Member David Rowe introduced our Guest Speaker, Kim Girard. Kim is a Professional Academic Coach, Youth speaker, and Author. Her topic of discussion is about making the transition to college a success.
Kim shared her background which included growing up the oldest of five siblings in Connecticut where she graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BA in Communications. In her first semester, she thought she could do college like she did High School and quickly found out that approach wasn’t going to work after receiving a 1.8 GPA in her first semester.
After graduating, she wasn’t sure about what she wanted to do, and then stumbled into Life Coach training and found her passion to help young people figure out what they wanted to do with their lives.
Some staggering statistics:
-1/3 of new college students don’t make it to their sophomore year largely because they are not emotionally prepared.
-Only 5% will complete their Associate Degree within the two years.
-7% of adults are dissatisfied in their jobs and careers.
One of the reasons why this is happening is that our kids are just not emotionally ready. Everyone seeks to have a connection and kids are no different than adults. By the time they have left High School, too much screen time and not enough conversation, our kids are lacking in communication skills. The college experience is new territory and they are not familiar with the resources available on campus and how to use them.
As parents, we don’t always set them up with realistic expectations or do enough to help build self- reliance. We don’t want them to fail and instead of helping, we can be enabling.
Then there are health issues. Emotionally immature kids can result in bad decision making. There is less physical activity in college and more to eat on campus. They can be sleep deprived with excessive homework, part time jobs, and extracurricular activities. They may be introduced to drugs and alcohol which can further the problem.
So how can we as parents and positive adult role models help? For one, by helping them to discover their super powers. Do ask them questions to help them to figure out what are their desires, passions, gifts, beliefs while being careful not to criticize but rather encourage. Secondly, teach them to ask for help. The college campuses have lots of resources to help them through the transition and to be successful.
“When your gifts are met with passion, you are unstoppable.”
International News….
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Rotary International Director Rafael M. Garcia III reflects on the 40th anniversary of Rotary’s polio eradication efforts in the Philippines in an opinion piece for the Daily Inquirer, one of the country’s largest English-language papers. The Manila Bulletin also reported on the anniversary and Rotary’s ongoing support of the Department of Health’s immunization efforts.
Two Rotarians from the United States — Peter Teahen and John Ockenfels — are combining their passion for polio eradication with their love of flying. In March, the pair will begin their seven-week airplane journey around the world to raise awareness and funds for polio eradication. Teahen and Ockenfels detail their plans in an interview with the Omaha World-Herald. |
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