I love reading my own blog! It is not as though I love reading my own posts, but keeping up with my former and current students IS fun. Their college adventures are worth keeping up with!
Following students as they navigate their college experience is worthwhile. It is endlessly interesting. Most of the students are enjoying the next phase, but it is true that some are not. Everyone thinks that college is "the time of your life", and it can be, but the first semester, and sometimes the first year, can be a very, very difficult time. I call this "the freshman slump".
People don't talk much about the slump, but it is there. I have heard from many students recently who are sounding...a little down. They want to come home to visit, to see their friends and family, they seem a bit quiet. The first year of college can be tough.
To these students: Don't be too hard on yourself. You are on your own for the first time, and that really is a challenge. You are doing your own laundry, getting your meals, studying without being reminded, getting to class, and if you are away from home, you are making new friends and missing your old friends. It can be a confusing time.
Try to find someone to talk to. Keep busy, do things you enjoy. Do not Skype and text your old friends constantly because this just makes it worse. You are all in this together...and you need to give it some time. It is not surprising that a huge percentage of students do not get past their first year of college when you consider how much change is happening in your life.
Give it time. It will take more than 3 or 4 weeks or even a semester to feel at home and to make close friends. Know that this is a normal response, a normal "let down" feeling after a year or more of preparation and anticipation of the college life. It will be okay!
Tam Warner Minton MS is a private college consultant, speaker, and author/editor of Tam Warner Minton's College Adventures Blog at www.collegeadventures.net/blog. She can be reached at t.warnerminton@collegeadventures.net
