Listening Lessons

Whether they embrace the descriptor or not, many honors students seek out and spend time with students in their cohort, defining themselves as part of an affinity group. While some view their privileges as well earned and necessary for success, others, who may love the depth of study that honors offers, prefer to see themselves as individuals with multiple interests. They see their membership in an honors program not as their primary status but as one among many identities. An equally important reason that students may not wish to emphasize their honors status is that, when trouble arises, they find themselves in the same predicaments as their non-honors peers: navigating difficult friendships, facing an uncertain future, dealing with failure, or suffering the consequences of breaking rules. Such struggles are roughly the same across all categories of students