A simple question can help you and your student communicate about some things that really matter: “What is making your world bigger these days?”

For some students, the answer may be meeting people from different cultures or attending diverse activities on campus. Others may have their worlds enhanced by performing community service or championing social justice causes. Or maybe it’s something your student learned in a class that makes him feel the world has opened up a bit.

Your student may also have nothing to share when it comes to this topic. If so, that’s a good time to discuss options he can pursue, from study abroad possibilities to language classes to starting a volunteer gig this summer. Even one action can make the world exponentially larger!

Consider sharing the types of things that make your world bigger, too. A conversation, an experience… there are many things, big and small, that help us grow. By sharing this type of discussion with your student, both of you will have an opportunity to experience a bigger world, too.

This article was prepared for our institution by PaperClip Communications, www.paper-clip.com. Copyright 2011. 125 Patterson Ave., Little Falls, NY 07424