin walls, someone who smells bad, etc. etc. etc.). It is so rare for me to hear a positive story from a student that is a resident.

Back to theories.
It's not that I don't respect the decades of work that went into the development of each theory created to better help those working with college students understand college students. No two college experiences are exactly the same (although I think everyone should have the opportunity to storm a field and tear down a goal post to carry through town...) but there are general concepts, such as the era of personal growth that students go through as they matriculate.

I understand the theories that I have seen students live out in my office or the theories that I can connect to personal experience. Hearing about theories through a lecture setting doesn't do it for me - but that is the struggle of the educational experience.

One thing that my students have worked to do in particular is "acclimate" me to the South. When you are transplanted to another region of the country, there are a few learning curves regardless of how 'developed' you believe you may be - the struggle is real.

In a nutshell, I am still seeking application. There are so many things the classroom experience can provide, but it is difficult for any instructor (and to think I almost did end up a teacher!) to be able to personally apply every lesson directly to each student without intimately knowing the life experiences of each student. Perhaps this is the motivation of my friends who teach young children...