<p>i have one that is leaving for another college tomorrow. tonight she says, “i don’t want to go to college.” : (</p>
<p>this is our kid who we thought was counting down the days and couldn’t wait to leave.</p>
<p>i guess it is pretty normal for them to have second thoughts/reservations about moving away, but, for the most part, they will all be fine!</p>
<p>Good luck to your daughter, MW. 
I liken (is that even a word?) this to when my youngest was a baby/toddler and I left her in the nursery at church. She would scream relentlessly, “Mommy, I don’t yike babies…aaaaaah…”, from the time I approached the entrance to the church until the nursery door closed behind her. Once I was out of sight, she settled in and was fine. She simply preferred the comfort of having me nearby whenever she could because I was familiar. :)</p>
<p>@MW - I heard that same quote the night before my son had to make his drive to Bama. It really just hit him that night when it came time to say goodbye to all his friends, everything that he’d be leaving behind.</p>
<p>I really wish they did Get On Board day a little earlier. When my son moved in for OA, he had no roommates, they have since moved in, but they are all VERY different and although I don’t forsee any issues with them living together, I suspect they are not going to develop strong friendships.</p>
<p>He also missed some of the WOW activities because he didn’t know anyone else going. I know he’d been planning to go to the night at the REC, but didn’t go because none of his roommates went. </p>
<p>We’ve talked about a wide variety of clubs and activities he might be interested in and he is planning to learn more about during Get On Board day, but it’s still a week away.</p>
<p>When my son was a freshman at RCW his 3 suite mates were all sophomores from Alabama who had lived together the previous year. They were civil but had nothing in common with my son and they literally did nothing together the entire year. That had zero impact on him making amazing friends within a month of arriving at UA, beginning with OA and followed up with jumping into impromptu sand volleyball games at the dorm, joining an IM volleyball team, joining the kayak club, and helping get the sailing club off the ground. BTW, he had no experience playing volleyball before this (I know, kinda strange for a guy from Hawaii).</p>
<p>Friends introduced him to friends, who became friends who introduced him to more friends. It’s a process and you’ve got to be willing to put yourself out there and engage.</p>
<p>Concerned Mom:
I know this is responding to an older post from last year, but I would love to hear how everything turned out for your daughter. I am hoping for a happy ending 
I have a daughter who will be starting Bama in Fall 2014 so any advice on what helped your daughter that you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.</p>
<p>I don’t think that mom has posted in the last year. </p>
<p>That said, I think that the students that adjust the best are the ones that “dive into” activities that occur before classes start…Alabama Action, Outdoor Action, WOW Week activities, etc. </p>
<p>There is another activity (can’t remember the name) that Bama has started for non-Honors students that takes place the week before school starts.</p>
<p>I think it is Camp 1831.</p>
<p>camp 1831 is for all freshman or transfer students, not necessarily non-honors students.</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>Oh good!</p>
<p>Camp 1831</p>
<p>[First</a> Year Experience](<a href=“http://fye.ua.edu/tcamp.cfm]First”>http://fye.ua.edu/tcamp.cfm)</p>
<p>[Camp</a> 1831 to Introduce UA Students to Traditions, Civic Engagement | University of Alabama News - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://uanews.ua.edu/2013/08/camp-1831-to-introduce-ua-students-to-traditions-civic-engagement/]Camp”>http://uanews.ua.edu/2013/08/camp-1831-to-introduce-ua-students-to-traditions-civic-engagement/)</p>
<p>[Camp</a> 1831 to Introduce UA Students to Traditions, Civic Engagement | University of Alabama News - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://uanews.ua.edu/2013/01/camp-1831-to-introduce-ua-students-to-traditions-civic-engagment/]Camp”>http://uanews.ua.edu/2013/01/camp-1831-to-introduce-ua-students-to-traditions-civic-engagment/)</p>
<p>[First</a> Year Experience](<a href=“http://fye.ua.edu/campRegistration.cfm]First”>http://fye.ua.edu/campRegistration.cfm)</p>
<p>There were lots of honors students at the first session of Camp 1831. It was scheduled before the start of recruitment and AA/OA so lots of kids arrived at school super early and did both Camp 1831 and either sorority recruitment or AA/OA. According to my daughter and her suitemate, Camp 1831 was a lot of fun.</p>
<p>Thank you for asking about my daughter. Her first semester at the UA was the worst experience for anyone to have as a student and as a mother. She did follow some of the advice given to her but 2 of her roommates did not like her to be social and made her life a living hell. We asked her to request to be moved to a different dorm but she decided to document everything that was been said to her and presented it to the RA and the Director. It was investigated and those 2 girls were moved to a different building. Her second semester was much better. She had 2 new roommates and they all liked each other but she still felt like an outsider. </p>
<p>I do have to say that I did not want her to go back there but she insisted and stated that it was her school. Good for her, bad for me as I new I would worry. </p>
<p>This year she decided to join a sorority, she felt that life is much better when you’re part of that circle. She was right, she’s happier, more active and more involved.</p>
<p>Concerned Mom - good for your daughter for standing up for herself! Having the strength and determination to document the issues says a lot about her. I’m glad she has found ‘her place’ and things are working out for her. <3</p>
<p>Glad to hear things have worked out for your D… imagine she found that it is often through our struggles we learn the most about ourselves and our strengths. Wishing her all good things ahead!</p>
<p>So glad to hear that your daughter is doing fine. </p>
<p>I know how hard it is be many hours away when you have an unhappy child. My son’s first year was near perfect… He absolutely loved his life at Bama. Yet at the beginning of his second year he was unhappy. It was a rough few weeks. Now he is back to loving life - WHEW!</p>
<p>So happy things worked out for your daughter Concerned Mom. I hope she enjoys her membership in her sorority. The benefits of membership are what your daughter is experiencing now; a place to call home and sisters that include her in activities and friendship. Your daughter sounds like an amazing young woman and her GLO is lucky to have her.</p>