The A
Boomerang February 2018
EXTENSIONS, REDUCTIONS, LEAVES OF ABSENCE: Are students becoming less resilient? by Jamie March
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s we draw closer to the test weeks we are faced with a recurring scene. The atmosphere becomes a tinge thicker, people scurry by just a bit faster, and if you look closely at the faces of the students, they just seem a little more dead inside. While the stretch leading up to the exams seems unconquerable, ultimately we all pull through. For some of course, this process is harder than for others, and for them, the community presents a set of tools. If for whatever reason the social, personal, or academic pressure becomes too much to handle, it is possible to ask for extensions, as well as course load reductions. And, if necessary, a leave of absence. However, requests for these can often be seen as nuclear options, or a sign of the student having ‘given up’. An observation made by the tutor team is that these requests seem to have increased over the years, which begs the question, is this a sign of weakness? Are students becoming less resilient? Mark Baldwin on student resilience To keep it simple we’ll define resilience as the ability to recover from setbacks. Does each setback take a great emotional toll on you? Or do you easily manage to dust yourself off? I spoke with our Student Life Officer
Does each setback take a great emotional toll on you? Or do you easily manage to dust yourself off?
Mark Baldwin, who suggested that observers were mistaking the process of building resilience as a lack of resilience. To face and overcome adversity is a natural part of learning how to equip yourself to deal with issues that you may encounter. Since university is such a new environment, and adulthood is presenting many unforeseen challenges, it is understandable that at this point many students falter, and only then get the opportunity to build resilience. Perhaps students are building up their resilience a bit later compared to previous generations, according to Baldwin. This should not be seen as a problem though, and wherever appropriate people should be guided through this process if necessary, toward a more independent and mature approach. “There is very good evidence at UCU that students are eager and capable in developing resilience.” However, he does acknowledge the possibility of the ‘pathologization of human experience’ in some students. Baldwin proposed that in pathologizing regular human experiences, the subject sometimes removes themselves from a position of meaningful agency. “Rather than recognizing certain events, circumstances or feelings as part of life’s fabric – albeit uncomfortable – and ones which can be accepted or overcome with personal fortitude, there is instead an urge to see those same circumstances though a
Cover Illustrations © Barbi Ain Benza, Lotte Schuengel
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in this edition… • Andy 2 • Making Eating Garbage Cool
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• Wearing Pyjamas to Class?! 4 • Why I Don’t Own a Beret
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