Coaching Students Through the Existential Crisis

Those working with college students today may find many students asking: Why should I care? When students feel as though everything is unsettled and uncertain, they struggle to focus on the here and now, and pursuing their studies can feel pointless. Upheaval in Ukraine, the climate crisis, and the ravages of COVID have saddled students with intense concerns in addition to the challenges they would face in more "normal" times. How do we coach students -- and ourselves -- through these mental and emotional life, global, and health challenges? 

Recognizing the reality of the existential crisis many students face gives educators a place to start when considering how to help students move toward hope. Coaching can help acknowledge the difficulty and validity of those feelings, while giving students the tools to move through them and the perspective to persist.

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Questions like these can help students take positive energy away from a coaching meeting:

"When you think about what you can control, what action can you take to stay focused and move forward?"

"What job or career would allow you to make a positive difference in the world?"

"If you search the college course catalog using keywords related to what you value, what comes up?"

"What external inputs can you limit to reduce negativity – people, social media, or too much news?"

"How can you stay informed and still be inspired?"

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