Attention: You are using an outdated browser, device or you do not have the latest version of JavaScript downloaded and so this website may not work as expected. Please download the latest software or switch device to avoid further issues.
| 12 May 2025 | |
| Written by Andrew Eunson | |
| The Wyvern Review |
There is pride in what has been accomplished so far, but also stress about what lies ahead. The early optimism of Week 1 can begin to feel distant, replaced by a packed calendar of assessments, sporting, cultural and service commitments, and the ever-present pressure to “do well.”
At this juncture, it is essential to pause and reflect—not just on grades, but on balance, wellbeing, and purpose. For tertiary students, this is a critical time to recalibrate and find motivation in results and the journey itself. For parents, it's a valuable opportunity to support their sons and daughters with encouragement, empathy, and perspective.
This point in the semester serves as a natural checkpoint. Assessments are beginning to pile up, deadlines are looming, and for many students, fatigue is starting to set in. But now is far from a time to panic, it is the ideal moment for reflection.
Ask yourself:
These questions encourage a growth mindset—a belief that ability can be developed through effort and strategy (Dweck, 2006).
Students who engage in reflective practices often report greater academic resilience and emotional wellbeing.
Parents can assist by engaging in open conversations rather than performance-based interrogations. Instead of asking, “What mark did you get?” consider asking, “What did you learn from this experience?” or “What’s something you’re proud of this week?”
Academic excellence is undoubtedly important, but it should not come at the expense of wellbeing. Burnout is a real risk, especially in high-achieving students who feel the need to constantly perform.
Maintaining balance means recognising that rest and recreation are not luxuries—they are necessities. Adequate sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and social interaction contribute significantly to cognitive performance and emotional stability (Watson et al., 2017).
Encouraging involvement in co-curricular activities is one powerful way to create this balance. Whether it’s sport, rowing, music, debating, or service projects, these outlets provide students with opportunities to develop teamwork, leadership, and time management skills while also fostering social connection and joy.
University sport is more than just a physical outlet. It offers a structured way to de-stress, build community, and stay accountable. At the collegiate and intercollegiate level, sport is a powerful vehicle for belonging and pride.
Participating in team sports teaches invaluable life lessons—discipline, perseverance, dealing with both victory and defeat. According to the Australian Sports Commission (2020), students involved in sport report higher satisfaction with their university experience and are more likely to persist in their studies.
For parents, supporting a student-athlete means recognising the value of their commitment, even if it adds to an already busy schedule. Time invested in sport often pays dividends in overall academic and emotional wellbeing.
Rowing, in particular, is a deeply symbolic sport at many universities. The upcoming rowing regattas are a highlight of the calendar—not just for athletes, but for the entire student and broader college community. It represents months of early morning training, camaraderie, and shared sacrifice.
Beyond the spectacle of the competition, rowing embodies what many students are striving for: unity, discipline, and flow. Watching (or participating in) a rowing event can remind students that progress often happens one stroke at a time—and that the best outcomes come not from frantic paddling, but from synchronised effort and inner calm.
Equally important is the engagement with service activities. Whether through volunteering, mentoring, or community projects, service provides a crucial counterbalance to the self-focused nature of study and personal advancement.
Service invites students to look outward, to connect with causes larger than themselves. It cultivates empathy, civic responsibility, and gratitude—all of which have been linked to increased life satisfaction and reduced stress (Emmons & McCullough, 2003).
Universities often provide structured service programs that allow students to contribute meaningfully while also developing leadership and project management skills, and certainly here at King’s, we offer a myriad of opportunities for residents and associates to be involved with. For students feeling overwhelmed or disillusioned, service can be a powerful antidote—reminding them that even small efforts can make a big impact.
One of the most important mindsets a student can develop—especially at the midpoint of a busy semester—is the ability to “run your own race.” In a world dominated by social media and hyper-visible success stories, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of comparison.
A friend’s internship offer, another’s academic award, or someone else’s picture-perfect extracurricular résumé can create an illusion that “everyone else” is excelling—except you. But this perception is both inaccurate and harmful. Just this week at the Cooper Foote Society night, the guest panel spoke to this point exactly. Life and careers are long, and students should be encouraged to take their time and not rush to compete as it is a sure sign of possible burnout.
Psychologist Brené Brown notes that comparison is a thief of joy and a source of shame (Brown, 2012).
It shifts focus from growth to inadequacy and from collaboration to competition. The irony is that the more we compare ourselves to others, the more disconnected we become from our own values and goals.
So how do you break free?
For parents, watching a child navigate university can be both a joy and a source of anxiety. It’s natural to want the best for them—but that desire can sometimes translate into pressure, comparison, or micromanagement.
The best support parents can provide is not a roadmap, but a relationship. One built on trust, empathy, and belief in their child’s capacity to find their own way.
Encourage curiosity over control. Ask open-ended questions. Celebrate the effort as much as the outcome. And most importantly, remind your child that your pride and love are not conditional on their performance.
University is a time of identity formation and independence. Students need space to try, to fail, to pivot, and to grow.
As the semester progresses, it's easy to feel like time is slipping away. But this time can be incredibly productive and fulfilling—especially when approached with clarity, balance, and authenticity.
Here are some strategies to make the most of the weeks ahead:
At this point in the semester, it’s easy to feel like you should be further along. But growth takes time. You are not behind. You are becoming.
Whether you're navigating tough assessments, training for the rowing regatta, volunteering in the community, or simply showing up every day—that is enough. That is progress.
Run your own race. Trust that your path, with all its twists and challenges, is leading somewhere meaningful. The world doesn’t need a carbon copy of someone else. It needs you—authentically, courageously, uniquely you.
And to parents: thank you for being the cheerleaders, the listeners, and the steady hands behind the scenes. Your presence matters more than you know.
Let this midpoint be not a moment of stress, but a springboard for growth.
I am looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at both the Parent’s Cocktail evening as well as the ICC Regatta.
References
Community Engagement, Service and Support More...
