Reflective Essay On Empathy With Students

Empathy with students and the struggles they may experience in specific units of study and/or their transition to university study
As a first year student the daunting experience of transitioning from high school to university is fresh in my mind. Being one of only two students to select Sydney University from my high school I can easily recall the vortex of mixed emotions I felt during O’Week. Whilst I was committed and ready for a paradigm shift, I was simultaneously dreading the uncertainty of my future. I recognise that university is a significant source of anxiety for many high school students who are apprehensive about leaving their comfort zone. Acknowledging that university can be an isolating experience, especially during the first semester, I wish to offer advice and support that transcends academics. Specifically, I remember it was the simple administrative tasks that were the catalyst of most of my anxiety – What is Blackboard and how do I log into …show more content…
On the one hand I had to ensure I gave each child equal attention, but on the other hand each child was unique and had different strengths and weaknesses, making it difficult to distribute my time evenly as the weaker swimmers required more attention and corrections. At the time I wasn’t aware that I was distributing my time unequally but after a few lessons I was notified by my supervisor of parents’ concerns surrounding the attention their child was receiving. Reflecting upon my own performance I considered the parents’ perspectives and understood that every child should be granted the same amount of attention, regardless of their skill ability. This feedback presented a significant challenge, as initially I was unsure how I could spend equal time aiding the weaker swimmers, whilst also bolstering the strong swimmers so they could move up a