Throughout the semester, I have learned about multiple theories about student development and group setting that I will apply as a FIG mentor. Student development is composed of three categories: developmental, social science, and social.
The development of a first-year student is critical as they make the transition from high school to college. In college, students are going to change. For many, this is the first time they will have to live with roommates, feed themselves, and be exposed to different points of views and ways of life. In order to assist this development as a mentor, I will be an build a trusting relationship through effective communication, but also be an active listener when mentees come to me with personal issues or dilemmas.
The second aspect of student development is social science. Social science theory shows that students who put more effort into their educational experience leads to increases the quality of learning and development. As a mentor, I will be there to help mentees explore their major, make course selections, and get involved in academic based organizations which will help their educational…show more content… I would add the Words Matter seminar and a faculty visit. These two seminars are required topics for FIGs and will address both academic and development building blocks of FIGs. In particular, the Words Matter seminar will improve upon the student's development. Students will learn about microaggressions and how what seems like little comments can leave a lasting impact on individuals. The faculty visit will be beneficial to the student’s academic development because it will help break down the boundary between students and professors. Hopefully, after the visit, the students will be able to see professors as a person and not necessarily as a superior figure. The visit will give students confidence to go to office hours and not be afraid to ask for
