This study explores how first-year college students narrate their early university experiences as acts of life writing, positioning language and storytelling as central to the construction of identity and belonging. Drawing on reflective paragraph write-ups produced by students during their initial semester, the research examines how these narratives serve not only as records of transition but also as sites of cultural negotiation and self-representation. Through qualitative narrative analysis, the study identifies key themes related to adaptation, community, and personal transformation, showing how students use language to make sense of their new academic and social worlds. Comparisons with traditional forms of life writing—such as diaries, memoirs, and oral histories—reveal both continuities and innovations in how youth articulate identity in educational contexts. The findings contribute to scholarship on higher education transitions, applied linguistics, and life writing by demonstrating how narrative reflection can support students’ sense of belonging and enhance pedagogical approaches to first-year writing and self-expression.

Authors:
Ramya Devi Bommanaboina, National Institute of Technology Warangal, India
David Coker, American College of Education, United States
Lalitha Devi Bommanaboina, S R University, Hasanparthi, India

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Ramya is an Assistant Professor of English at NIT Warangal. With a PhD from IIT Bhubaneswar, her research focuses on English Language Education and academic writing. She advocates learner-centered teaching and global academic collaboration.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramya-devi-bommanaboina-4892b6148

See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule

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