The first semester is often filled with excitement, but it can also bring academic pressures, social transitions, and emotional ups and downs. As a parent, your support is a powerful anchor. One of the most valuable things you can do is help your student build resilience and develop healthy coping skills. There are tools they’ll need not just in college, but for life.
Talk about what struggle really means
Let your student know that struggling isn’t a sign of failure, but rather it’s a natural and expected part of growth. The first semester of college may include academic setbacks, roommate conflicts or feelings of self-doubt. That’s OK! It may be helpful to share real-life examples, either your own or from others, of people who learned through adversity. Help normalize the idea that resilience isn’t about never struggling; it’s about learning how to persevere.
Teach coping skills before they’re needed
Coping strategies are like muscles in that they need practice. Help your student develop healthy habits for managing stress before challenges hit.
Ideas to share with your student:
- Take breaks when overwhelmed by going for a walk, listening to music, or calling a friend.
- Use calming techniques like deep breathing, journaling or mindfulness apps such as Headspace or Calm.
- Prioritize sleep, hydration and nutrition to maintain emotional balance.
- Break large tasks into manageable steps and celebrate small wins.
- Encourage your student to make a personal “go-to” list of strategies they can use when feeling stressed.
“Know that it is normal to feel all sorts of emotions all at once. Make sure you have ways to cope with these feelings and take breaks. It's also important to make sure you keep up a good eating and sleeping schedule because once you get into bad habits with those things it can be hard to get out of them.” —Eva, class of 2027
Help them identify support systems
Early on, encourage your student to connect with campus resources, whether it be academic advisors, counseling services, peer mentors or student organizations. Review support services together before move-in day. Knowing where to turn makes it easier to act when the time comes.
The first semester of college is full of transitions along with incredible opportunities for growth. By helping your student build resilience and healthy coping habits, you’re giving them a gift that extends far beyond academics. Resilient students know when and how to ask for help. Be patient, be encouraging, and let them know that they don’t have to be perfect, they just have to keep showing up.