Transformative Self-Mastery Skills Training for College and Life Success
Emerging adulthood is a pivotal—and often overwhelming—life stage. Many college students struggle with stress, anxiety, and depression that undermine academic success, personal well-being, and future readiness. Dr. Valerie René Sheppard’s groundbreaking, IRB-approved study conducted in a 4-year pilot program at the University of California, Irvine, introduced Living 101: Being Happy and Whole© and Living 102: Happy and Whole Practicum©—innovative, co-curricular courses blending non-cognitive social-emotional learning, practical spirituality, and self-mastery techniques.
Over ten weeks, students engaged in experiential learning, deep discussions, and real-life application projects designed to enhance mindfulness, emotional regulation, and resilience. Using validated instruments, the study found statistically significant gains in mindfulness (+6 points) and self-efficacy (+22 points) among 167 participants. Students reported lasting improvements in confidence, emotional regulation, and life direction. Though there are some limitations in full applicability of the data (detailed with suggestions for interventions in Chapter 5), the research offers compelling evidence for integrating holistic, SEL-based self-mastery training into post-secondary education policy and curricula.
This pioneering approach demonstrates how higher education can graduate more capable, centered, and compassionate leaders, ready to meet life’s challenges with confidence and clarity, transforming not only their college experience but their lifelong capacity for success and happiness.
Below is Dr. Sheppard’s full, approved and published doctoral dissertation.
EFFECTIVENESS OF TRANSFORMATIVE SELF-MASTERY SKILLS TRAINING IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION