1.) What area are students hoping to find personal growth, where do they need personal growth, and how can we help facilitate personal growth?
I'm finding this a difficult question to answer because there is not one student that is the same. The Christian student has a completely different perspective than the atheist student as to their perspectives on personal growth. Engineering students might focus on managing their time better as personal growth while communication students consider improving their speech as personal growth. Personal growth could come in the form of better health for the 18 yr old freshman girl while learning to do laundry is the focus of the incoming freshman male.
Although I do believe each student has his or her own perspective of personal growth, I would have to say, at the risk of being to general, that students desire to grow in their independence or better yet, the development of their identity. I believe this rings true for every student from all walks of life. Not one student wants to go unnoticed. Some want to be known for their high school achievements while others want to start all over. Many are seeking to disengage themselves from the identity of their parents while some are trying to establish themselves as their parents' child by following in mom or dad's footsteps.
In my opinion there is a need for the student to not only grow in his or her identity but to grow in the development of that identity. Walking on to a college campus unprepared for the people, pressures, and pleasures that await is like the first day of Intermediate Hebrew. There is nervousness yet excitement for the first day or two, but eventually, the new wears off, friends drop out, and confusion and loneliness set in.
A student must know how to develop his or her identity in college, and that begins, from the college minister's perspective, when the student is in high school. We must make the necessary contacts with youth minister's and church staff in order to begin our relationships with student and their families early. One can prepare the student's through occasional conversations, college prep classes, and gradually weaving high school students into college events as they mature. It might be possible to kill two birds with one stone by having a college student mentor a high school student in hopes of making the transition easier for the high school student and allowing the college student to serve the body of Christ.
2.)Considering the 5 stages of Emerging Adulthood and 4 College Subcultures, how can we gain influence in a student’s life?
Since it seems to be the age of insecurity and selfishness, I would have to say that we gain influence by walking through this insecurity and selfishness with them. It is so easy for us to stand our stage and tell them to get involved with a ministry or church. I have a problem with thinking that just because I've been through it that I must share my experiences and that will surely give them everything they need to know. The one thing I forget is that I am not them and they are not me.
Insecurity cannot be met with commands to do this and don't do that. Insecurity must be met with compassion and understanding of why the student is insecure. Selfishness is not stamped out by telling someone to be unselfish. It takes time to develop those relationships and live out unselfishness in front of the student. We gain the ability to do this by attending their Greek social events, showing an interest in their athletics, and revealing ourselves to be human just as they are.
3.) Name a few significant markers in a student's faith pilgrimage.
For me it was the guy who decided he was going to invest in this sophomore punk that he needed to move in just so he could make rent. He decided not to treat me as financial aid but as someone who needs mentoring and confidence in himself. I hated him for the first three months, but somewhere along the way it clicked that this guy cared that I grew up.
Another huge marker was my first International Mission trip. It was my first time on a plane, first time overseas, and first time in charge. Sometimes you just don't know what you're made of until you allow yourself to be in a situation that is uncomfortable.
