Homesick? How to Successfully Transition from High School to College

The most exciting time for a young adult is finishing high school. The last 14 years (including preschool and kindergarten) you or the grad you know has been programmed under the parental controlled routine of go to school, do your homework, study, bed times, curfews and many other rules imposed by parents! The graduating senior knows this routine is now over and realizes it is strictly up to him or her to continue down the path laid by the rents'. Freshmen usually react to their well deserved freedom in one of three ways: Type 1 reaction, excitement for this independence, moves along happily in their new found adulthood, bumping their head along the way but generally staying on course. Type 2 reaction, relief, no more prying eyes, he or she can now be true to self.

Homosexuality, atheism, sexuality etc. are examples of interest that may have implied conflict and prevented discussion between parent and child prior to leaving the home. Given the freedom, these topics have reared their heads allowing the curious teen to explore hidden interests. Be it sex with the same sex or sex with another race or sex for the first time. (However, I think any person who has not had sex prior to college will/should wait until marriage.) Then there is the type 3 reaction, cluelessness, he or she may seem less than excited about the departure from the nest. Leaving the familiar position as a big (or a little) fish in a little pond, can be hard on a fish that was just dumped in the sea. However, the common feeling amongst college bound teens is a new found feeling of being an independent adult or is it more so a feeling of independence from of adults, not sure. Regardless of your experiences or expectations the following recommendations of immediate things to do/not to do that will make for an easier transition into college life: