A while back, we took advantage of summer time to sit in on a few college-orientation sessions targeted to new students. The experience reminded us of when we attended such sessions with our sons and daughters. We’re glad our kids made it through relatively unscathed. College – academically, socially and emotionally – is not a piece of cake.
The parents who were present at one session heard from the director of Counseling Services, a person who is on the front lines (or perhaps more correctly behind the scenes) of college life. The director explained up front that parents have to understand a counselor cannot be all things to all people – and certainly doesn’t have the time and resources to serve as a full-time mentor to one particular student. Ideally, kids should come to college with a firm foundation of values already in place. Instead, however, too many youngsters come ill prepared or are seeking refuge from a bad situation back home.
Pressure cooker
We’ve already discussed how traumatic the transition from hotshot high school senior to lowly college freshmen can be. Even older transfer students suffer the pangs of new surroundings and anonymity. All of this is heaped on top of higher expectations, greater academic rigors and self-discipline
Family baggage