And I think I had it hard
School is difficult. I found this out again last semester taking just a single Geography course while working full time. But it amazes me how many of my students manage to pull off much more difficult feats.
Case in point: today I had a conference with a student who's not doing well grade wise. He's missed several classes and assignments. I'm never sure exactly what to make of such students--sometimes there's a story, and sometimes they're just not mature enough to handle the freedom of a college environment.
In this case, it sounds like the former. He's an older kid in a seven child family. His dad is a "deadbeat" and his parents are in the middle of a divorce. He's working full time and also has to help care for his younger siblings--picking them up after school, for example. In addition, he's had two family members die so far this semester, one of them shot in west St. Paul for a gold chain he was wearing around his neck.
Would I even still be coming to classes if I were in his shoes? I did great as a student, but I had zero financial pressure, a stable family life, and no job. As an instructor, I feel almost no capacity to help guide this student--he's got a lot on his plate and there's not much choice about it. I've heard several stories like this one, and it always helps me keep my students' work in perspective. There's a lot of pressure (especially financial) in being an undergraduate, and it's amazing that as many get through it that do.