Adolescent to Adult: transitions and completing a university degree. Dr Garry Squires Director of the Doctorate in Educational Psychology St Martin’s Institute of Information Technology, Hamrun, Malta 2012

Hopes and aspirations Dr Garry Squires Study Enjoy the course Be challenged Develop as a person Get a good job Have a good life Be happy Acquire a set of transferable skills

Where did it all start? Dr Garry Squires 20123

Adolescence is a difficult time for everyone "Our youth now love luxury, they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders, and love to chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up their food and tyrannize their teachers." Dr Garry Squires Socrates circa 399 BC

Erikson’s 8 stages AgeTensionAspect of Personality InfancyTrust mistrustHope Early childhoodAutonomy shame and doubtWill Play ageInitiative guiltPurpose School ageIndustry inferiorityCompetence AdolescenceIdentity Role confusionFidelity Young adulthoodIntimacy isolationLove MaturityGenerativity stagnationCare Old ageIntegrity despair and disgustWisdom Dr Garry Squires 20125

Identity by group dress and behaviour Dr Garry Squires 20126

Levinson Two main tasks for the transition from adolescence to young adulthood (17-22): – Separate from home and dependence on the family (greater autonomy, independence) – Find direction as an adult (purpose, identity, relationships) Dr Garry Squires 20127

What helps? Developing identity – Who am I? Who will I become? – Opportunities to socialise – Positive role models – Trying out different roles within safe boundaries – Joining clubs and societies – Stability of home relationships – Checking against anxious rumination – Opportunities for new experiences and controlled risks Dr Garry Squires 20128

Enjoy a range of activities Dr Garry Squires 20129

Tensions for parents Safe boundaries allowing more autonomy and possible risk Helping keep academic focus independent learning Encouraging social development sufficient time to study Our standards and morality developing standards and morality Dr Garry Squires

Helping with time management Note lecture times and days Encourage planning for deadlines – especially when different course modules might compete or overlap with submission deadlines. Plan time to study and time out from study (including free time) Encourage students to book times to see their lecturers Dr Garry Squires

Organisation Space to work and space to store files Computer systems and backups Home routines established and responsibilities – helps plan rhythm of day Make use of IT – mobile phones/iPads with notes/memos, e-calendars & task lists e.g. Google calendar/Outlook etc Plan for exam times – these are likely to be more stressful Dr Garry Squires

Support for a few students Most students will experience periods of anxiety or depression at some point in their studies, however for a few this becomes so great that it interferes with their lives Some students may need strategies to help them with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD or other conditions. In the UK, these students are entitled to ‘reasonable adjustments’ for learning and assessment. Dr Garry Squires

Transferable skills Planning the job CV starts now. As well as each course followed there are a number of transferrable skills – these vary from course to course. Here are a few: – Group working and team working, – communication skills, – leadership skills, – working to multiple deadlines, – written communication, – presentation skills, – IT skills, – numeracy skills, – research skills – Maintain independence of thought and be self-reliant (self- confidence) – Capacity for self-discipline, motivation and diligence (independence) – Respond positively to changing circumstances (adaptability) Dr Garry Squires

Summary You have done a great job so far. Your children are growing up and have started their degree! Transition is a difficult time. It provides tensions for parents and for their children. For students, there are dual tasks – growing into a young adult & engaging in a degree Doing a degree also helps with personal development and transferable skills Parents can help with simple things. Most young people succeed without any major difficulty Dr Garry Squires

Hopes and aspirations Dr Garry Squires Study Enjoy the course Be challenged Develop as a person Get a good job Have a good life Be happy Acquire a set of transferable skills