I remember how nervous I was when my first child left for college. Would she make close friends? Would she be able to handle the workload? Would she feel pressured into drinking too much? Would she ask for help when she needed it? Would she find some activities outside of the classroom to join? Would she know how to take care of herself and stay healthy?
You may be worrying about some of the same things. Or maybe you have some specific concerns relating to your child. Whatever is going through your mind, know that you are not alone. All parents have these concerns.
When our children go to college, we lose a lot of control over their life. We hope we have raised them well and that they will make good choices and be able to function in the college environment. But, no matter how well they have been raised, we can't predict how our children will respond to the challenges of college or what will show up as a significant issue for them.
Who will they turn to when they are struggling? Their peers....a freshman counselor? Maybe they will contact you, too, but will you really know how to help them? Perhaps they will seek out a therapist in the student health center and have to wait weeks for an appointment, and be told they should take anti-anxiety medication.
Of course, some students will require medication, but even for them, knowing how to manage stress will go a long way toward helping them succeed in college. And, for many, medication is not the best solution; rather, it's knowing how to handle the pressures and stress of college in a positive way and having someone in their corner to support them.