Your Kid has Graduated High School! Now What? Part III: Say YES to fun, but only after this important step... or two!

What would college be if it were all work and no play? Probably a very humdrum campus filled with lots of non-traditional students who are there to increase their career capital or to change careers completely. 

But today's college campus is filled with culturally diverse groups of traditional students who challenge traditional trends. Greek life is one way the tradition continues. I never participated in Greek Life, so I have no words of wisdom on this. But during my time, I did discover other groups who also enjoyed getting together and hanging out to 'break the monotony' of the school-study-sleep schedule. There were foreign language groups, math groups, writing groups, philosophy groups. Clubs were also an important feature: Criminology, Sociology, and Geography club, Anime Club, Black Student Association, Gender and Sexuality Alliance, and more. 

​But why is this important? 

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Going to college can be a scary time for some. Especially to those who are shy or do not have a strong outgoing personality. Your college student needs to be aware of the numerous organizations available on campus that can help bolster their sense of belonging. They can find like-minded individuals who can increase their own understanding of their beliefs, be a sounding board for questions and answers, and also allows them to find a few select folks who will support their endeavors. New lingo calls it 'networking'. I'm old. I call it 'making friends'. And in today's fast-paced, technologically inclined (and forced) modern era, college campuses appear to be nearly void of those friendships outside of these and other groups. 

Having friends in these groups and clubs not only provides companionship in a new environment, but it also provides you with people who will help watch out for you. Not in the 'mother hen' or 'helicopter parent' way, but someone who can say, "yes, I know him/her" and give some measure of identification should an emergency arise. Think of it as the grown-up buddy system.

I didn't participate in clubs, organizations, or parties on campus. I was 'an old woman' in many students' eyes. And that is perfectly ok in my book. I had other priorities. But I still made friends with people who knew a little about me. It was a safety measure I started my first day of school. It continued with each semester until I graduated. Your traditional student is more likely to entertain the notion of going to a party to let loose than I ever was. To that, I offer them to consider the following: 

1. Turn on the SOS feature of select mobile phones that when activated with a sequence of power-button pushes, will send a short audio clip, a GPS map of their location, and a text message to 3 previously chosen people to alert that help is needed. (This is especially important for girls who may find themsevles in a precarious situation or that feel threatened). 
2. Have a plan on transportation to get from point A to point B and back, that is both safe for them and others (I'm hinting at designated drivers, public transportation, or safe bike/walk path here).

Other options you might consider:

1. Have a friend or colleague know where they are going and what time they plan on returning.
2. Install a tracking app on a mobile device that will allow them to be located should they need to be.
   

This post is not to highlight on the negatives of campus life. It is to ensure that you as a parent, can go to sleep at night knowing you have given your college student the tools they need to stay safe when they are enjoying themselves. Talk openly to your college student about the importance of making friends, sharing pieces of information that is safe for others to know that will help keep themselves safe, and to encourage a higher level of self-discernment and personal safety. 

Just beacuse they are in college, it doesn't mean they are fully aware of the dangers that can happen in the blink of an eye. Stay vigil parents and help your kids become self-aware.

Ciao! 
LaVonda