Texas State - Student Health Center

The following information has been provided by the Texas State Counseling Center's "Seasons of Adjustment" Calendar. It is intended to help parents of incoming freshmen know what they can expect throughout the first year of college. While not all students will encounter all of these emotions and experiences, these particular patterns of behavior and adjustment have been reported as a result of years of observation by counselors and psychologists at college counseling centers across the nation. For more information, please visit the Counseling Center's site or call them at (512) 245-2208.

August - September - October - November - December - January - February - March - April - May - June - July

August:
- The excitement of leaving home and "being on their own" can quickly become feelings of homesickness and insecurity.
- Problems with a roommate may arise.
- Freshmen may feel overwhelmed by the combination of a new campus, new people, new freedoms, and new policies and procedures.
- The separation of your freshman from old friends and their significant other can make the adjustment to college more difficult.
- Long-distance relationships can also add anxiety and make the adjustment even more challenging.
- The biggest adjustment will probably be in response to the drastically different academic environment, new time management concerns, and the anonymity that is characteristic of larger freshman classes.
- What you can do to help:
  - Call your freshman often at the beginning so they know you are there for them, and reassure them that what they are going through is normal.
  - Encourage them to talk to a resident assistant if they live in a residence hall, encourage participation in the Texas State Mentor Program, and recommend that they try to get regular exercise at the Student Recreation Center.
  - Suggest that they check out the many opportunities for involvement in a student organization or in their residence hall.
  - Encourage them to participate in Paws Preview and start of school activities.
  - Encourage participation in class and urge them to talk with their professors about any concerns they may have about class expectations and performance; remind them that regular attendance is important even if it is not required.
September:
- If your freshman is homesick, they may call home more often than expected and want to come home every weekend.
- Your freshman may feel as though they are isolated from their peers and the campus if they are a commuter.
- Some students may become disenchanted with college life when they realize it is not as perfect as they were led to believe.
- The first tests and quizzes may cause anxiety in many students.
- Students may feel helpless about problems at home because they are not there to help.
- Your student may have trouble managing their time and finding a good balance between their social and academic schedules.
- By the end of the month, many students will have adjusted to the demands of college life, but others will have fallen into bad habits such as skipping class, staying out late every night, and spending too much time on the Internet.
- What you can do to help:
  - Make plans to visit your student for a weekend.
  - Continue to remind your student that what they are going through is normal.
  - Encourage them to create a time management schedule and stick with it. If they need assistance, advise them to go to the Student Learning Assistance Center.
  - Be honest about family problems, but try not to create guilt because they are not there to help.
  - If your freshman is experiencing severe homesickness, suggest that they get involved with a campus organization, look for a part-time on-campus job through Career Services, or see a counselor at the Counseling Center.
October:
- Midterms may cause increased stress and anxiety. If your student does not perform as well as they wanted to, then they may feel a loss of self-esteem.
- Not dating and not making as many friends as those around them may also cause a loss of self-esteem.
- The pressures of drinking, dating, and being sexually active may result in unwanted consequences.
- Some freshmen may feel as though they are falling behind if they have not yet chosen a major.
- Some students may consider leaving college or transferring to another school; however, many students begin to feel more at home at Texas State around this time.
- What you can do to help:
  - Let them vent about their frustrations over "finding" their place at the University. Be sympathetic, but try not to fix their problems for them. Let them know that you are confident in their decision-making abilities.
  - Remind them of their past success in making friends and having relationships.
  - Suggest that your student contact the Student Volunteer Connection so they can meet people while helping others.
  - Encourage your freshman to make use of the Student Learning Assistance Center if they feel they need help with their studies.
November:
- Major projects and papers are due and pre-finals stress emerges, causing many students to feel increased academic pressure.
- Some students cope with stress by engaging in counterproductive behaviors, such as increased alcohol consumption, late night socializing, and poor eating habits; these usually make the problem worse.
- Depression and anxiety increase for students who feel like they still have not found their niche, and some may give up on even trying to make new friends.
- Money may begin to play a larger role for some students as funds from parents and summer earnings run out.
- Stress and fatigue lower students' resistance, and they become more susceptible to illness.
- What you can do to help:
  - Continue to give your student encouragement and support; remind them to try to get adequate sleep, exercise, some relaxation, and to maintain a healthy diet.
  - If your freshman needs help, urge them to talk with their professors and to make use of tutoring services at the Student Learning Assistance Center.
