The document summarizes the concept of the "Hero's Journey" as a metaphor for a student's experience in college. It describes key stages of the journey such as leaving familiar surroundings, facing challenges, gaining skills and insight, and ultimately obtaining a "boon" like a degree. It frames both traditional and non-traditional students as heroes and discusses how academic advisors can serve as guides to help students overcome obstacles and complete their journey through college.

1. The Hero’s Journey—
Your Adventure as a
Student
Nancy Goodman, MSEd, LPC
Central Academic Advising
goodnanc@isu.edu, 282-3277

2. • What is the Hero’s Journey?
• What is a metaphor?
• Who is the hero?
• What will mark your
student’s adventure?
• Who is here to help you?

3. What is the Hero’s Journey?

4. al
Refus
of the
Call
KNOWN
UNKNOWN
Re
fu
of t sal
h
Ca e Ref
us
ll
of th al
e
Cal
l
Refusal of the Call = The
Abyss
al
al Refus
Refus of the
of the Call
Call

5. What is a Metaphor?
• In English class…
• In Psychology class…
• In Anthropology
class…

6. The Hero’s Journey is Your Journey
The Hero You
• Are leaving your comfort
•Leaves the crowd to venture
zone to attend college
out alone
• Have many resources at
•Has aides, allies, and tools to
your disposal
assist in the journey
• Will have many moments
•Confronted by things that
of fear and self-doubt
are strange, foreign, and
scary • Will evolve into bigger
version of self
•Values and identity are
tested time and time again • Will gain values,
knowledge, and skills to
•Has something to offer
offer society that you
world as result of adventure
don’t have now

7. Who is the Hero?
Traditional Students Nontraditional Students
• Rite of Passage • Journey has led you here
• Differentiation • Don’t like current job,
process—who are divorce, job loss, bad
YOU? relationship, raised kids
first
• fear
• FEAR
• Doing it with cohort
• Doing it alone
• Choosing Adventure
• Adventure Choosing You

8. The Warrior Hero
• Fundamental Hero Archetype
• Protectors of culture, village, way-of-
life
• Moral code, sense of duty
• Call to defend
• Wounded warrior

9. What will mark your student’s adventure?
Revelations Trials
• Skill-building, • Discomfort, humility
• New opportunities • Fear, insecurity
• Knowledge • Existential
• Personal insight, questioning
epiphany • Fight for
• community authenticity
• Isolation

10. Threshold Crossing & Gathering of Allies—
Step 1
Threshold Locations Threshold Guardians
• Central Academic
Advising • Academic Advisors
• Student Success Center • Tutors
• Career Center (x2) • Counselors
• Adult Basic Education • Faculty and instructors
• First Year Seminar Allies
• College Learning • Supporters
Strategies
• Like-minded people
• Student activities
• How are you your own
ally?

11. Tools
Light Saber--external The Force--internal
• Degree plans • Belief system
• Study skills • Sense of self
• Weekly planner • Healthy attitude
• Time management • Resiliency
• Appointments • Flexibility
• Support system • Discipline

12. The Boon
• Metaphor
• What does the dragon protect?
• That treasure is yourself—your best
self
• The dragon is also you
• Aspects of yourself that block your
own path
• What dragons might you have to slay
on the way?

13. The Boon
• Bachelor’s Degree!
• Long-term career flexibility
• Enormous accomplishment
• Intellectual knowledge and insight
• Connections and experience
• Growth that will last a lifetime
• Expanded sense of self
• Work ethic

14. Let us help you!
• Make an appointment
• Stop in
• Visit faculty’s office hours
• Visit writing or math lab
• Join an organization

15. For More Information
• The Power of Myth
• The Hero With a Thousand Faces
• An Open Life
• www.jcf.org
• Finding Joe
• Opus Archives, Pacifica Graduate
Institute
• The Heroine’s Journey
• Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway