Adjustment

Transitions

Patrick Stack, D.Min., LMFT, LPC, NCC, CASAC
Director of Counseling and Life Development
Clinical Status and Approved Supervisor: AAMFT

All freshmen experience transitions at the beginning of the school year. Not all freshmen react to these transitions the same way. Transitions are associated with change. The changes may be due to meeting new people, making new friends, managing one’s time, living off a budget, negotiating romantic relationships, dating, working part-time or in some cases a full-time job and meeting the academic expectations of each instructor. Freshmen commuters must deal with the drive to and from the university and living at home with siblings who do not understand the complexities of the university experience. Freshman residents must adjust to living away from home, homesickness and roommate problems. If this is not enough to juggle, most university freshmen have not completed the gigantic life development transition known as adolescence.

What can parents do for their daughters and sons during freshmen transition? First, acknowledge and talk about transitions with your daughter/son. Acknowledge that the transitions will be an emotional roller coaster ride, which should come to an end within a month or two. Encourage your daughter/son to become aware of resources on campus to help with transitions. Some of these resources are student activities, recreational programs, clubs, campus ministries, study groups, resident assistants (RA’s), talking to faculty, enrichment seminars, peer educators, and counseling services to name a few.

If you believe your daughter/son is experiencing a difficult transition, let someone here at Webster University know about it. My colleagues and I have the knowledge, skills and experience to assist your student. I would also suggest you remind your daughter/son that it is not uncommon to have a bumpy transition experience. When the transition period is so bumpy that they want to quit or go home I suggest you encourage them to finish the semester and then evaluate whether to return or not return to Webster. You would be surprised how students who were so adamant about leaving college because of a difficult transition, end up eagerly looking forward to returning to Webster after the holiday break.

Another thing you can do for your daughter/son during their transition is to provide ENCOURAGEMENT! Many students begin to doubt their competency. They begin to doubt their ability to “be successful as a university student.” More times then not this doubt is due to a lack of direction from not selecting a major. Sometimes the doubt is due to a desire to switch a major. It is not uncommon that a student whose heart was set on a particular major may change their mind. I strongly recommend that such a student visit Career Services. The professionals in Career Services will help the student to clearly evaluate the decision to switch a major area of study. For Moms and Dads it is important that you notice whether your daughter/son’s decision to switch majors is causing high levels of stress because the student believes she/he is disappointing you.

To learn more about college student transitions, I recommend Letting Go; A Parent’s Guide to Today’s College Experience by Karen Coburn and Madge Treeger; publisher Adler and Adler. If you have any questions, contact me at stackpa@webster.edu or 314-968-7030. Also, a web site ulifeline.com will provide helpful information.