  - Encourage your student to see a counselor at the Counseling Center if they feel depressed or anxious; if you notice that they are using alcohol as a way of dealing with stress, urge them to see a counselor in the Alcohol and Drug Resource Center.
  - Remind your student to visit the Student Health Center to take care of any health needs.
  - If your freshman feels isolated and they live in a residence hall, encourage them to talk to a resident assistant or Hall Director.
December:
- Final exams cause most students to feel anxious. Some students may turn to alcohol or other drugs as a way to deal with intense emotions. Others may study nonstop, neglecting sleep and meals, all the while becoming physically worn out.
- The end of the semester and the upcoming holidays means an increase in extracurricular activities fighting for your student's time and energy.
- Most students worry about money because of payments due, debts incurred, travel costs, and holiday gift-giving.
- Relationships and friendships may be strained by final exam pressures, and your freshman may worry about how the break will affect their relationships. Some students choose to spend more time with their friends than studying because of this.
- Returning home also causes stress for students because they worry about how they will readjust to routines at home; your student may feel uneasy about coming home if there are family conflicts. Some students experience holiday blues as well.
- What you can do to help:
  - Remind your student that while the next few weeks will be stressful and challenging, you will be there to help if asked. Offer your support by calling, sending emails, sending a care package, or visiting the campus if you can, and avoid putting another demand on their time unless it is absolutely necessary.
  - Remind your freshman about the Student Learning Assistance Center if they are concerned about taking their finals or reviewing course materials.
  - If your student seems anxious or depressed, encourage them to speak with a counselor at the Counseling Center.
  - Suggest that they participate in Finals Week events sponsored by the LBJ Student Center, Student Rec Center and Residence Life.
  - Above all else, remind your student to eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep, and avoid alcohol, drugs and too much caffeine.
January:
- Your student's success in January is affected by how their break went. Unexpected events, such as the loss of a loved one, family conflict, unwanted weight gain, or financial concerns, may adversely affect their motivation. Even if their break was pleasant, leaving the comfort and acceptance of home and family for the uncertainties of their second semester can be stressful.
- The beginning of the new semester can be anything from exciting to challenging to anxiety provoking.
- Most students are excited about reconnecting with their friends at school, but some may worry about returning to past conflicts with friends or roommates.
- Your reactions to your student's academic performance in the fall semester will influence how they perceive the coming semester.
- What you can do to help:
  - Reassure your student that what they feel is normal for a second-semester freshman who is continuing to adapt to college life.
  - Know that family conflicts or losses will affect your freshman's ability to focus on their academic work, and make them aware that YOU are aware of this reality.
  - Encourage your student to take a renewed look at their new classes and potential classmates as opportunities for new friendships and improved academic performance.
February:
- Some students may already feel the pressure of trying to keep up with assignments while others already feel like they are procrastinating. This is a good time for them to decide how to manage their time.
- Other students will put pressure on your freshman to go out, and students who are involved in student organizations tend to underestimate the amount of time they have for academics.
- Many students will focus more on relationships and less on schoolwork because of Valentine's Day.
- Those who overspent in December will likely feel anxiety over financial obligations, and some students may already begin to worry about finding a summer job.
- What you can do to help:
  - Remind your student of the importance of balancing work and social activities. If you feel they have procrastination issues, encourage them to visit the Counseling Center.
  - Remind your freshman to speak with their professors if they have concerns about their schoolwork.
  - Since focus shifts to relationships this month, be willing to listen when your student needs to talk about their experiences with friends and significant others.
  - If your student worries about finding a job or choosing a major, suggest that they visit Career Services, and encourage them to attend the Summer Job Fair this month.
  - You may want to evaluate your freshman's financial needs to see if they need extra spending money.
March:
- This is a hectic month full of academic requirements and social activities.
- Students also face decisions about living arrangements for the next year.
- Many students find this to be an exciting time and thrive on the sense of pressure. Others may find this time of year overwhelming, and if they find themselves unable to cope with this strain, they may become depressed, fatigued and discouraged.
- Students who find it increasingly difficult to deal with the many demands of college may turn to alcohol or other drugs to ease their anxiety, causing them many health and behavioral problems.
- With spring break approaching, students become very excited about taking a week away from school. Many students make plans to go with friends to the beach, and they may focus more attention on these plans than on schoolwork. Others may feel disappointed because other students will be going on a "real vacation" and they are "just going home."
