Student Resource Activity: Student Cases
After reading the student cases below, use the student resources and support handout to determine all the types of student resources you would suggest that would help the students persist through school and be successful.
1. Abagail is a returning college student. She has been out of school for over ten years and is a recently divorced single parent with two kids. Even though Abagail received financial support, it was just enough to pay tuition and school fees; however, returning to school, she had to cut back on work hours while trying to scrap up enough money to buy a new laptop and tend to her children’s needs. Trying to juggle school, work, children, and with only one source of income has become too stressful, and now she’s considering dropping out.
2. Javier is a first-generation college student. He also works 40+ hours a week because he helps to support his family, who are undocumented workers. When Javier is not at work, he spends most of his time at school because he cannot afford to buy a computer or pay for internet services. Even when he tries to study from home, he is often bombarded by friends and family who question why he is “wasting his time” since he makes good money at his current job and is up for another promotion. Javier has tried to balance work and school, but his grades have been slipping because he hasn’t had much time to study. He knows he must give up something but doesn’t know what.
3. Mikaela is a college sophomore. She plans to transfer from Dallas College to a 4-year private university after graduating with her associate degree in science. Mikaela is applying for scholarships and volunteering in her community when she is not studying to safeguard her almost perfect high GPA. Two weeks ago, Mikaela started having difficulty concentrating in class; she failed an exam in one class and missed an assignment in another. One day, Mikaela began hyperventilating; after the professor calmed her down, she professed about being under extreme pressure to maintain academic excellence, but she just doesn’t think college is worth it.
4. Abraham is a 55-year-old veteran who suffers from high blood pressure. Abraham worked for the same manufacturing company for over 20 years, but sadly, his employment position was dissolved into another. He found a part-time job working for Meals on Wheels; however, later, his company offered to pay their employees –like Abraham to attend college and/or seek training in other job market skills. Abraham didn’t want to go to college, but after talking with his wife, she convinced him to try it. Immediately, looking at all the young students in the classroom, Abraham wanted to leave; he felt so old, and the classroom environment stressed him out. He’s been out of school too long. He did not understand the technology or pop culture references, and the professor required students to complete service-learning hours, which Abraham did not see the point. He did not know how he could manage everything, including his health.
5. Aya is an international student, and this is the first time she has been so far away from her family. Even though her teachers and classmates have been extremely kind, she often feels like she doesn’t belong. She has a heavy course load –taking college algebra, composition, anatomy and physiology (with lab), history, and government, so Aya spends most of her time in class and studying. She is doing exceptionally well in all her courses; her professors brag about her positive self-efficacy, and her classmates always want to be her partner; however, talking to her family back home is overwhelming. They tell her how proud they are, leaving her in tears and wondering if attending college in another country is worth it.
6. Michael is a returning student and one semester shy of graduating with his associate degree. A few weeks after the semester started, Michael’s parents kicked him out of the house because they found out he was gay. He stayed with friends for a while but couldn’t stay with them very long, so he’s been sleeping in his car and showering at school. Michael has a job, but he makes only enough to pay his car insurance, gas, and cell phone bill. Luckily, he works at a restaurant, so he usually eats there for free. Lately, Michael has been arriving at school late and too tired to focus; he’s also become unresponsive to his instructors’ questions and comments, and he rejects any opportunity to work with his classmates because he’s afraid they smell him or hear his stomach growl. Michael needs to find a place to stay, and he knows his job will give him more hours to save money to find a cheap apartment; even though he has one semester left, he’s considering dropping out until he can get back on his feet.
7. Kai is a returning student but withdrew from all of his classes last semester. Even though he’s enrolled in school, Kai remains unmotivated, even though he knows that the only way he can get ahead is by earning at least a certificate in Mechanical Drafting. However, to earn his certificate, Kai must complete his composition courses. Kai hates writing and never understood why he needed this course for his chosen major. Like before, Kai would attend class, but he did not take any notes or study the material, and sometimes he would not attend class, resulting in poor grades on the first two essays. Like before, Kai is considering dropping.
Read through the Student Cases file attached here. What Dallas College resources would you recommend to each student and why?
Complete this activity in a Word document. Write at least one full paragraph for each case study. Explain which resources would help the student and how. Be sure to research the resources on the Dallas College webpage before you begin explaining it.