News for Parents: May 2013

Campus Updates

The Associated Students Inc. (ASI) Special Events Commission together with the 49er Shops, Inc. and L.A. City Farm hosted the first-ever farmers’ market at CSULB.  The event was located outside of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.  Students were able to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, juices and even prepared foods from vendors such as Homeboy Bakery, Alex’s Fruits and Nuts, Pressed Juicery and Joe’s Produce.  Due to the success of the event, two additional days were scheduled for April 24 and May 8.  According to ASI Communications Coordinator Christina Esparza, “The farmers’ market was primarily for the students. It was an idea for students by the students, but we got people from off campus coming in so it’s intended for the campus community as well. We’re not going to turn anybody away.”  For the entire article, visit the Inside CSULB website.

National College News

One of the most challenging things about having students in college is watching them struggle with stress.  The level of stress students feel is extremely high during the end of the semester when students realize there is more left for them to do then they thought.  Parents may feel helpless when they experience their students having meltdowns as a result of stress.  However, College Parents of America offers a few suggestions for parents to help their students through these tough times. 

• Give your student some space. This may be one of the most difficult things to do. You want to jump in and help. You know that you have advice that your student should hear. But your student may just need some time and/or space to feel independent. Try to listen carefully to the messages that you are getting and decide when it’s best to weigh in and when it’s best to step back.
• Listen when your student needs to vent. Remember that phone call you may have gotten early in the freshman year when your student was overwhelmed and possibly homesick? Remember how she just needed to unload what she was feeling and all you could do was to listen? You may need those listening skills again now. Your student may not need you to actually do anything, but she may need you to listen while she complains about what she has to do and how she will never get it done. Once she’s shared her feelings, she may be ready to move on and tackle whatever it is. Remember that listening is important. You are helping your student just by being there.
• Help your student realize that stress is not all bad. A certain amount of stress and challenge keeps us sharp and focused. It helps us manage and deal with the demands placed on us. The problems arise when we begin to feel out of control.
• Help your student try to control his stress rather than seeing stress as the enemy. Help your student recognize that he is not alone. Most students feel some degree of pressure at this time. Even those students who appear to have everything under control are probably feeling challenged. It may also help your student to recognize that faculty members, too, feel pressure at this time of semester. All of those papers, presentations and exams need to be graded! Professors may feel that there is still too much material that needs to be covered in class. It may be helpful for your student to recognize that everyone around him is feeling as stressed as he is.
• Recommend that your student make a list of everything that she needs to do – and then prioritize the list. Your student may be in denial about the amount of work, and it feels as though putting it on paper will only make it worse. However, knowing what you have to face is usually helpful. Prioritizing the list helps your student create an action plan. Once she has a plan, she has a place to begin. Sometimes beginning is the hardest step.
• Recommend that your student create a schedule and use all of his time management skills. Blocking out what he needs to do and when he will do it will help him feel more in control of what he needs to accomplish. This will also help him to decide what he can change – and what he can’t change. He will need to let go of those things which can’t be changed.
• Remind your student not to ignore her health. Your student may not get eight hours of sleep a night and eat three full meals a day at this time of semester, but remind her that she will be more productive if she pays attention to her body and at least tries to get some sleep, eat some healthy food, and get a bit of exercise.
• Suggest that your student maintain – or break – routine. For some students, maintaining a regular routine is helpful. He can settle in and let auto-pilot guide him through the end of the semester. Other students may need a break in the normal routine to shake them up a bit. Perhaps studying in a new place will help. Perhaps writing the paper in the library rather than the usual dorm room may help. Your student should consider whether the norm – or a change – will be most helpful.
• Encourage your student to investigate what the college can offer that might help. Are there course review sessions? Is there extra tutoring or writing help available? Does the counseling center offer extra counseling sessions? Are there special stress-reducing activities such as yoga or meditation? Encourage your student to take advantage of any and every bit of the support system that may be available.
• Be patient – and encourage your student to be patient. As difficult and overwhelming as this time may be, it is a short-lived phase. Whatever happens, the semester will soon be over. You and your student both need to be patient with each other and with yourselves. Tensions are probably high, nerves raw, and extra patience will help everyone. This sprint to the finish will get your student over the finish line.

For more information or the entire article, visit the College Parents of America website.