Stress and student success

An article by Karen Costa, an adjunct professor working out of Massachusetts, addresses the issue of stress in students' lives with the apparent primary target of U.S. domestic students. Costa's views were partially informed by Medina's (2014) warning that our brains don't function as well when we are subjected to debilitating stress. If we want students to succeed, Costa recommends that educators take a more careful look at how to help students become more comfortable with their learning community and resilient in the face of intellectual and personal challenge.

Costa does not address the stress that may be different for international students studying in the U.S. or U.S. students studying abroad. However, it doesn't take much to sort out the variables that might cause more stress or make it more difficult to handle - cultural difference, language, family expectation, learning style, support system, and the presence of advocates for their learning. This article raises many important points that should be considered by international educators seeking to enrich student learning and achieve broader success for all.