Ways To Engage With Your Student During Break

As Thanksgiving Break approaches, many of you may be seeing your son or daughter for the first time since dropping them off at college in August. As you converse about the semester so far, there may be a few things that you hear or notice in your Thanksgiving Break conversations or once your student returns to campus post-break. We wanted to prepare you for some of these topics that might assist in the dialogue as you engage your student while on break.

Students likely will talk to you about their roommate or living situation. By the sixth week of classes, students may begin to experience the challenges or rough patches that come from living with another person. These tension points are normal at this point in the semester. Please feel free to listen to their concerns, but also encourage them to speak with their roommate if they haven’t already, and/or speak with a Residence Life staff member (their RA is a great place to start!) if they need assistance in working through some of the challenges they are facing. We are here to help students work through these conflicts!

It is also common for students to speak first about the harder parts of their college experience to you as their parent, and many times they forget to share about the good things (even though they do exist!). We would encourage you to ask them some of the following questions to help them tease out the good parts of college in their first six weeks:
- What have you enjoyed about college?
- What is something that has surprised you?
- Tell me about some positive experiences you’ve had/relationships you’ve been developing.
- Who are some of the people you most enjoy being around?
- What have you been learning in your courses?
- What do you like about your classes?
- What is your favorite class you are taking?

Furthermore, Thanksgiving Break can be a time for your son/daughter where they realize how much they have been missing home. Again, this is normal! It can take almost a whole year (some even longer!) for students to fully adjust to college life. As your son or daughter returns to campus, please encourage them to be present on campus. Here are some ways you can encourage them in these efforts:
- Stay on campus during the weekends and be intentional about attending 1-2 events or creating their own memory-making experiences with friends.
- Try something new they haven’t done each week. College is a time to explore a wide variety of things.
- Go get a meal with someone they don’t know as well.
- Invite a professor or staff member to have lunch with them.
- Stay connected with family and friends via phone, text or social media but find ways to be attentive when engaging new friends and professors in-person.

We are grateful for the ways you dialogue with your student and stay informed about the ins and outs of their college experience. We are always here to assist, so please be sure to encourage your student to seek out our services at any time. We desire to help them in the old and new aspects of college.

-Kelsey Murphy, Director of Residence Life

Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.

Oct 18, 2023

Parent Resources

Parent ResourcesRelated Blog Posts

Co-curricular Life and School Work: Tips for a Healthy Balance

Kevin Donaldson, coordinator of student activities and intramurals, shares tips on supporting students as they learn to balance co-curricular activities with their studies.

Starting With the Right Questions

A note from the dean of students, Jamie Swank, on asking the right questions about college life.

5 Tips for your Graduating Senior

Whether you have already experienced the journey of having a child graduate from college or this is the first time, it is important to remember that just like every child is different, every post-graduation path will also look different.

Independence and Interdependence

Regardless of where your student finds themselves in their academic journey, you might observe your student shifting towards independence, especially this time of year, and becoming less reliant on you.

Fitting In: Helping Students Find Avenues Into Engaging

One thing we value highly at Geneva College is getting students engaged outside of the classroom. It is a well agreed fact in Higher Education that typically, the more a student is invested in their college community, the better they perform in classes.

Post Grad Options: The Fellows Initiative

One of the most intimidating aspects of nearing graduation is understanding where to start in determining options and knowing what all the options are. One of the more often overlooked opportunities is a faith-based program called The Fellows Initiative (TFI).

Tips for Supporting your Student During Intense Academic Times

You may not be taking exams or finishing up final papers and projects, but you can choose to have an active role in supporting your student through intense exam periods.

Homesickness over the Holidays: How to Support your Student

Homesickness is a common struggle for students and can typically last anywhere from 3 weeks to over a year. There are a few supportive steps parents, guardians, and caretakers can engage in when their student is missing home.

Send Your Child to Jubilee 2024

Jubilee is a 3-day conference (February 16-18, 2024) for students who want their college experience to mean more. Jesus Christ changes everything, discover how at Jubilee!

Conversation Starters About Academic Success

Talking to your student about grades and academic success can be challenging! Read some tips from our Director of Student Success about these conversations.