Maine Maritime Academy

Department of Residential Life

 

 

The Social Transition

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We are concerned about your development as an individual - the way you think, your style of learning, and your interpersonal skills.  Instead of just focusing on giving you limited skills for a career, our programs offer you the chance to grow as a whole person.

 

That said, we know that a majority of this growth takes place outside of the classroom and that you will be constantly shaping your identity during this time at the Academy.  To help you maneuver through these changes, take some time to learn more about Psychosocial Student Development. 

 

Psychosocial Student Development, as researched by Chickering & Reisser, describes seven holistic areas of student growth during the traditional collegiate experience.  They include:

• Developing Competence - learning how to develop intellectual, physical, and interpersonal competence.

• Managing Emotions - learning how to properly express your feelings.

• Moving through Autonomy toward Interdependence - learning how to handle responsibility and be self-sufficient.

• Developing Mature Interpersonal Relationships - learning how to develop appropriate relationships from your 800 peers, and what it takes to develop an intimate relationship. 

• Establishing Identity - learning more about how to develop your own, personal identity.

• Developing Purpose - finding out how to develop a purpose in life.

• Developing Integrity - learning how establishing your identity and clarifying your purpose leads to integrity.