Its okay to worry AND theyll be okay Families in Transition and Your Students First Year June Saracu

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Its okay to worry AND theyll be okayFamilies
in Transition and Your Students First YearJune
Saracuse, M.Ed., Counselling ServicesSusan
Corner, M.A., Student Transition Services
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Our Goals for Todays Presentation

• Reflect on your students transition to UVic
• Predict the questions and challenges
• Learn strategies
• Apply skills
• Become familiar with some of UVic resources.

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Parents worry there is no denying it!

• Parents worry AND we need to have faith that our
  children will figure it out
• How can you manage your own worry?
• Give permission to make mistakes
• Encourage our children to ask for help
• Listening and refer to UVic services
• Say when you are proud!

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Opportunity of a lifetime AND

• This year is a major time of change
• Your relationship is going to change!
• Its all about balance

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Arthur Chickerings Student Development Theory

• Achieving Competence
• Managing Emotions
• Moving through Autonomy Toward Interdependence
• Establishing Identity
• Developing Mature Interpersonal Relationships
• Developing Purpose
• Developing Integrity

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New Student
Developing competence
Establishing Identity
Managing Emotions
Moving through Autonomy Toward Interdependence
Developing Mature Interpersonal Relationships
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Sources of Stress - New Learning?

• New Environment
• Time Management and Deadlines
• Academic Workload Management
• Concern about what kind of work they want to do
• Concern about what degree will get them there

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AND the stuff we all worry about

• Experimenting with evolving self
• Self Management
• Greater independence
• Alcohol Drugs
• Dating/Sexuality (safety)
• Lifestyle balance

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How can you facilitate discussion with your child
about his or her experiences at school?

• Ask what they think about what they learned
• Ask how they feel about their classes
• Encourage your student to seek information
• Discuss acquaintance rape with your sons and your
  daughters
• If there are urgent family situations,
  communicate openly and honestly

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Managing our responses

• Maintain a sense of perspective
• University students question just about
  everything
• Students want to be treated as adults
• Students want to feel loved, supported and
  accepted

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We encourage you to

• Find time to focus on yourself
• Use what you have learned today to support your
  student
• Respect your students new level of independence
  and remain connected
• Celebrate your students success!

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In the coming year

• We hope you feel supported as the parent of a new
  UVic student
• Freedom of Information limits the information we
  can share with you
• Student Affairs staff encourage students to seek
  appropriate support, which often means talking to
  their parents or guardians

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Your role as a parent

• Your role as a parent at this crucial
  developmental point is a complicated one. It is a
  time to let go with confidence and allow your
  children to try on new identities and interests.
  They need the opportunity to make mistakes and
  learn from them. At the same time, you are still
  their parent, and they need your guidance and
  wisdom to recognize problems and address them.
  You walk a fine line to balance these two
  tensions.
• Richard Kadison, M.D.
• Chief of the Mental Health Services
• Harvard University Health Services

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Congratulations! You are a UVic Parent

• Questions and Thank You
• June Saracuse
• Counselling Services
• Susan Corner
• Student Transition Services