The transition to college can be as challenging for parents and families as it is for students. This can be especially true for families of first generation college students (students who will be the first person in their immediate family to attend college).
Your New Role
The time has finally arrived. Your teen is off to college and your role in his or her new life is changing. The freedoms, choices, and responsibilities that your favorite college student now faces will forever alter the dynamic between you and your child.
Scared? Don't be. For 99.9% of families, this change is a positive one. As your teen finds his or her way through the awkward first days of freshman year, makes new friends, and balances the challenges of college education with their new social freedom, you will begin to view him or her in an entirely different light.
It's Not Animal House
O.K. sometimes it is; but that's all right. Your teen will quickly find a workable balance of coursework and fun. For one thing, schools deal with freshmen every year. They know what to expect and how to corral these untamed, young adults by using the rigors and challenges of the first term curriculum. Professors of introductory classes are famously tough and unyielding. Miss an assignment? No problem. You fail the assignment. In this no-excuses atmosphere, freshmen learn very quickly that "this ain't high school anymore," and they adapt quickly to this new world of self-discipline and responsibility.
Give Them Some Room
Ah yes - the most important facet of your new role. The first two weeks of freshman year are a whirlwind of activity. From meeting the roommates to registering for classes to making new friends, your teen will be immersed into a world of syllabi, textbooks, social activity, and myriad college administrative functions. Don't be upset if he or she doesn't call home during this hectic time.
In fact, some parents find it wise not to call either. Giving your teen the freedom to make his or her own way through this exciting time can reap big rewards. When they do call, you just may find yourself speaking with a confident, young adult, ready to take on the world.
