Many students are figuratively drowning from the weight of their personal lives or scholastic endeavors. They feel lost. They feel alone. They feel hopeless. They are frustrated, confused, and lacking confidence. Many are just crying to be noticed and for someone to simply recognize that they are alive, that they have a purpose, and that someone sees them for who they are. Most faculty and staff are not licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, or any other doctor specializing in these issues. But one thing we have found is that so often there is nothing more powerful than someone who cares. We might not be able to heal everyone, but a loving word, gesture, smile, or embrace can go a long way.
With this in mind, there are a few times a year that we invite our student leaders and each staff member across Student Affairs to carve out 15-30 minutes each day for a couple of weeks (typically during midterms and heading into finals) to “Focus on 5.” The task is to wander the campus and find five students each day to chat with, say hello to, eat lunch with, check on, or simply shake their hand and look them in the eye so they know that at least one person saw them and recognized their existence. We have found that amazing things happen when we get out of our offices and focus on five students each day. Focusing on five is a great way to nudge your team to make connections with students.
