Explore how Social Emotional Learning (SEL) helps students manage stress, build relationships, and thrive in college—academically and personally.
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24 Sep 2025
5 Min Read
Ishaanaah Ravi (Alumni Writer)
Explore how Social Emotional Learning (SEL) helps students manage stress, build relationships, and thrive in college—academically and personally.
Ah, college… the supposed ‘best years of your life.’ A time for finding your feet, growing as a person, and figuring out who you are. But let’s be real: between looming deadlines, awkward group projects, and the pressure of planning your future, college can often feel more overwhelming than exciting. Many students arrive with high hopes but quickly realise they lack the skills needed to manage stress, navigate setbacks, or build meaningful connections.
The irony? These skills are regularly taught in primary and secondary education but seem to disappear from college curricula—just when you need them most. Without them, you might find yourself stuck, burned out, or isolated. So, what exactly are these missing skills, and how can they equip you to make the most of your college experience—and beyond, into life?
Enter Social Emotional Learning (SEL)—an educational framework designed to help students develop life skills for both inside and outside the classroom. SEL focuses on five core competencies:
College life throws a lot at you—meeting tight deadlines, tackling group projects, and acing exams, all while balancing everything else that comes with being a student. It’s easy to feel tested at every turn, but students who excel academically, stay mentally healthy, and adapt socially often share one trait: they know how to manage their emotions, nurture relationships, and make thoughtful decisions—the very competencies SEL develops.
And research backs this up. SEL has a measurable impact on academic performance by supporting students’ engagement in learning and overall school functioning, while also promoting well-being and a sense of safety on campus, according to findings from a Yale study. Another study found that students who participated in SEL programmes improved their academic performance by an average of 11 percentile points compared to peers who did not.
Beyond grades, SEL plays a pivotal role in students’ mental health. Studies from the US found that during the 2020–2021 school year, more than 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem, and nearly three-quarters reported moderate or severe psychological distress. SEL equips students with tools to manage their emotions, including mindfulness to stay aware of their feelings, reflection to understand their responses, and relaxation to calm themselves when stress arises.
College is also a place where relationships matter as much as grades, and SEL has clear effects across both. A study of SEL implementation in higher education found that these practices not only improved students’ academic outcomes but also enhanced their interpersonal outcomes. Students reported closer relationships with lecturers, greater social awareness—respecting others, considering different perspectives, and offering help—and more positive classroom engagement.
For SEL to make a real difference, it has to go beyond theory. It needs to be woven into everyday student experiences—through the classroom environment, structured learning, peer interactions, and support systems. Here’s how Taylor’s College brings these principles to life on campus:
Tutorials create small-group settings where students can reflect on their progress, tackle new challenges, and work through problems alongside peers and tutors. The X-Space Classrooms facilitate this physically, with flexible seating and collaborative layouts designed for discussion, collaboration, and active participation—making the classroom an environment where social and emotional competencies grow naturally.
The Life Skills Modules equip students with fundamental tools for college and life beyond. Covering topics such as Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, Conflict Resolution and Empathic Communication, and Resilience and Adaptability, these sessions teach self-awareness, self-management, and responsible decision-making—competencies that prepare you for the complexities of study and work.
Clubs and societies offer hands-on opportunities to practise collaboration, communication, and leadership. Organising events, chairing committees, and working with peers from diverse backgrounds helps cultivate empathy, perspective-taking, and conflict-resolution skills. These experiences build meaningful friendships, strengthen engagement with the campus community, and put social and emotional learning into action.
The First-Year Learning and Mentoring (FLAME) programme and the Centre for Counselling Services (CCS) provide dedicated support for students facing academic or personal challenges. FLAME encourages reflection and goal-setting, while CCS offers confidential guidance and practical coping strategies. Together, they help students stay resilient, manage stress, and fully engage in college life while developing essential social and emotional skills.
College can be messy, unpredictable, and yes—stressful. But it’s also where you learn to handle all of that, with skills that go far beyond textbooks. SEL helps you make sense of your emotions, bounce back from setbacks, and connect with others meaningfully. As more institutions recognise the gap left by traditional curricula, embedding SEL across learning and campus experiences ensures students aren’t just surviving college—they’re building the confidence, competence, and resilience to thrive in life beyond it.
Ishaanaah Ravi is a Bachelor of Education (Honours) alumna from Taylor’s University and is currently pursuing a Master of Educational Studies at the University of Queensland. She enjoys breaking down educational topics into bite-sized insights and finds joy in simple pleasures, like volunteering, watching comedy shows, and building Lego sets.
