Second Semester Anxiety

NEPatsGirl
Sat, 05 Mar 2016 17:06:10 +0000

Well, D made it through the ups and downs of first semester with just a few minor (to be expected I think) bumps in the road: loneliness, triple dorm issues, slow social life, etc. For the most part, these have all cleared…she has made a couple of good friends, opted into a single room this semester, and joined a few clubs.

Until last night. I got the dreaded phone call. Very upset, crying, anxious, too much homework, not enough fun, hates life, hates school. I talked her off the ledge so to speak, tucked her into virtual bed lol with a good episode of Law&Order, and orders to put the books away, eat a cookie or some ice cream, and get a good nights’ sleep. IT broke my heart to hear her so upset and I worried about her all night in her room by herself.

I called her this morning to check up and she’s still very anxious. She is an over-achiever and has some pretty difficult classes this semester as well as two jobs on campus. (She did get 4 A’s and an A+ her first semester and was ecstatic that all her hard work paid off). But, she said she had a paper due on Tuesday and a very difficult Org exam on Wednesday so she is spending the weekend in her room/library preparing for those. She’s upset that her friends all went to the movies last night and have plans all day today and tonight as well and she can’t join them. Of course, she could if she chose to, and I’ve suggested she put everything away at 4 pm for the night and go have some fun, but she’s not biting. She said she hasn’t been to the club meetings because she has too much homework. Personally, knowing her as I do, she puts the pressure on herself. We talked about being okay with a B, that she needs a find a balance. We also talked about working just 5-6 hours next semester.

How did/do you help your students find a balance? I need ideas. She is too far away for me to run up and have dinner or anything like that on a regular basis but I will be going to pick her up Thursday night, spending the night to meet some of her new friends and we’ll drive home on Friday for her spring break.