By Kaelyn Dickinson
Personal development is just as important as professional development. It is okay to be unsure about what characteristics make you great AND it is okay to accept and acknowledge the characteristics that make you great. Society has deemed uncertainty or “not knowing” as imperfections or flaws. As college students, sometimes, we are expected to have a plan for our entire lives, even though we genuinely may not know what our “plan” or “future”entails.
However, this is the beauty of personal development, especially on campus. There are no imperfections, just improvements that can be made to aid in growth. Each experience and learning process is a piece to our identity puzzle. In order to develop and grow, it is important to be open and acceptant change.
In college, we go through 4 years of growth, some more or less. Being in college is a process. From the beginning of the journey to the end, personal evolution takes place. As people, we change over time by the hand of experience.College is not a place that is solely centered around academic growth however, it is centered around personal development too.
Think of college as a farm, we (students) are seeds that come to college to seek cultivation. We are different in our own right, but that is what makes us beautiful. Our professors and those who influence can be likened to farmers. We trust that they have the proper tools to see our potential and aid in our growth. When the harvest approaches, the culmination of our college experience, all who have aided in our growth witness how we have reached or exceeded our potential. Keep in mind, in order to become great it is important to know what makes you great. Use college as a farm to cultivate your greatness. After all, it is the place that informs, shapes and enhances our identity.
- Embrace the Power of Autonomy
Freshman year was the most challenging time of getting accustomed to free will, freedom of expression and the concept of self-government. This is because, it lead to the road of independence and adulthood. My crutches had been removed and, it was time for me to walk down my own road. Of course, my support system was always present, but, in a passive way. I no longer had to ask others for permission to do things. Initially, this was extremely uncomfortable and scary. Believe it or not, I just did not want to fail at life or “adulting”. I overcame that fear by getting involved in campus activities. Also, I realized there were others in the same boat, afraid of being an adult too. Engaging in extracurricular activities on campus, I embraced my free will, freedom of expression and young adulthood. I also accepted that sometimes, I would might slip, but I could get right back up and move forward.
2.Communication Isn’t One-Sided
As an extroverted person, I’m a social butterfly, and love to talk. Being in college, I learned how to refine my extroverted tendencies and embrace the power of silence, the power of listening, and the power of sharing my joy with others. Each interaction you have with others is important because, a kind word, simple “hello” or even a smile can sincerely brighten someone’s day. Communication is key, because it is an important networking tool. It is also the glue that ties many of these pieces of growth together.
- Ask for help
When becoming an adult, pride and independence may play a strong role. I will be the first to admit this has hindered me from asking for help in the past. On the other hand, I understand the perspective of being a lost freshman and not knowing where to start. First, Mary Baldwin has made me realize there is no such thing as a “dumb question”. College is a learning environment, therefore questions are embraced because education is a part of success. Not only professional education but personal education. I have learned the first step is to reach out for help, because it exists for a reason. As college students we are in school for many reasons and one of those reasons is accepting that we do not know everything and, we need help to accomplish our goals and dreams. As a student, it is important to understand that campus help contributes to our independence and personal development.
Ultimately, as a student change is vital to the maturation and growth process. So, embrace the stepping stones and challenges because they are pieces to our identity puzzle which uniquely reflect our stories of growth and individuality.
Think of college as a farm, we (students) are seeds that come to college to seek cultivation. We are different in our own right, but that is what makes us beautiful. Our professors and those who influence can be likened to farmers. We trust that they have the proper tools to see our potential and aid in our growth. When the harvest approaches, the culmination of our college experience, all who have aided in our growth witness how we have reached or exceeded our potential. Keep in mind, in order to become great it is important to know what makes you great. Use college as a farm to cultivate your greatness. After all, it is the place that informs, shapes and enhances our identity.