A Teenager's First Year at College

By: Christina Botto
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:23:04
Print this article | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

The first year at college is an extremely stressful time for both the parent and the teenager. Not only is your teen truly leaving home for the first time, they also are leaving their friends and a world that they have lived in and felt comfortable with for years.

For most teenagers their first year includes a new area, along with a new room and roommate. College comes with a learning environment that is fast paced and a lot less personal than high school. This is sometimes an extreme shock to a teenager and they may soon find themselves struggling to keep up with and understand all the material they need to learn. Tests and quizzes are longer and require knowledge of much more material than High School, causing students' stress levels to rise even more.

With no one to really guide them, sometimes a first-year student will find unhealthy or dangerous ways to relax and take their mind off of school. Although the dangers your teenager faces in college are the same as high school, the environment, rules, and people which present these situations are completely different. Your teenager is now in a place where they have to make friends all over again, and since you, nor any other adult is looking over their shoulder to tell them "No", they may make unsafe and regretful decisions.

Drinking is the biggest threat to a teenager in college. Alcohol is easy to purchase and even easier to consume. Parties constantly exist near or even on campus, with availability of alcohol and sometimes even drugs. With no adults present and security personnel rarely showing up, a teenager may feel almost invincible, therefore pushing themselves to a level of drinking and partying that they cannot handle. A teenager may begin to spin out of control without even knowing it. Partying too much on the weekend, or even during the school week, may lead to classes being skipped. Before they know it, teenagers in their first year of college may find themselves falling behind in class, possibly leading to the failing of classes.

What Parents can do

Keep in contact with your teenager, but do not smother them. Call occasionally to see how much time they are spending in their room. Do not ask them if they are going to class or not. Instead, ask more personal questions about their classes. For instance, if they are taking an English class, ask what book they are reading at the moment. If they have an assigned book reading, ask what the book is about and if they like it. Ask whether they are or are not enjoying reading it and find out why your teenager feels that way. By asking about the details, parents will get a better understanding about the progress their teen is making and how serious they are taking their classes.

It is also important to ask them how they like the college environment and if they are making friends. Ask what your son or daughter is doing in his or her spare time and what entertainment options are available.

Make sure your teen knows that he can call home anytime, especially if he feels overwhelmed or homesick.

At the same time, ask your teenager about the best time to reach him so you can talk to him when you are missing him. By admitting to your teen that you miss him it will be easier for your teen to pick up the phone to call you if she is homesick or feeling overwhelmed.

Parents experiencing the empty nest syndrome are sometimes tempted to convert their college freshman's room to other use. There are several reasons why I would recommend not doing that. First, your teen will be home from college more than parents initially think. Secondly, already troubled by the separation of family and friends, it would cause further distress to your teenager if his room were not available for him when he comes home. During the first year of college your teenager has to work through several emotional issues. It would ease some of the stress for your teenager if everything were the way she left it when she comes home during breaks.

Christina Botto has been involved with helping parents and teenagers resolve complicated issues for more than 14 years, observing and developing parenting strategies. Her dedication to helping parents inspired her to write her book, 'Help Me With My Teenager! A Step-by-step Guide for Parents that Works.' Christina continues to help parents and their teens through her website www.helpwithteenagers.com/,where parents can find her book, news articles pertaining to teenagers as well as a community board for parents to find events and parenting articles, ask parenting questions, and to share amusing or successful stories about their teenagers.

Articles are free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio and live link to her Web site remain intact.

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Parenting category

  • Toys Can Help Learn Life Skills - By: Jenny Talorman
    Watch any child play outside, and they will almost inevitably pick up a stick, or a handful of rocks, and start playing. For thousands of years, kids have played with whatever is available. It seems to be hardwired into their system. Parents joke about giving their kids expensive toys, but the kids play with the empty box.
  • Beat the Financial Problems of Teenage Residential Treatment Costs - By: Jenna Brooklyn
    Deciding to send your troubled teen to a residential treatment center is a difficult task, what makes it more difficult is the cost that comes with it. But there are several options to make this easier, read on to find out.
  • What are the Four Levels of Residential Treatment? - By: Jenna Brooklyn
    Choosing the right treatment center is very important. Each facility offers different levels of treatment offered to teens depending on their need. Parents should know what level of treatment their teen need by going through counseling and seeking help from experts. Find out what are the levels of residential treatment offered in residential treatment centers.
  • How to Choose the Right Teenage Residential Facility - By: Jenna Brooklyn
    Choosing the right residential treatment center for your trouble teen is a very difficult task. There are many things to consider and questions in mind that needs to be answered. Here's a guide to help you in selecting the right treatment facility for your teen.
  • Residential Treatment Programs for At-Risk Youth - By: Jenna Brooklyn
    It's hard to imagine and accept that your youth is at risk and they need help. Somehow it is pleasing to know they can be helped. Read on to find out how to help your at-risk youth.
  • Tips on Choosing a Residential Treatment Center - By: Jenna Brooklyn
    It's a difficult challenge for parents to decide what facility is best for their troubled teenager. Read on get some more tips in choosing a residential treatment facility.
  • Children and Residential Treatment Centers - By: Jenna Brooklyn
    Having a troubled kid is challenging. It is very important that parents should provide the right type of help. Read on to learn about how residential treatment facilities can help your kid.
  • Residential Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens - By: Jenna Brooklyn
    A parent with a troubled teenager should find a program that offers help for the specific condition of their troubled teen. Not all teenagers with problems are appropriate in boot camps and military schools. Another alternative parents should look into is residential treatment school. Find out more about this program in this article.
  • Co-ed Residential Treatment Facilities - By: Jenna Brooklyn
    A co-ed residential facility may be an ideal place for a troubled teen that needs some serious therapy and support. Some facilities are only for boys or only for girls but a co-ed venue offers certain advantages and benefits.
  • Helpful Advice on Residential Treatment Centers - By: Jenna Brooklyn
    Deciding to enroll your teen to a residential treatment is definitely not an easy task. But if this is the way to change the life of your teen then it is best that you know a lot of information about this therapy. Read on to get to know more about residential treatment centers.