<p>From what I've heard from her, D seems to be adjusting quite well to school. She's made a lot of new friends, and seems to be getting out and taking advantage of the cultural/recreational opportunities around Washington. She ended up being placed in the so-called rowdier group of residence halls, although, so far, she's comfortable living there(the key was that she was fortunate to be in a double, as opposed to a forced triple. She's carrying a large courseload, although she seems to be keeping up with the work. All in all, the consensus seems to be that she made the right choice of schools.</p>
<p>Freshman S came home from Duke this past weekend for Fall Break. It was his first visit back home after going off to college. He's loving college life...joined the marching band, tried out for and made the club tennis team, elected to student government. At orientation, President Broadhead challenged the freshman class to make the most of their Duke experience, and so S has jumped in with both feet. </p>
<p>The biggest adjustment for him has been the enormous amount of studying required...but everyone's doing it there, so there's little peer pressure to slack off. He told me that he studied 13 hours straight for his last big Econ test. Studying on Saturdays is also a big adjustment for him. </p>
<p>Over Fall Break, he told us that he considers both Duke and our house (in Texas) to be his two homes. He truly loved being home (except for the Texas/ OU game...ouch), but by the end of Break, I could tell he was ready to go back. That's healthy.</p>
<p>All of us raise our children to grow up and go away to college. We miss them sorely, but we're victims of our own success.</p>
<p>Just got back from Parent's Weekend as have others, apparently, and S is doing very well. He has the best suitemates and is so lucky. He loves his classes and finds them easy, but there is a lot of work to do. We'd heard for years that after our high school, college is a breeze and that has been borne out by pretty much everyone we've talked to -- but there are so many adjustments to make as a freshman, what with a cross-country moves and getting to know new people, I'm not all that upset that he's not hugely academically challenged. I'm sure that'll come. We were a bit apprehensive because S only applied to one school and we worried that he was being a bit hasty and narrow in his decision -- but he apparently knew what he wanted and so far is very happy with his choice.</p>
<p>My SS also came home this weekend for Fall Break. The timing was perfect. They have been away for about 6 weeks and both said they really needed the break and missed being home.</p>
<p>I needed to see them as well. Now I know that they are fine. They have made the adjustment to college life but both acknowledge that they are working extremely hard (Engineering). Their motto has become "work hard, play hard".</p>
<p>Their stories are hysterical and it sounds to me that they have made great friends. Knowing this made our good-byes last night that much easier than the first time.</p>
<p>My daughter is doing fine, even though she’s been thrown a couple of curveballs in the last week. We see her this weekend for the first time since dropping her off 6 weeks ago.</p>
<p>Curveball 1: She got along great with her roommate, then the roommate decided she wanted to transfer. Apparently in a matter of days, she went from “transferring next year,” to “transferring next semester” to “leaving Saturday” -- amid quite a flurry of phone calls and emotion. It is complicated story that I only partly understand; the bottom line is that her room is now half empty and it’s unclear how it will be filled. I may be more stressed about it than she is; I guess I’ll learn that soon.</p>
<p>Curveball 2: Her advisor left on medical leave, so she was assigned a new one. She met with him and likes him a lot, thankfully.</p>
<p>Socially, she’s doing great. Academically, she is overwhelmed, which we expected – the reading load is intense, and much more than she encountered at her small rural high school. She did well on her first two papers. As for extracurriculars – she’s managed to write two stories for the school newspaper. </p>
<p>We email and talk a couple times a week, but have yet to have a really good, in-depth conversation. But the absolute highlight of last week was the automatic email I got from Facebook that informed me that my daughter had added me as a friend. I’m saving that one.</p>
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But the absolute highlight of last week was the automatic email I got from Facebook that informed me that my daughter had added me as a friend.
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<p>A high honor, indeed! Congratulations!</p>
<p>I wouldn't dare even join, as I know I woudn't be all that welcome.</p>
<p>I do get to tune into my D's daily cartoons that she posts on a blog site. That's how I've been keeping up with her doings...at least those she finds humorous enough to put into cartoon form.</p>
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But the absolute highlight of last week was the automatic email I got from Facebook that informed me that my daughter had added me as a friend.
