Mother Knows Best, Even in College

Mother Knows Best, Even in College

A Saint Louis University first-year seminar offers the mother lode of real-world lessons and future-facing skills.

Sometimes, you just want to talk to your mom. Especially when you're away from home for the first time. Even as a college student.

Saint Louis University professor Shannon Cooper-Sadlo, Ph.D., knows what it's like for new college students, navigating life on campus on their own, away from their families and everything familiar.

"I've taught undergrads for a long time. Over the past decade, especially post-COVID, I've seen the struggles unique to this generation of students. As a therapist, I recognize that's what we're seeing across the board," Cooper-Sadlo said.

Cooper-Sadlo is a clinical professor of social work at Saint Louis University (SLU). She designed a first-year seminar called "Conversations with a Mom, but not Your Mom" that addresses specific needs of today's undergraduates.

These students came of age in a world overcome by a pandemic, overloaded with information and obsessed with AI. They are understandably overwhelmed - and looking for an education that will address their academic and social needs in the present while preparing them for success in the future.

Begin with Belonging

"One of the most important things for college success is for students to feel like they belong," she said. "I try to be intentional about creating this little community where, if nothing else, they see 24 other friendly faces on campus."

Like all of SLU's first-year seminars, Cooper-Sadlo's is small and discussion-based. Encouraging her students to build affinity and trust early on leads to better participation and even vulnerability about the weighty topics they tackle, including relationships, loneliness and grief.

"Conversations with a Mom" starts with theories from psychology and social work to get students to consider how they are shaped by their experiences and how they impact their community. As the course title suggests, the seminar also demonstrates how to have productive conversations.

"In general, students appreciate guidance on how to resolve conflict," Cooper-Sadlo said. "I want them to learn that it's okay to disagree. You can have productive conversations about boundaries and how to live together. You can be tolerant of somebody who comes from a different way of living."

Anina Montroy took the class when she transferred to SLU her sophomore year. She said Cooper-Sadlo's openness inspired engagement in her diverse class - athletes, sorority members, lots of different majors.

"She was so approachable and easy to get to know, which set a good tone," Montroy said. "People actually opened up. The class became a vulnerable space, which was cool."

Everything in Balance

Cooper-Sadlo offsets the course's serious topics, required readings and assigned reflections with more lighthearted activities. She sends the class on a scavenger hunt to get to know campus. She takes them to the rec center to play volleyball. She brings in guests to teach yoga and meditation. She gives extra credit if students go to a SLU Billikens basketball game.

"These are kids who grew up in front of a screen. A lot of times, they didn't get a chance to play," she said. "These activities get them engaged in the larger community. It shows them how to bring balance to their life."

At the Core

"Conversations with a Mom, but not Your Mom" is one of Saint Louis University's Ignite Seminars. The first course in SLU's common core curriculum, the Ignite Seminar introduces students to what makes a SLU education uniquely transformative.

Faculty design these seminars around their own scholarly interests: storytelling and city planning; healing arts and hacking; forensics, film, food. About 80 seminars are offered each academic year, and every new SLU student takes one. "Conversations with a Mom" is a popular offering.

While the topic can be almost anything, every Ignite Seminar gives students ample opportunities to connect and to practice problem-solving and people skills. Students are encouraged to take a personal approach to learning rooted in context, experience, reflection, action and evaluation - hallmarks of SLU's Jesuit tradition of education. The idea is to help them understand the world and their place in it.

"I hope that they take away a better understanding of themselves," Cooper-Sadlo said. "And I hope they start to recognize they don't have to have it all figured out at 19."

The voice of wisdom - spoken like a mom.