Parent Relations Newsletter 10/30

Fall 2009, Issue #9

In This Issue

  1. Greeting from Parent Relations
  2. Student Stress Calendar
  3. Health Center: H1N1 Update
  4. The Thanksgiving Holiday
  5. Getting Home for the Holidays
  6. Important Dates
  7. Save the Date: Christmas Tree Lighting
  8. Biola Care Packages
  9. Chapel

Greeting

Your students have passed the halfway mark of fall semester. Does that even seem possible? A number of parents have contacted our office in the past several weeks, expressing deep concern for their students who are not feeling connected. I empathize with you and the anxiety it sparks! Speaking from experience, it is heart breaking to hear your child express that they feel they have no friends. Let me assure you that your student is not alone in that feeling!

It is difficult to leave the comfort of familiar friends, families and teachers, but even more challenging is the task of finding new relationships. It requires risk-taking, patience, and emotional energy. When you consider the normal developmental issues that come with the transition from teenager to young adult- issues of identity, independence, and responsibility- you begin to recognize the level of stress your college student is managing. Safe relationships are what they need, and those relationships may be miles away!

As a result, parents are experiencing what we call “dump” phone calls – frequent calls in which their student is upset, sad, and angry. These calls happen and they leave parents feeling upset, sad and angry! What is a parent to do?

I want to encourage you to not panic. I know that”s a tall order, especially right after you”ve had a conversation with your panicking student! Instead, let me offer some suggestions that might help you help your student.

  1. The next time you talk with your student, acknowledge that making new friends is hard work. Empathize without getting emotional.
  2. Affirm the efforts they have already made, no matter how small. Remind them of past successes.
  3. Discuss ways in which they can continue to reach out, but avoid giving too much advice. Sometime our students are just in the mood to vent and are annoyed by our “helpfulness.”
  4. Remind your student that there are other students who are also lonely. They are not alone in this feeling.
  5. Remember, with time, our students do make connections, and in many instances, friendships that last a lifetime. Encourage them to keep trying new things.

The transition to college is challenging and it is difficult to watch our children experience these challenges. But the best gift you can give your adult child is encouragement and support. Let them know you believe they will find their niche with time, because they will!

pearsonsYours on the journey,
Colleen Heykoop
Director
Parent Relations

 

Student Stress Calendar

There is a pattern in the typical college student’s experience throughout their academic year. Educators call it the “Student Stress Calendar”. Listed below are some of the common issues facing many college students between now and Thanksgiving.

October

  • Freshmen begin to realize that life at college is not as perfect as they were led to believe by parents, teachers, and counselors. Hopes to resolve old problems have failed them. There is the temptation to quit.
  • Overwhelmed by time management pressures; can”t seem to establish appropriate priorities.
  • Mid-terms and mounting assignments are followed by feelings of failure and loss of self-esteem.
  • Job panic for mid-year graduates.
  • Some taking the C-Best for student teaching.
  • The novelty is gone; some question God”s leading to Biola.
  • Grief develops because of inadequate skills for finding a group or not being selected by one.
  • Non-dating students sense a loss of esteem because so much value is placed upon dates.
  • Some have already been on the relationship roller coaster.
  • Addictive behavior may start to surface: alcohol/drug addiction; eating disorders; sexual promiscuity.

November

  • Economic anxiety: funds from summer earnings and parents begin to run out; loans become due.
  • Academic pressure is beginning to mount because of procrastination, difficulty of work, and lack of ability.
  • Pressure over plans for Thanksgiving; anxiety over being home for the first weekend of the academic year.
  • Depression and anxiety increase because of feelings that one should have adjusted to the college environment by now.
  • Some students have ceased making attempts at establishing new friendships beyond 2-3 often unhealthy or dependent relationships.
  • Questions begin over whether to come back second semester.
  • Students are meeting with academic advisors to discuss strategies for their remaining college years; freshmen tend to feel lost in this process.
  • Registration takes place—confusion over major or career goals, frustration over not getting the classes they want or need.

 

Health Center: H1N1 Update

The H1N1 Vaccine is going to be offered free on a first come first served basis at the City of La Mirada Community Gymnasium on

Saturday November 7th, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

and

Tuesday, December 1st & 15th 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Location:

City of La Mirada Community Gymnasium
15105 Alicante Rd.
La Mirada, CA

Due to shipment delays and high demand the Biola Student Health Center has not received any H1N1 vaccine. While the Health Center remains in contact with the Los Angeles County Public Health Department (LACOPHD) weekly they cannot guarantee shipment of vaccine to us. As vaccine production and supply increases the Biola Student Health Center still anticipates receiving the vaccine unless we hear otherwise from the LACOPHD.