- Many student who go on trips will face some difficult decisions when they reach their destination, and after the break, some students may face emotionally and financially costly consequences if they made unwise decisions.
- What you can do to help:
  - Take time to discuss living options with your student and listen to their ideas about what they would like to do.
  - Remind your freshman to see their professors if they have any questions about difficult class material or exams that they did not do well on. Encourage them to do the best they can, and keep your expectations and your support high, but do not demand straight A's.
  - Suggest that your student speak to an academic advisor in preparation for Advance Registration.
  - Be supportive if your freshman experiences emotional difficulties, and remind them about resources that may provide further help, such as the Counseling Center.
  - Remind your student that while spring is a time for much social activity, balance is important, and encourage them to think through their choices regarding Spring Break activities.
April:
- Students may feel a considerable amount of stress due to the escalating pace of the semester.
- Students will feel the academic pressures of having several final projects, papers, and group projects due at this time. Those who have missed classes may feel anxious about their overall performance in a certain course.
- Pre-registration for next fall begins, and your freshman may worry about the availability of classes since freshmen register after upperclassmen.
- This is one of the toughest times on a college campus as final exams begin with lab finals in the last week of April and exams beginning the first week of May.
- Many organizations schedule their end of semester banquets, picnics, or formals in April, and many freshmen want to be involved in such events. Some students do not realize how much time, money, and energy such events require of them, and this adds to their stress.
- What you can do to help:
  - Keep the lines of communication open by contacting your student often; you may consider coming to visit Texas State and planning a fun activity for them and their roommate. Let them know you are there if they need to talk.
  - Send care packages complete with snacks, multi-vitamins, and encouraging notes.
  - Know that your freshman's journey to independent and successful adulthood is a gradual process and the best way you can help is by respectfully and simultaneously challenging and supporting them.
  - Continue to urge them to eat healthy meals, get some exercise, and enough sleep.
  - Remind your student to do the best they can on their approaching finals, and encourage them to talk to their professors to assess their performance in their courses.
May:
- As the end of the semester approaches, students feel both excited about summer break and anxious about their assignments and final exams. Some students may turn to counterproductive activities as a way of dealing with a loss of confidence in their abilities.
- Feelings of sadness and depression may increase as the year ends, and some students may feel anxious about going home because they are afraid they will lose their new-found independence. Others may feel like their college relationships will not survive the summer.
- Some students may worry about their parents' reaction to their failure to achieve academically as well as they had hoped, and while they may want their parents' support, they may be afraid to ask for help.
- Students will also decide whether or not to attend summer school.
- What you can do to help:
  - As final exams approach, you may want to call or email your student more frequently and send them a care package or a supportive note in the mail to boost their morale.
  - Remind them to maintain good health by getting plenty of rest and exercise, and eating a healthy diet. If they begin to feel physically ill, have them visit the Student Health Center for a medical checkup.
  - If your student is coping with unusual stress, anxiety, or depression, urge them to visit the Counseling Center.
  - Encourage your freshman to visit Career Services if they show concern about finding a summer job.
June:
- This is an important but potentially difficult transition month for freshmen, especially those who return home for the summer and face adjusting to living with their families again. They can find themselves in conflict with their parents over issues of independence and house rules.
- Students who choose to enroll at summer school, either at Texas State or elsewhere, must adjust to the rapid pace of their classes. It is easy to get behind, so time management is essential. Many students believe that because of the informal atmosphere on campus they do not have to study as hard, but summer courses are rarely abbreviated versions of the courses offered in the Fall and Spring.
- What you can do to help:
  - Remember to discuss your expectations of your student when they return home ahead of time so they know what to expect.
  - If your freshman enrolls in summer school, discuss the importance of time management with them. If they attend summer school at Texas State or at another campus away from home, make time to visit and spend a few weekends with them.
July:
- As your student prepares for the upcoming Fall semester, this is a good time to reflect upon the past year, the mistakes made and the lessons learned. Hopefully, these realizations will help them succeed in the upcoming year.
- What you can do to help:
  - Review the events of the past year with your student and help them identify problem areas and encourage them to consider possible solutions.
  - Review your student's financial needs for the coming academic year; evaluate any changes that may be needed for money management and establish a tentative budget for the coming year. You may want to discuss the benefits of a part-time job with them.
  - Encourage your student to make a tentative academic plan for the full academic year and help them evaluate any changes that need to be made in time management.
  - Discuss the need for career counseling to establish career or academic goals for your student.

Last Modified: August 15, 2007