Being Away From HomeColeen Convery

Literature & SocietyDr. Sherry

2/15/11

Problem

How does being away from home affect your education here at Bloomsburg University?

Background

Rebekah Nathan› Attends “AnyU” as an incoming freshman.› To learn about our college culture she uses ethnographic

studies (moving into the dorms and observing other students). Although her method proved successful, a method I chose that also had positive results entailed observing pictures and studying detailed journals. “Student networks, like family relations, are ego based…

Most students, I found, had established a network of two to six friends who formed their core university community. From the “native” point of view, they got together because “we like each other”” (Nathan, 2005, p. 56)

This shows that students are going to click with people that have similar interests, hobbies, beliefs, etc.

Background

Rebekah Nathan› Interviewing Arturo about how AnyU

students different from students in Mexico? “There’s much more independence here. At

home, students live with their parents. Here families aren’t that tied together. My roommates call their dads and moms maybe once a week, and that’s it. It would be different if they were Mexican.”(Nathan, 2005. p. 73)

› This shows that independence is an essential part of success in a college environment.

Students at Bloomsburg University

How do students handle the freedom to choose their own successful path at Bloomsburg University?› How has your life changed being on your

own and away from home for the first time?

Method

Among the many different ethnographic methods available to find out about a person, I chose to use:› Take pictures of students rooms› Ask them what they do on an average day, and how they

manage their time at college. I also asked about what daily life was like for them in high school.

› Interview a few students who were different from me and each other.

I chose to look at pictures because they speak a thousand words. Then, I followed up by interviewing the people that owned these pictures to get a better understanding of what these individuals are like.

Findings (Dorm Pictures) This picture of a student’s

room shows lots of pictures. They are scattered everywhere throughout the room. In one spot they formed the shape of a heart. She also used some of her favorite pictures to create the word “LOVE” on her wall.› I concluded that since she

can’t be with some of the friends and family that mean the most to her, she surrounds herself with pictures of those individuals to make her feel like she has a home away from home.

The last place for the night and first place in the morning that this female student visits is her bedroom. Because of this, she gets to see her pictures at the beginning and end of each and every day to feel close with the people at home.

Findings (Dorm Pictures) I then had the opportunity to view

this photograph which was taken in a male’s dorm room. It is easy to notice the distinct differences between this one and the previous. This student resembles a bit more independence, and a greater interest in personal hobbies rather than friends and family. This individual seemed to be unwilling to post pictures of loved ones, in an attempt to prevent himself from getting lost in memories from home.

He looks to be an organized, independent, and responsible individual. After seeing all of this, wouldn’t one assume that his academics are held to the same standards as his personal hygiene and social life in his dorm?

Asking students to describe their typical day in high school and college helps to show how they use their time. At home, these students have to abide by the rules of the household, and are obligated to help with chores and projects around the house. With the student that I observed, I can tell that once they entered into the college life, they learned that it is essential to have more time set aside for studying. You have less time in classes, so it is entirely on you to find time to do your work outside of class. This student spends a lot more time studying now than they did in high school which could suggest that being away from home can help you be more focused on school work. College sports require added commitment to participate. College level academics require the same amount of added commitment, so committing to both adds an enormous amount of extra work. As a result, most students choose academics over participating in athletics.

Findings (Time Diaries)

College

Sleeping 8 hours

Studying 6 hours

Watching TV 1.5 hours

Work 2.5 hours

Eating 1 hour

On Computer 3 hours

Class 2 hours

Video Games 1 hour

High School

Sleeping 6 hours

Studying .5 hours

Watching TV 1 hour

Work 3 hours

Eating 2 hours

On Computer .5 hours

Class 6 hours

Video games 1 hour

Track 3 hours

Findings (Interviews) Next, I interviewed two college individuals about their college life and this is

what they had to say: How did you study in high school compared to how you study now in

college?› Student 1: I didn’t study in high school and now I study for each class› Student 2: I didn’t have to study in high school and now in college I realize the

subject matter is a lot more intense and that studying is definitely required. Do you believe that being away from home affects your education? Explain.

› Student 1: Yes, I believe if affects my education because I am more focused on school more than worrying about getting home on time for my parents.

› Student 2: Yes, I have to be more self motivated at college and there is no one else to blame but me if I don’t do well. In high school mostly everyone, including me, had their parents to blame if they were to do badly on a test or project. It’s harder to get kicked out of high school then college so there is more pressure on yourself.

Both students agree that academics take top priority to anything else here at Bloomsburg University when compared to their high school academic studying practices. Both admitted to not studying in high school. However, once they arrived at Bloomsburg things changed dramatically for both of them.

Both of these students feel that being away from home has some type of impact on their education.

Conclusion

The conclusion I came to from the people I have observed, is that being away from home does directly affect your education. Three items that all of the individuals I interviewed gave an increased interest in when transitioning from high school to college are: › More study time› Having more responsibilities › Meeting new people and becoming independent

Everyone has a comfort zone, and showing them through pictures is different individuals. Some prefer images of family, friends, and other loved ones. Others choose hobbies, interests, and personal talents to put themselves in their comfort zone while away from home.

My Reaction

After interviewing two individuals and studying the two images I collected of random dorms on campus, I saw similarities between both methods.

The photos revealed how two different individuals express themselves through posters and pictures. They both showed signs of neatness and organization, which I feel is directly linked to their success in their academic careers here at Bloomsburg.

Once I completed my interview with two other individuals, I observed a change in their view on the importance of academics when shifting from high school to college level academics.

References

Convery, C. (2011). Personal Page. Retrieved from http://sherry-adaptation11.wikispaces.com/Coleen+Convery. February 13.

Nathan, R. (2005). My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a Student. New York: Penguin Group, Ltd.

google.com/images