1. LETTING GO Saint Francis University Counseling Center
David Wilson, Director
Susan Obarsky, Counselor
Carrie Vinglish, Administrative Assistant
Located in Room 120, Saint Francis Hall

2. Counseling Center Individual, marital, group therapy
Educational programs
Crisis intervention & consultation
Services are free and unlimited
Located in 120 Saint Francis Hall

3. What Makes A Good University…
Faculty?
Staff?
Programs / Majors?
Graduation Rates?
Facilities?

4. What Makes A Good University…
If there is a problem with son or daughter, a parent feels confident the issue can be resolved, and assistance is immediate and professional.

5. Most Difficult Times During Freshmen Year
The first two weeks and last two weeks of semester
Semester exams (mid-term and final)
Mid-semester and holiday breaks

6. Feelings You May Experience
RELIEF
FEAR
ANXIETY
SADNESS
LONELINESS
PEACE

7. 3 C’s of the Freshman Year
1. Chaos
New residence
New friends
New schedule
New language: RA, Professor, “Torvo”
What do we know about chaos?

8. 3 C’s of the Freshman Year
2. Conflict
New friends vs. old friends
Boyfriend / girlfriend separation
Space issues with sharing close quarters

9. 3 C’s of the Freshman Year
Crisis
Little things become BIG things
Everything becomes a CRISIS
Panic – CALL HOME

10. Homesickness Not uncommon!
Is it a vague complaint of “I just don’t want to be here?”
Is this the same reaction that others have at
work, boot camp, high school?
Is it “normal” to struggle with something new?

11. “Helicopter Parents” Definition: Hovering so long their offspring
never get a chance
to grow up.
“BULLDOZER
PARENTS”

12. “HOW CAN I MISS YOU…
… if you won’t go Away?”
U.Cal - Davis

13. Three R’s of Freshmen Adjustment
R EASSURE
R EINFORCE
R EFER
X RESCUE

14. What’s missing? “Bells”
Time Management
15 hours of class
10 hours of study
5 hours of work
30 hours / 105 hours per week
What’s missing? “Bells”

15. S E X
Parents, please talk to
your students
about
S E X !

16. S E X
S l e e p
E a t
X e r c i s e

17. List three things your student will miss most about home this fall.1. 2. 3.

18. List three adjustments you anticipate making this fall.1. 2. 3.

19. Questions to SFU Freshmen
The three things you miss most since coming to college?

20. Answer
Sibling
Bedroom
Pet
Parents
My friends

21. On average, how many times do you talk with your parents per week?

22. How many times would you recommend that parents call their freshman student per week?

23. What method of communication do you use with your parents most often?

24. What topics do you discuss most often?

25. Question
Has the level of appreciation for your parents improved, decreased, or has had no change?

26. Answer
IMPROVED!

27. Mark Twain said…
“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to be around the man. But when I got to be 21, I was surprised at how much he had learnt in 7 years.”