Hearing Students Out by Madelyn

Hearing Students Out by Madelyn - September 2023 Scholarship Essay

College seems to be a gray area in students' lives. They are transitioning out of childhood and the security and safety net of high school and living with their parents. Some still depend on their parents, while others take a leap of faith into adulthood. If I could change my school in a positive way, I would create a new system for listening to students, similar to an Honor Board. I would create a board of students who hold meetings, read letters, and address concerns straight from students. I know that schools can address concerns from students through faculty members and university employees, but sometimes that can feel impersonal and does not work out how students envisioned as they are not in the same position as the students.
Students should be able to voice concerns to people who can truly sympathize with them. I feel like if I had other students I could speak to, I would feel more heard and seen than if I were to write a letter or email, or even leave a voicemail, for a faculty member or university employee to see. Living in a new place can be daunting and creating meaningful connections to peers is important. Being able to talk and confide in people who know from personal experience where students are coming from can make all the difference when it comes to voicing concerns in school.