First Year Experience

Developing Competence

Three kinds of competence develop in college - intellectual competence, physical and manual skills, and interpersonal competence.

Probably the most obvious of the development areas, intellectual competence is skill in using one's mind. Chickering & Reisser point out that it involves mastering content, gaining intellectual sophistication, and building a wide variety of skills to comprehend, analyze, and synthesize (1993). In essence, you will be able to make sense out of your observations and experiences. Since you are attending college, one would expect that you would develop the most in this area.

However, your intellectual development may be hindered if you aren't adequately prepared for college coursework. To assist your development, incorporate effective study skills into your routine. In addition, to stimulate your intellect, explore some research performed by UMD faculty.

Physical and manual competence can involve athletic and artistic achievement, gaining strength, fitness, and self-discipline. Chickering & Reisser state that we tend to thrive on competition and creation since our performance and our projects are on display for others' approval or criticism. Leisure activities, then, can become lifelong interests and, therefore, part of our identity (1993).

During college you will notice some physical changes to your body. At this stage in your life, your body is finishing developing and readying for adulthood. Paying attention to these changes and taking care of your body is important during your college years. Sitting in a classroom, doing research in the library, and studying in your room can cause mental and emotional fatigue. You need to prepare your body for some long days of studying by making sure that you get plenty of exercise. Finding physical activities to engage in is rather easy as UMD and the Duluth community have lots to offer students. Please check out the following activities:

• Skiing
• Sports Clubs
• Duluth Sports
• Physical Activities
• Life Fitness

Chickering and Reisser point out that interpersonal competence entails the skills of listening, cooperating, communicating effectively, as well as the ability to align personal agendas with the goals of the groups, and to choose from a variety of strategies to help a relationship flourish or a group function (1993). Students' overall sense of competence increases as they learn to trust their abilities, receive accurate feedback from others, and integrate their skills into a stable self-assurance.

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Reference:
Chickering, Arthur, & Reisser, Linda. Eduation and Identity. Josey-Bass: San francisco, CA 1993