We are still encouraging the students to:

  • Self isolate if they have fever, chills, body aches, sore throat and cough for at least 24 hours after fever ends without using a fever reducer.
  • Continue to use good hygiene and wash hands frequently with soap and water or use a Gel sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth since germs are spread that way.
  • Avoid close contact with sick people (3 to 6 feet).
  • Cover nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
  • If flu symptoms cause shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, chest pressure, tightness in chest, or they are unable to keep anything down due to vomiting or diarrhea then the student should contact the Health Center or seek care at an Urgent Care or Emergency room.

 

The Thanksgiving Holiday

This year’s Thanksgiving recess will be November 25-29, meaning that classes will only be held through Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, then resuming on Monday the 30th. If your student is planning to stay on campus for the break and would be interested in joining a family from the Biola community for Thanksgiving Day, they should contact Gale Stacy, at x5842. There are families, faculty, and staff members that would be delighted to invite your student into their home for the special day.

 

Getting Home for the Holidays

Rides home or to airports:

For those students looking to coordinate rides home or to one of the area”s airports, they should start preparing now. One avenue that students should explore is the Ride Board posted on the Biola University Bulletin Board System or BUBBS. To navigate to the Ride Board students will open the Conferences folder on their BUBBS desktop. From there they will select the Classifieds folder, and within the Classifieds folder, the Ride Board will be visible. Here students can post requests for rides, or their availability to offer rides. It is a great way to save on gas money if your student can get connected with other students wanting to go the same direction.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Orange County's John Wayne Airport, Long Beach Airport and Ontario Airport are the nearest to Biola. If students need a ride to or from an airport to Biola, we recommend Prime Time Shuttle. You can also contact Prime Time Shuttle at 1-800-RED-VANS.

 

Important Dates

December 1 - 12

Interterm Housing Application Deadline. Students must sign up for interterm housing through their BSI account. There is no additional cost for interterm housing if registered for the spring semester.

December 18

All halls close at 10:00 p.m. Students must be checked out of their dorm by this time or within 24 hours after their last exam, whichever comes first.

January 2

Interterm housing is available for Spring residents only. Semester meal plans are not active during this time. Students may purchase a meal plan or points if they so desire, meal plans for interterm begin January 3rd. Check-in for interterm housing begins between 1:00 - 7:00 p.m. on January 2nd or 3rd.

January 4 - 22

Interterm classes in session.

January 15

Housing Deposit Claim Deadline. Residents who withdraw from the University between semesters may request a refund of their housing deposit from the Housing Office. Request for a refund must be received by the appropriate deadline. Failure to give written notice of cancellation by January 15 will result in forfeiture of the housing reservation deposit.

January 30

Residence Halls reopen for students not in Interterm Housing. Check in between 1:00 - 7:00 p.m. on January 30th or 31st.

February 1

Spring Classes Begin, Room Claim Deadline: Students not arriving before this date to move into their rooms must contact the Housing Office to hold their room reservation.

 

Save the Date- Christmas Tree Lighting

You and your family are invited to the Biola Community as we welcome Christmas with the 2009 Christmas Tree Lighting.

Biola University, in front of Crowell Hall
Friday December 4th
7:00 p.m.

Come share in music, refreshments, a retelling of the Christmas story, and the lighting of the University Christmas Tree. The Café will be serving a special holiday menu, offered at $5 per person, beginning at 5:45 p.m. Children under 5 eat for free.

 

Biola Care Packages

Get Well Care Package $20.00

Is your student sick? Send them this care package, which is sure to lift their spirits and show them your love. It contains chicken soup, Goldfish crackers, apple juice, cough drops, apple sauce, popsicles, Emergen-C vitamin supplements, tea and tissues. Order this one before 10:00 a.m. and we will deliver it the same day.

Order here.

 

Chapel

Chapel is an integral part of the Biola experience, and is a time dedicated to worship, spiritual nurturing and education. The overall program brings a unique distinction to the ethos of Biola as a Christian university. It is our desire each week to make you aware of the speakers your student will be hearing from and the subjects they will teach on, in the hope that you will find it a useful tool in communication and in understanding your student’s development.

Monday November 2
Jon Wallace
President, Azusa Pacific University

Wednesday November 4
Festival of Instruments
Conservatory of Music

Thursday November 5
Reconciliation Chapel
Chris Rattay
Epicenter Church, East Los Angeles

Friday November 6
Speaker TBA

See the full chapel schedule.