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One of the biggest challenges in higher education now is the transactional, performance-focused approach that many students take in college. For a cluster of reasons including financial strain, near-constant distraction, and parental or cultural or societal focus on performance goals, students often careen toward the finish line (the grades, and ultimately the degree) with minimal attention to the learning that is supposed to be the goal of the journey.
For coaches who have the opportunity to meet with students before or during the final examination period, there is a crucial chance to address self-reflection and self-evaluation. Even as students crawl toward the last task with whatever energy they have left, the coaching conversation invites them to take time to reflect. In such a moment they can consider what challenges they encountered, which obstacles they surmounted (and which may have foiled them for a time), what skills they've developed, where they let themselves off the hook and why and the learning they are taking with them (as well as the briefly-digested information they may be ready and willing to discard).
Even as your students may have one foot out the door, ask one or more questions like these, and you may find they stick around a bit longer, feel better for it and prepare themselves for the rapid feedback in the world of work outside of college. Life after college requires both the ability to self-evaluate and take constructive criticism from others so that growth and competence can take root.
- What do you consider your biggest victory this semester?
- What challenged you the most this semester?
- Of your goals, which do you need to work more on to get to where you feel you have accomplished it? What might you do to get closer to this goal next semester?
- Which strategy would you use again – and which would you not, pursuing greater skill in managing yourself?
- Thinking about your coursework, what is the most significant learning you will take with you? Why is it important?
- Where did you make excuses for yourself and how will you avoid that in the future? What will you gain from being true to yourself and skipping the short cuts?
Join LifeBound for a three-day training in inclusive coaching – or, if you've completed the three-day training, consider being a part of the summer LifeBound Certification cohort beginning in late May.
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