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<p>Lol, my D did the same thing for me! It was a happy surprise, considering that her younger sister would be mortified to have her mom as a Facebook friend(kind of silly anyway, since D2 and I still live in the same house). But, for D1 and me, it's worked out well, since Facebook has been our means of staying in touch, with private messages back and forth on pretty much a daily basis.</p>
<p>We started hearing a lot more from DD a couple of days after I posted that we were not getting a lot of information. Apparently she's settled enough that she misses us..LOL..anyway she is having mild buyer's remorse about the breathtaking cost of her education and is wondering if she should have stayed in state. She turned down a spot at the flagship U. honors college, so she would have had the same small classes and attention she is getting at her much more expensive school. The very next day her freshman advisor emailed her and asked her to come check in--she shared all of her concerns with him, including what she liked and didn't like--and he was incredibly helpful and told her about a program that would allow her to get a second major in math if she wanted to change to a liberal arts major (her heart is telling her psych but her head is saying math is more marketable). They also had a long talk about the social scene and the kinds of people she is meeting. She called to tell us about the meeting and she sounded on top of the world.</p>
<p>I don't think even the honors college has that type of proactive advising--they are available, but they won't make you come talk to them. I can see why her school has such a high graduation rate--if the kids aren't taking advantage of the guidance, the advisors pull them in and make sure they are on track.</p>
<p>I returned a week ago from Parents Weekend at D's school. I had a wonderful time! I did have to sit in the airport for 5 hours before D was able to pick me up ... but I had plenty of crosswords & sodukus (sp?) to keep me occupied. The experience at the football game was a new one for me, though ... guys in pastel pants, ties, blazers ... girls in dresses ... tailgating with NO ALCOHOL. Not quite like the games I am used to!</p>
<p>D seems to be adjusting well. Her roommate is an ongoing issue, for various reasons. I won't share the details, but the bottom line is that they are a very, very poor match for several reasons. D will NOT request a move, though, because she will not discuss the issues she has with anyone but my H & me. We have assured her that she could have a far worse roommate situation ... but she only sees the wonderful relationships the other girls on her floor have with their roommates, so it's tough on her. She'll live, though!! Learning to adjust is an important part of life.</p>
<p>Academically, she is feeling less than challenged. However, she has developed some amazing study skills and has managed to conquer the award winning case of procrastination she held onto throughout her k-12 years. She is taking some steps toward dealing with her academic concerns ... all by herself ... and I am incredibly proud of her newfound maturity (a bit surprised, as well, I must admit). </p>
<p>Socially, she is involved, engaged, having fun, meeting people, etc. She is enjoying her free time & she is trying new things. Oh, and her room was actually clean! I am so glad I was able to visit her. I am looking forward to seeing her again at Thanksgiving break.</p>
<p>Our S was home for the first time this weekend for fall break. We picked him up Friday afternoon and the first thing he wanted was 'real food'. Sure thing, anywhere's you want to go, we told him. Well to him real food is Chick Fill A. so off we went for lunch. After lots of stories about things he has been up to and his new friends we arrive home. S walks into his room and say's "Wow my room is really big". He drops his laundry and clothes he realizes he doesn't need anymore (yes all in one bag) and then heads on out to meet friends. He gets his car keys and says "it's been a long time since I drove", so naturally all those anxious memories of him driving come back. Yep he is home is all I could think. I reminded him that his darling parents do not keep college hours and the drinking age in our zip code is 21. With a laugh off he went. He comes home a little while later and announces that he is just going to hang home for the night. He ended up sleeping for almost 14 hours straight that night. I am told that 4-5 max is all he is getting at school. We did find time for a quick visit to the mall for some pants. I laughed when every pair he picked out he asked "Do my flip flops look alright with there?" Forget that fall and winter are just around the corner, apparently all you need is a good pair of flipflops.
As far as school goes he loves it there. He has to study at least 4 hours a day but once that is done let the socializing begin. He couldn't believe that the local library closes at 5 p.m. and even earlier on Sunday here at home. Where can I study was the next question he asked. He tried really hard to study for his mid terms at home but things were a little too comfortable and distracting, so he asked to go back to school on Sunday evening. With a tear in my eye we dropped him back off. But what a wonderful feeling it is to know that he has found the appropiate balance between school work and socializing and is just so happy. Oh well only 3 more weeks till Family weekend.</p>
<p>We've already had Family Weekend and are looking forward to fall break next week. I know he'll sleep til noon or later and spend some time with friends. His idea of "real food" will be pasta with pesto, sushi and raspberry pie. I look forward to making his favorite foods and doing his laundry.</p>
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Well to him real food is Chick Fill A. so off we went for lunch.
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<p>My son won't go to Chick Fil A at home because there's one in the food court in his student union on campus, and he eats there all the time. Everybody's situation is unique.</p>
<p>When my freshman daughter came home for fall break, she took a while to get used to the idea of not needing to lock her room and take her keys when she wanted to go to the bathroom.</p>
<p>I'm coming into this thread late. </p>
<p>Iris: If you're still reading the thread I'll just say I've always wanted to be a writer and have gotten a few things published, but college, grad school, working have taken up most of my time. Writing does require a huge commitment. I went to graduate school with Alice Hoffman (well, she was ahead, but legends of her abound.) Rumor has it she took the TAship and spent the time writing a novel and flunked out. If she did, it was a wise move, because her novels are wonderful.</p>
<p>I second the folks who think perhaps a different type of school might be more appropriate. Or maybe not.</p>
<p>I know you'll worry. We can't help it, but she may really be following her destiny. She's obviously quite capable so she can make different decisions any time she wants to.</p>
<p>My boy is doing great. I can hardly believe it's his first year. Went canoeing, sang a cantata in a choir in a public performance and joined the environmental club. His classes are great, not too demanding (I think he purposely chose a non-demanding schedule because he needs a 3.6 for a program he is pursuing) and he is devoted to the environmental club. His only fly -- orchestra is way too boring because he didn't pass the audition of the semi-professional orchestra the school supports. </p>
<p>Only solution to that is practice! He threatening to drop out of the orchestra which would be shame because he's been in an orchestra since he was 8. The fact that it meets Sat at 4 probably doesn't help any.</p>
<p>So far, so good. We don't get many emails but do get a text message every few days. Last week she took a picture of a blazing yellow maple tree on her cell phone and sent it to me (at least I think it's a tree - the screen on my cell phone is tiny and I don't know how to send it to my computer, but don't tell her!) Saturday it was "thanks for the bathrobe, I wore it back from the shower just now". Today it was "got an A on my Core paper".</p>
<p>Your Chick Fil A comments make me laugh. We don't have them in these parts, and our whole family LOVES Chick Fil A. We tease D that she went to school in the south just for those nuggets & waffle fries ... and she can be assured we'll visit every so often in order to partake with her!</p>