Some students are able to finish undergraduate in four years or less. I was one of those that took just over five. By senior year, I noticed something different compared to when I was a freshman; it is harder for students to learn how to cope and figure things out on their own. 

A non-technical term I learned in one of my psychology courses was that today parents are “helicoptering” their children more than in times past. 

If you are like me, you may not know what helicoptering means. Basically, it means that parents are holding the hands of their children and not willing to let them go. A term that I prefer is babying. Most people are babied. Even in college. 

I understand that life is difficult. And with more and more college aged students having to move back in with their parents due to the country’s economic issues, it is not that surprising that parents are holding the hands of their children. 

But, an issue arises with that. More and more of my peers are not knowing how to figure out stuff on their own. I understand that if you move into the dorms and were never taught how to wash clothes, you may need someone to teach you. This is understandable.

However, when my peers start to not even try to figure out stuff on their own, but rely on other people, this is where I have extreme issues. 

Yes, as an incoming freshman, you may be shy and timid. College life is a scary place. But at some point, you need to realize that you have to figure out things on your own or ask for help. 

If you are having issues in figuring out how to properly do an assignment or figure something out in regards to college life, you have to ask. In most instances, a professor will not come up to you and ask, “Do you need help figuring out how to properly turn in a paper?” Maybe if it is a predominately freshman class this will take place. But, we aren’t freshman forever. 

Seek help, ask questions, ask your peers, but don’t expect someone to know you need help or expect them to simply do something for you. 

Yes, in high school, we all may have had a teacher that looked out for us. Even in college we may find that professor or peer who solves our problems for us. But one day, we will be out in the world creating a life and future on our own. It is time to learn how to grow up, figure out things on your own, so you can fly and have a bright future. A bright future where you can survive on your own without needing to be “helicoptered.”

If everyone starts to become helicoptered, I fear for the next generation more than I fear for my own generation. We will live in a world full of adult bodies with the minds of adolescents simply because nobody was willing to grow up and function on their own. So, please grow up. If not for yourself, but the next generation.