Would he have attended the school even without the sport?
This is an issue that isn’t often addressed. Kids & parents sometimes get caught up in the recruiting process and don’t consider what the college experience will be if they can no longer play their sport for whatever reason.
I agree with others that he should try and find other avenues for happiness (is there a club version of his sport or another club sport that is lower impact/less intense practices?) If nothing changes then there’s no shame in exploring other college options. Unless there’s a serious mental health issue in play, I personally wouldn’t encourage a gap year in the middle of the process because I’d be worried my kid wouldn’t want to go back - but only you know your kid.
4 Likes
This sounds very much like my D20/24 except she is a musician, not an athlete, who was injured. The more I open up and talk to parents about her experience, the more I find that it is not uncommon and likely related to covid and not so much the injury. She has lost confidence in her ability to make friends and study and isn’t enjoying college at all. We have helped set her up with a therapist and executive function coach, with the only goal being to get through this semester with good grades so a transfer is possible. If things get better (and they really need to get a lot better) we’ll allow her to continue. (She insists on continuing even though her demeanor and communication indicate she is absolutely miserable.)
College is almost halfway over and sadly I just don’t see her having a normal residential experience after this very rocky start.
2 Likes
I completely agree with this for my D20! She was on campus last year with no in person classes or activities. Her classmates never even received the official welcome to campus via the traditional candlelight ceremony. Parents weren’t allowed to visit and she had no trips home other than from Nov-Jan for holidays. It’s not anything DH or I can help with either because we feel completely disconnected from the school/process, too. We never saw her room, met her roommate or friends.
2 Likes
I guess he has to make up in summer.
COVID is under good control. He has resumed activities with sports team after a long time. He sounded excited! Let us see what comes out of it. Thanks
2 Likes
He seems to have started sports again !
Your advice is great! Thanks.
2 Likes
Since he dropped a course, he seems bit relaxed. He started sports again yesterday and spoke to us with some enthusiasm! Hope he is getting better . Fingers crossed!
Thanks.
2 Likes
Sorry to hear that.
I felt the same until yesterday when he started his sports again. He dropped a course which made it easy on him I think. He even started discussing how to make up for dropped courses in summer etc., Hope he gets his energy back completely.
Please have hope and your daughter might turn around since I think it is that critical age where they have to make decisions for themselves ( which is not easy as they don’t have lot of experience )
2 Likes