Self-Writing Experience

This week’s material on self-authorship is probably my favorite of all of the theories we have talked about so far. I just find this to be the most important job we have as student affairs professionals. The biggest challenges that I see today in my work with students is that they struggle with taking on responsibility and following through on their own actions. They often look for others to give them direction instead of taking charge of their own future.
Kegan’s use of orders to describe the development of the meaning making and thought process is very applicable to my work and understand how students operate. I think the biggest take away from Kegan’s work is his statement about the development process being painful and his development of the “holding environment” to assist students through this process. He emphasized the importance of encouraging development and growth while also supporting a student in their current stage of development. I think it’s important that we do not push students through development without really having a grasp on each stage. Within this concept is the chance for student affairs professionals to encourage reflection from students. We need to encourage our students to be involved and acknowledge them when they do something good. I think these tips can be applied to the advising process. Many students feel that they do not have the knowledge to be able to be active in their advising and class schedule. They look to advisors to show them what they need to do. I think there needs to be a different approach to advising those students. They need to be challenged to make plans and understand their academic track. If an advisor meets with them and shows them the steps to take and provides them with information to make their own decision, it will encourage development without making them uncomfortable. This is true with any aspect. We are able to guide students without taking control. The text also mentions that Kegan felt that in the classroom, students were operating on a lower level than was expected of them in the coursework. This is something that I think needs to be addressed when setting up curricula or an academic path. If a student just isn’t developmentally able to understand and complete tasks that the teacher requires, they will not be successful. I think it’s important for instructors to have classes that are centered on different orders and advisors need to know those classes. Advisors should be spending enough time with students to identify with sections they might do better in. Magdola provided a theory that begins in adulthood and offers a path or “phases” that students will enter self-authorship. The most important of these phases to me was the second phase of “crossroads.” Magdola says that a crossroads must occur before individuals will begin moving …show more content…
When they are free to speak and write about what they choose, it will allow them to become more aware of the self. This can be done by having classes that use free or creative writing or by hosting activities that encourage both participants and attendees to use creative thought. Some of these activities include poetry or other writing competitions, art shows, and student debates. We need to show students that we appreciate who they are and what they believe in, while pushing them to discover new things about themselves and their