Seasonal Student Issues
There's a seasonal ebb and flow when it comes to student issues. Here are a few things your student may be experiencing this month:
- Getting adjusted to college life for the first time (or once again) — feelings of loneliness and homesickness
- Worries about being able to handle academic pressures and schedules
- Anxiety about perceived restrictions of campus policies
- Roommate adjustments and conflicts
- Money management struggles
- Experimentation with drugs and alcohol
- International students may feel confusion, vulnerability and lack of advocacy
- Lack of social life and lots of questions about how to get involved in new activities
- Feeling sad about leaving established friends and family at home
- Concern about issues of "belonging" and finding a comfortable place on campus
- Excitement coupled with anxiety about making a fresh start
- Worry about academics being "hard" and beyond their abilities
- Thinking about what type of first impression they'll make
- Concern about roommates and housing (if living on campus)
- Wondering what to pack and what to leave at home since space will be limited
- Possibly transitioning into a long-distance relationship or deciding to end a current relationship
- Financial worries — wondering if they'll be able to make enough during the summer and also how much they'll need to work once school begins
Prepared for our institution by PaperClip Communications, www.paper-clip.com. Copyright 2006, 125 Paterson Ave., Little Falls, NJ 07424