PARENTS' PAGE
Welcome Parents!
Your son or daughter’s college experience will likely
signal a change for you as parents and other members of your
family as well. It is our hope that some of the following
information will help you navigate this time of change and challenge
as well as help you support your student here at John Carroll.
What your son or daughter may experience:
College will likely be a time of exploration and change for
them. They may forge new identities, seeking increased
autonomy, exploring new friendships and values. They may
reevaluate tentative career goals, and change those goals and
their majors. Some of this exploration may challenge you
and values that you hold dear. Each one
of these young people will go through this process in their own
unique way, just as every parent will have different expectations
of, and reactions to, their son or daughter’s college experience.
What parents may experience:
Happiness, pride, anxiety, sadness, and a sense of loss may
all be a part of your response to this time of change. As
children grow into young adults you may worry about their safety,
ability to care for themselves, and capacity to make healthy
choices. At times you may also feel that your son or daughter’s
performance is a reflection on you as a parent. There’s
a lot going on for you!
How you can support your student:
- Balance maintaining a sense of connectedness
to him or her along with respect for their growing independence. Try
to let them take the lead. Determine with
them how much contact with them is appropriate. (The
cell phone has been described as the “world’s
longest umbilical cord” and may be more of a problem
than an asset in setting good boundaries.)
- Be realistic and specific about
financial issues including what you will pay for and what they
will be responsible for. Also be realistic about their
academic performance. The challenges here are much different
than they were offered in high school.
- Know the resources in the campus community. John
Carroll has a wide variety of offices and programs here to
provide support for all of our students. In both Academic
Affairs and Student Affairs there are dedicated, compassionate
people here to help both your sons and daughters and you
as well.
How can the University Counseling Center help
parents?
We are available for consultation with parents by phone or by
appointment here in our offices. If you have concerns about
your son or daughter please feel free to contact us. We
may be able to provide support for you, your student, or referral
information to offices that may be more appropriate for a given
problem.
What about confidentiality?
Confidentiality is an important part of establishing a trusting
and effective counseling relationship. Ethical and legal
considerations prohibit us from sharing any information about
a student’s counseling contacts without their consent.
Setting up an appointment for your son or daughter:
It is our policy that we do not make contact with students who
may have been identified by you or anyone in the campus community
who may be seen as in need of support. It is important
that they set and commit to an appointment.
And finally, some valuable links (in addition
to those on our own “Links” page)
and
resources to Google:
Links:
Google:
- Alcohol, Other Drugs, and College: A Parent’s Guide
- National Resource Center for First-Year Experience
- Helicopter parents
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