Leaving Home Justine Lowrey B.S.

Every experience is different for each person This discusses possibilities and some examples might be seen as a positive or negative experience This does not mean this is how your college experience will be your first year away from home

Struggles With Leaving Home For College Separating self from family of origin Being responsible for new things Missing family and friends Recreating a new identity

Struggles Continued Adapting a new lifestyle Meeting new people Being considered an adult Paying for own things

Advantages To Leaving Home Meet New People New Experiences- Ex: Dorm Life Different Environment Experience Diversity Gain independence

Advantages Continued Appreciating home more Freedom Being considered an adult Get a degree New Start Learn things about yourself

Transitional Stage Leaving something familiar to something new. Considered an adult Leaving Family of Origin Roles Behind Separation Making own decisions Doing chores: Washing clothes, cooking, cleaning

Parent-Child Relational Problems Impaired Communication-leaving home can change how child and parent communicate Overprotection-Parent might be enmeshed with child and not want them to go Set times to call home-Going to college does not mean distancing self completely from family

Eating Habits Exercise-Increases energy, reduces stress, social opportunity, encourages healthy living Cafeteria-Social opportunity, plenty of junk food, fast-food, not best healthy lifestyle choices

Eating Habits Continued Be aware of what you eat and make sure to get the daily vegetables and a healthy balance of nutrition. If buying own food, shopping for groceries is cheaper than eating out every day It is very easy to gain weight the first year in college and that is why they call it the Freshmen 15.

Study Skills With Out Parental Control Calendar- Write down dates for everything like appointments, tests, homework assignments Read each classes syllabus and learn how each teacher grades, conducts assignments and tests Time-management- Balancing things you want and need to do Going to classes- Attendance is important

Study Skills Continued Do homework- Keep up with everything and do not let it pile up until the last minute Studying for tests- Making sure to studying on own and not just group studying where there is social interactions Study groups-Can be motivating to study and be another opportunity for social interactions Do not procrastinate

Anxiety Stress How will I make friends Will people like me Am I leaving people behind at home What decision should I make Choosing the right courses Deciding on major or career Living with new people in dorm life Finding a place to live Missing pets

Party When going off to college, you will encounter many opportunities to party. Good Part: Social opportunities Relax from academics Gets you out and doing something Bad Part: Hinder academics Health issues like getting drunk or binging Peer pressure

Website Links For Activities http://www.uccs.edu/~cao/Club%20List%20W%20MS2.html http://www.coloradosprings.com/ http://www.pikes-peak.com/Page/12.aspx

Conclusion Take advantage of this new experience you might surprise yourself of all the memories you could leave college with