FEBRUARY

What’s Going On this Month Career Choices and Majors - What to Do - What to Avoid Responsive Programming Activities in Residence

What’s Going On this Month:

February is an exciting month with the anticipation of Conference Week. While for some, this time off may include an exciting vacation down south, for others, it's a time to catch up on their studies. Whatever the plans, students are generally up-beat with the anticipation of some precious time off. Students are also facing the reality that the school year is nearly over and they have some decisions to make about next year, including their academic plans, accommodations and summer work possibilities. While the break week provides a welcome relief, there remains the issue of these key areas in their lives that need to be resolved in the near future. There may be some challenges surrounding Valentine's Day and some students may worry about whether or not they are in a relationship. Other events taking place this month include residents' council elections, and some residents may be facing decisions about the possibility of running for these positions.

Additional challenges facing students this month include:

• determining course selection for next year (known as “What’s Your Major?”) may cause some anxiety and stress
• depression increases for those students who have not established social relationships or for those students who have not achieved a moderate amount of recognition
• Conference Week challenges of catching up on work or being left behind as friends go away
• mid-term exams
• staff selection process begins
• residents’ council/association elections begin
• partner issues around Valentine’s Day
• residents choosing with whom they wish to live next year may cause some people to feel left out

Career Choices and Majors:

Sam, like many other university students, is discovering that what he always thought he wanted to do doesn't fit his interests anymore. This discovery often happens in the second year when it becomes necessary for students to declare a major course of study. Parents who have sent a focused and confident child off to university may wonder what has happened and feel concerned about his or her future prospects. In fact, it is common for this questioning to occur more than once during the university years.

In our work with students, we have found that they tend to fall into one of three types - confident, confused or coasting - when it comes to exploring who they are and making decisions about their lives. A confident student has solid goals in mind and sticks to them; a confused student actively tries out alternatives and questions everything; a coasting student goes with the flow, seemingly unconcerned about taking actions and making decisions. Parents have difficulty with the shifting that goes on between these three states during the university years. Few students stick to one type throughout university; in fact, most move in and out of these states frequently as they face new situations. Although this behaviour can frustrate parents, going through these states is a critical exercise in identity formation for your child.

A student can be confident in one arena (certain of which fraternity or sorority to pledge) and confused in another (unable to choose a major). He or she may coast for a semester (not worrying about a major), be confused for a semester (exploring two or three different majors), and be confident a year later (finally choosing a particular major).

What to Do :

• Open up the discussion and listen to Sam’s interests, concerns and fears.
• Give him permission to be confused and to explore.
• Let him know if you’re worried and be specific about why. For example, “I am concerned about your dropping your science major and what that may mean for your future job prospects. Tell me more about how you feel about your decision.”
• Reinforce that this is his decision. Remind him of your love regardless of future academic and career choices.

What to Avoid :

• Trying to convince him to change his mind and continue the existing course of study.
• “You” messages: “But, you always wanted to be a scientist. What’s happened to you?”
• Blaming him for being so confused and indecisive.

Responsive Programming Activities in Residence:

• Off-Campus Housing presentations are offered.
• “What’s Your Major?” presentations, including faculty and student presentations to discuss programs and courses take place.
• A Valentine’s Day group social is organized.
• Body image presentations are conducted.
• A poster campaign for eating disorders takes place.
• Workshops on summer jobs are conducted.
• “Random Acts of Kindness” initiative kicks off.
• Program Counselling gets underway for several days this month.
  
  
  
  

	Please note that all italicized text throughout this site has been reprinted by permission from St. Martin’s Press. This book can be purchased through Western’s eBookstore. Just click on the book cover to order.
	Copyright © 2000 by Helen E. Johnson and Christine Schelhas-Miller From: Don't Tell Me What To Do, Just Send Money by Helen E. Johnson and Christine Schelhas-Miller. Reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Press, LLC.

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