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Beyond The Degree
What I’ve Learned After Teaching Undergraduate Students for 20 Years
After two decades at the front of the classroom, I’ve seen a lot change — and a lot stay the same. Here’s what today’s students are facing, why some are struggling, and what we can all do to help.
If you asked me who’s more mature — a sixth grader or a seventh grader — I’d pick the sixth grader every time. That might sound strange, but hear me out.
I’ve taught nearly every grade level and noticed the same pattern in all four key educational transitions: K–6, 7–8, 9–12, and college. There’s something powerful about being the oldest in the room. Sixth, eighth, and high school seniors are now at the top of their proverbial food chain. And when students find themselves in that spot, something changes. They carry themselves differently. More confident. More responsible. More self-assured.
It’s not just about age — it’s about role.
Whether they realize it or not, these students have been cast as leaders. They’re looked up to, relied on, and often admired by those just a step behind them. And when you’re treated like a leader, you tend to rise to meet that expectation…
