Students should embrace post-secondary life, says Halifax-based expert

As post-secondary school gets underway for another year, many students are living away from home for the first time in their life, and a Dalhousie University professor calls it an exciting time.

But Dr. Stan Kutcher said a shift in parenting styles over the past few decades means students are entering post secondary education more nervous and less independent than ever.

“It's fascinating to see how our social discourse has changed,” explained Kutcher. “Twenty or 30 years ago it was a really exciting time, a chance to get away from home and stand on your own two feet. Now it's a really stressful time and you have to be careful you don't falter and fall.”

Kutcher suggested society has become increasingly interested in safety over the sense of adventure and exploration, something he believes is playing a part in the stress modern students face.

He also notes what he calls “an interesting shift” in the last decade, saying students entering Jr. and Sr. high school are seeing that time in their life as being exciting and positively challenging.

But despite the perceptions, Kutcher said students should embrace this next step in their lives. 

“You're entering a new phase in your life. It's going to be exciting, it's going to be challenging, it's going to create opportunities for you like you've never imagined,” he said. “Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to embrace it enthusiastically, enjoy yourself and get on with living.”