People often ask me to compare our current college students with the crop we taught ten, fifteen, or twenty years ago.

I answer by saying that, of course, I can only speak for myself, and only on the basis of my limited experience. Also, generalizing about whole groups of people is always a little dangerous.

My students of ten, fifteen and more years ago were lovable and largely a joy to be with. That is the same story with my students today.

But I do believe a number of current students have particular needs we generally did not note in our student population several years back. Many college students in Taiwan now need more patience from us, and more nurturing of fundamental life skills than did students years ago. A disproportionate percentage of them lack an even elementary understanding of themselves and how their words and actions affect others.

Too many of our students have unrealistic images of themselves. Too many have squishy ideas about courtesy and, occasionally, honesty when dealing with others. And too many students lack the motivation to improve themselves early in their college lives. By the time they want to step higher up the ladder, they've no rungs below upon which to put their weight.

Both educators and students have their work cut out for them.