The Eagle Adventure (TEA): A Unique Approach to First-Year Adjustment and Retention

1. The Eagle Adventure (TEA): A Unique Approach to First-Year Adjustment and Retention Dr. Brent Wolfe, Assistant Professor Dr. Kristi Motter, Association VP for Financial Aid Ms. Wynde Fitts, Director of the First-Year Experience The University of Southern Mississippi

2. Overview • Adventure orientation programs • TEA goals • Methods for goal attainment • Outcomes

3. TEA Description • Administrative • Office of the First-Year Experience • Office of Financial Aid • Academic component

4. TEA Description • Programmatic • Ropes course • Canoeing • Camping • Solo • 4-mile run

5. TEA Goals • Facilitate adjustment to University life • Encourage emotional, social, and personal development • Facilitate development of positive attitudes toward Southern Miss • Increase awareness of local and regional recreational activities • Provide opportunity for student leadership

6. Methods for Goal Attainment • Group discussions • Journaling • Natural consequences • Constant comparisons • Trip experiences

7. Lessons from the Velveteen Rabbit • “Last night I learned the significance of the Velveteen Rabbit. We are all real to our parents because they love us. Everything that makes us, us, comes from them. Going to college is like becoming real because we get to become individuals. We won’t be molds of our parents any more…

8. Lessons from the Velveteen Rabbit • “We get to develop new traits that will form us into adults. Our true friends will love us for who we are no matter what, and only people who don’t understand us will think we are strange. I’m excited about going through the REAL process. It takes your whole life and it isn’t always fun. It’s difficult because of the things we all have to learn and endure before we can be considered our own people—real people…

9. Lessons from the Velveteen Rabbit • “The process involves deciding about your morals and ethics, what religion you want to be, what you want out of life and from your life partner. The road to becoming real is bumpy but it is also the ride of your life. It’s also too short to not stop and admire the sights every once in awhile. So live every minute like it’s your last. Make choices and learn from their consequences…

10. Lessons from the Velveteen Rabbit • “Don’t judge others simply because they are different from you. Remembering that the only reason they seem odd is because you are too blind to understand their “realness.” Have an open mind but also concrete ethics. Know thyself. Don’t let anyone change that or lure you into a life that contradicts your morals or who you are. Only by being true to yourself and discovering who you are can you ever become truly REAL.”

11. Lessons from the Velveteen Rabbit • “In addition to overcoming my physical fears, I had to overcome social ones. I am usually so worried about everyone liking me that I forget to just be myself and “become real” like the Velveteen Rabbit. This trip has taught me that it is more important to have a few people love the real me than to have everyone love the “stuffed” me.”

12. Adjustment to University Life

13. Student Comments—Adjustment to University Life • The stuff we’ve been doing has helped us in other ways that we can apply to college: for one thing we’re very independent while we’re out here. Very similarly to life away from home. We’re free to choose to do the right thing and are faced with natural consequences rather than lectures for bad judgment calls.”

14. Student Comments—Adjustment to University Life • “I really think that by not giving up on these tasks has helped me build up determination for not giving up in school. These are some of the hardest days I have had so if I can accomplish this, I can do anything…I am committed and I have the heart to do the job.”

15. Student Comments—Adjustment to University Life • “I am quite surprised at how educational this trip was. I have learned so much that even words can’t describe. Living with all these people has definitely prepared me for the dorms.”

16. Preparation for Southern Miss

17. Emotional, Social, & Personal Development

18. Student Comments—Emotional Development • “Sure the pole was a little unstable, but so is life at times. Sometimes we just have to look back and see what we put into something in order to make that final leap toward our goals.”

19. Student Comments—Emotional Development • “The storm last night taught us a few things too. Even when stuff goes wrong and you know it will, the storms will pass and you can overcome them. Just like life away from home. Sometimes we’ll be scared, homesick and feel like just giving up and moving back in with mom and dad. What we have to realize is that bad things, even unexpected things, happen for a reason.”

20. Student Comments—Emotional Development • “Managing through that storm can be related to college in this way: just like difficulties, the storm came to pass. And it shows by our continuance on this adventure that it takes more than an obstacle to keep strong-willed, independent, young adults from finishing what they start and working til the end to achieve their goal of success.”

21. Student Comments—Emotional Development • “I am stronger now than I was before. More seasoned and experienced. I can take on the world. I feel wonderful knowing that I have conquered The Eagle Adventure, and I welcome any new task that is set before me. I am strong enough.”

22. Student Comments—Emotional Development • “We didn’t finish it [dangle duo], but I’m glad we tried. I don’t feel like we failed, only that we set a goal and accomplished it, even if that goal was different from the rest of the groups.”

23. Student Comments—Emotional Development • “I accomplished my most desired goal today—my self-confidence problem. We had to do a number of activities today (all having to do with weight) and at first I was very nervous but by the end of the activities I feel totally comfortable with myself. I think this is the best I’ve ever felt. I don’t feel like an outcast at all and that’s really cool too. I am very happy here and I can’t wait til tomorrow.”

24. Participant’s Comments—Social Development • Day 1—Perseverance • Day 2—Endurance • Day 3—Efficient • Day 4—Tolerance • Day 5—Eclectic

25. Student Comments—Social Development • “I am learning so much about people that cannot be taught in a classroom.”

26. Student Comments—Social Development • “It just felt so good to work together as a team and conquer the impossible.”

27. Social Development

28. Made New Friends

29. Taught to Interact with Others

30. Student Comments—Personal Development • “This whole experience is outside of my comfort zone, but I really want to expand my boundaries and grow as a person.”

31. Student Comments—Personal Development • “I plan on taking all these lessons with me and refining them, even adding to them with my college experience. I hope that when I graduate I will be the woman I want to be. The Eagle Adventure has greatly improved my chances of achieving this goal.”

32. Student Comments—Personal Development • “Today I discovered that the river can represent your life. In places it was easy to paddle and move downstream equaling the easy parts in your life. But there are also calm spots or even back currents where it seems almost impossible to move forward—sometimes even getting turned around and doing circles. These moments represent the struggles in your life. You have to remember that by pushing on you prepare yourself to enjoy the other parts of your life.”

33. Student Comments—Personal Development • “I am standing up for myself better since TEA.”

34. Personal Development

35. Taught About Myself

36. Beneficial to Me

37. Positive Attitudes Toward Southern Miss • Selection of student leaders • Discussion of traditions • Cheers • Campus activities • Campus organizations

38. Student Comments—Positive Attitudes toward Southern Miss • “Today has been awesome!! Canoeing was 110% better. Having fun with my future classmates really inspires school spirit. Dusty and I did Southern Miss cheers while floating down stream today and everyone joined in. It was great! We also now have plans to attend the 1st football game together.”

39. Student Comments—Positive Attitudes toward Southern Miss • “We had fun on the river singing, joking, and practicing our USM cheers.”

40. Attitudes Towards Southern Miss

41. Student Comments—Future • “We humans tend to let things like opinion and ridicule rule what we do. If I have any wish for the friends I have made here, it is for them to find who and what they are and not let matters of opinion and ridicule steer them into something they have not chosen for themselves.”

42. Student Comments—Overall • “Would I do this trip again? Probably not, but I would definitely recommend it to some friends.”

43. Student Comments—Overall • “Although I thought I would hate it, it has been one of the best experiences of my life.”

44. Student Comments—Overall • “TEA changed my life.”