January 2009 - Returning to campus

January_08.jpg

Returning to campus offers students the opportunity to reflect on the previous term and determine what activities and habits they will continue and what changes they'll make. Reconnecting with friends and entering the semester with a better understanding of what to expect helps ease the concerns experienced in the fall; however, some students may still experience homesickness.

When students receive their grades from the previous semester they are looking to family members to be supportive regardless of the outcomes. Reactions to the first semester can set the tone for the rest of the year and this is a time when students most need support, encouragement and to celebrate successes.

Students may be...
  • Excited to start new classes and implement new habits
  • Experiencing another separation from family and friends
  • Starting to think about where to live next year
  • Feeling homesick
Family members can offer support by...
  • Encouraging students to learn from mistakes made in the first semester
  • Reminding students of available campus services to support personal and academic growth. If a student has missed a course, encourage him or her to discuss options with a student liaison
  • Celebrating the end of the first semester and the start of something new