Staying Connected

Personal connections are important, and taking care of your emotional health during the college transition is easier when you have the support of family and friends.

New Friends

Making friends on campus isn’t always easy. It can feel like everyone else is part of a group and that you’re the only one struggling to find your place. In reality, most students have to work at establishing friendships and connections on a new campus. Don’t get frustrated if it takes weeks or even months to start building a good circle of friends. Be patient and look for opportunities to get out and meet new people.

Old Friends

Your existing friends can be a huge support network as you leave home and start building a life on campus. Facebook, Twitter and texts can be really important those first few weeks. While it’s important to stay in touch with your good friends back home, make sure you are also putting time and effort into making new friends on campus. Ideally, you’ll have a good support network both back home and at school.

Parents and Family

As you enter college, your parents and other family members are going through a transition too. Your relationship with them is bound to change. Work with your family to define these changing roles and boundaries. Have conversations before you start college to address how you’ll stay connected. Will it be email, texting, or regular calls? What types of decisions will they be involved in, and what things will you handle on your own? Be patient as you and your family members adapt to these changes, and keep the lines of communication open.

For Immediate Assistance

Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)