Executive functioning skill development and social/emotional growth is a product of all of the work that we do among the other five Touchpoints of the DTS program. We hear a lot of buzz words in field of college success, like “grit,” “perseverance” and “resilience,” and they are indeed critical life skills, but the process for cultivating them is less than quick or straightforward. You can’t teach grit, perseverance or resilience. Executive functioning skills need space and time to develop; they are cultivated with adult guidance and honed through practice. Students meet individually with their Advisor at least once per week to check in about their academic progress and talk through any challenging issues or situations.
Throughout the DTS program, our students have ceaseless opportunities to learn to be accountable for their (in)actions and manage their time efficiently, to push themselves out of their comfort zones and develop a growth mindset, to make hard decisions, to communicate effectively, and to be both leaders and listeners. DTS doesn’t solve students’ problems; rather, it provides a safe, nurturing place for students to practice addressing obstacles on their own and with their peers.
