UNDERSTANDING YOUR DAUGHTER'S CHANGING PERSONALITY IS KEY

Having an idea of the responsibilities your daughter will have as she begins this new transition from high school to college is essential to understanding her evolving personality. College is meant to be a period of growth, a discovery of self and a determining of where academic interests can lead. It is a time of learning how to handle responsibility and independence without a parent to guide you every step of the way. It is not meant to be easy. Changes are inevitable but, take comfort in knowing that most are for the best, as your "little girl" matures into an adult.

Though these personality tips will differ from student to student, perhaps they can give you an idea of the types of challenges your daughter may be faced with so that you will know how to offer the right amount of support as she enters this new world.

How your student may feel during her first year of college:

August / September

• Excitement or apprehension about leaving for college
• Testing new boundaries of freedom
• Confusion or uncertainty over campus traditions, other first time engagements
• Struggles to get organized
• Anxiety about roommates, professors, classes, etc.
• Possible homesickness or loneliness

October

• Questioning whether or not this is the right place for her
• Midterm exams preparation
• Frequent calls or trips home
• Anxiety over time management
• Struggles with learning to balance money, responsibility alone
• Friendships and love relationships from home still strong
• First exams begin

November

• Exam grades returned
• Consequences of decision-making experienced
• Beginnings of new, solid friendships
• Excitement and / or anxiety about going home for Thanksgiving
• Possible feelings of alienation experienced at home

December

• Anxiety over preparation for finals
• Excitement over new classes next semester
• Relief over making it through first semester
• Possible doubts about academic ability based on first final grades
• Old friendships / love relationships back home may begin to falter

January

• Satisfaction / disappointment with fall term grades
• Struggling with time management again
• Broader understanding of college life
• Homesickness or relief being away from home and back at school
• Possible new roommate transition

February

• Midterm exam stress
• Old relationships back home may end

March

• Exam grades returned
• New steady relationships begin to form as the student finds her niche
• More campus involvements
• Calls / visits home less frequent
• Excitement about Spring Break plans
• Excitement over new relationships

April

• Spring fever sets in
• Excitement over completing first year of college and / or summer job opportunities
• Questions about what they have or have not been able to accomplish during the year
• Final exam stress
• Concern over declaring / changing a major
• Excitement / reluctance to return home for summer
• Questions about whether or not short term classes should be attended

May Block

• Adjustment pressure to the changes in short term schedule of classes, which meet daily
• A more relaxed environment
• Sadness over new relationships put on hold for the summer
• Apprehension about returning home for the summer

June Block

• Final exam anxiety
• Apprehension about returning home for summer
• Excitement about summer freedom
• Happiness and / or disappointment with chosen college
• Wiser understanding of college life