For Parents of Residents: Helping with Homesickness

This fall, resident students are busy settling into their new home away from home here at Dominican University. While this is a very fun and exciting part of their college experience, it is also a time of change and transition. Many residents will have feelings of homesickness as they adjust to college life. If your son or daughter struggles with homesickness, encourage them to connect with their Resident Assistant (RA). RAs are students who are carefully selected for their ability to advise and aid resident students in everyday situations. RAs are a great resource for students who are homesick. They can help students get involved in programs and activities on their floor or around campus, or can help residents meet some of their neighbors and adjust to their new community. All RAs have been new Dominican students at some point, and can relate with the challenges of adjusting to a new school and environment. Sometimes students just need someone to talk to- and that's what an RA is there for.

Students who are feeling homesick are encouraged to get involved on campus. This is a fairly easy way to meet new people, and to find a new activity to participate in. An easy way for residents to get involved is by attending a Resident Student Association (RSA) meeting. RSA provides a forum for resident students to build relationships and community within the residence halls. This is done through bi-weekly meetings, small programs such as barbeques, game nights, and Guitar Hero tournaments, larger events such as an annual Battle of the Bands, and road trips off campus across the Chicagoland area. There is something for everyone at RSA!

Though it seems a bit early to be discussing Winter Break, it is never too soon to plan ahead. The residence halls will be closing on December 19th at noon for Winter Break, and will reopen at noon on January 10, 2010 for the spring semester. For more information regarding this, or anything else Residence Life related, please feel free to contact us at reslife@dom.edu, or by visiting the Residence Life Home Page