How Freshmen Enter The Educational Battlefield: Two Realities

Every successful freshman knows the feeling.

To enter the educational battlefield, the engaged learner must prepare for it. The night before class the student completes the assignment and mentally rehearses the ideas to come.

That night, the completed assignment is slid into its folder, giving solace to the academic soul.

All is as it should be.

The next day the student enters the classroom  . . .

They greet friends. There are no concerns for the battle at hand. They are enjoying the space called school.

When the teacher starts the class, the student reaches for the completed assignment and places it on the desk. There is no stress or concern, just execution and a small victory that feeds a desire to do it again tomorrow.

Ahead lies continued growth and learning.

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Every unsuccessful freshman knows the feeling.

To enter the educational battlefield, the reluctant learner must prepare for it. The night before the event the student mentally medicates by doing things that empower and give adrenaline to the body, mind, and soul.

An electronic screen is often a source of this solace. The backpack sits in the corner as a reminder of what is to come, but that is tomorrow and tonight there is freedom and control.

The next day the student enters the classroom . . .

greeting friends and dreading the start of class.

The assignment is asked for and the student brings out an old assignment hoping it will suffice. When accountability comes, a flow of excuses and defensive phrases flow to protect the freshman and fight off the shame.

Push it away.

It’s not important.

Hold on for just a little while longer. The teacher will go away. She is gone. That wasn’t so bad.

The student made it and looks forward to a time of power and freedom.

The student goes home.

The backpack is thrown to a corner; it is powerless here. The student mentally medicates by doing things that empower and give adrenaline to the body, mind, and soul. It is a Novocain for tomorrow’s discomfort. An electronic screen is often a source of solace.

There is no stress or concern at home in front of this screen, just execution and a small victory that feeds a desire to do it again tomorrow.

Ahead lies continued defeat and disappointment on the battlefield that matters more.