I’m new to the world of Academic Support and Student Success. Though I’m just beginning this professional journey, I bring a unique perspective, having graduated from law school within the past five years.
During my time as a law student, I became familiar with the "everyone vs. me" culture that often permeates legal education. But what impacted me more deeply, and what I rarely heard others talk about, was the “me vs. me” mentality. So, let’s talk about it.
The "Me vs. Me" Mindset
This internal struggle is real for so many of our students. It's the voice inside that questions, criticizes, compares, and doubts, often more harshly than any external competition. It's rooted in perfectionism, pride, fear of failure, or all of the above. And it can cloud a student's judgment, undermine their confidence, and ultimately threaten their success.
Our role is to help students recognize when they are getting in their own way. Even when they can’t quite articulate the problem themselves, we can be a steady support system that helps them navigate through the fog.
So, How Do We Help?
- Create a Judgment-Free Zone. Our first responsibility is to hold space. A space where students can be honest, maybe for the first time, about how they’ve sabotaged their own success. Here, self-awareness becomes a superpower, not a source of shame. When students begin to unpack their habits, fears, and thought patterns, we listen without trying to immediately fix or reframe.
- Resist the Urge to Reassure, Right Away. It's tempting to respond with praise or affirmations: “You’re amazing!” or “You’ve got this!” While encouragement has its place, what students often need most is the time and space to see themselves clearly, both the struggle and the strength. Real growth happens when they begin to shift their own mindset, not just hear ours.
- Provide Tools and Accountability. Once awareness is on the table, we do what we always do: we support. We offer tangible strategies for class prep, exam readiness, and time management. We share tips for balancing academic demands with personal well-being. And we check in. Not just to track progress, but to make sure they’re not slipping back into old patterns of shrinking, hiding, or overworking to the point of burnout.
- Remind Them of Their Value. We remind our students that they were chosen, out of many, for a reason. Law school isn’t just a place they were accepted into; it’s a space that saw their potential and believed in their future. But they have to keep believing in themselves, too.
- Celebrate the Process, Not Just the Outcome. We help them set goals that aren’t just grade-driven, but growth-driven. We celebrate all wins, no matter how small. Each step forward is progress. Each self-aware moment is a victory. Each time they show up for themselves is a reason to cheer.
For the student battling the “me vs. me” mindset, academic success isn’t just about study strategies or GPA, it’s about learning to be on their own team. And for us, it’s about showing up with empathy, consistency, and tools that empower them to rewrite their inner narrative.
We’ve got this. And more importantly, they do too.
(Guest blogger: Kiana K. Wilson, Assistant Director of Law School Academic Support, University of Alabama School of Law)
