New Semester, New Opportunities

A new semester means an opportunity for a fresh start for your student. We hope that you enjoyed spending quality time with your student during their Winter Break and were able to reconnect and reflect fondly on their last few months (or years) at Florida State!

Parents and family members commonly experience a readjustment period when their student returns to school after a break; whether your student is a freshman or a senior, saying goodbye is hard. Talk about how you are feeling with your family members, friends, and possibly your student. Consider channeling your energy in a positive way by writing your student a letter or e-mail telling them how proud you are of them. Not only will this help process everything you are feeling, it will lend some encouragement to your student and hopefully motivate them for the upcoming semester. 

As this new semester begins, your student can experience a range of emotions as well. Some students focus on the happenings of last semester—their fall grades, lack of involvement, missing family and friends, etc. Others may think about the upcoming semester—finances, time management, new classes, etc. Regardless of how your student is feeling, the wonderful thing about a new semester is the ability to have a fresh, new start.

We recommend that you talk with your student and help them set goals for this semester. The start of a new semester is also a good time to talk about expectations and future plans. Below are talking points to help guide this and other conversations:

• What are some things you are hoping to do or work on this semester?
• What do you wish you had done differently last semester/year?
• What is your major? What do you want to do with your degree?
• What classes are you taking this semester? Are you concerned about your performance in any of them? What resources can you utilize to help you get a head start early in the semester?
• Where are you planning on living next year? Are you planning on returning home this summer?
• What are some of the on-campus resources you used last semester/year?
• Did you feel like you “fit in” this last semester/year?

• If so, what other opportunities are available for you to diversify your experiences?
• If not, what are you interested in getting involved with?

• What do you need from me? How can I help support you?

The start of the semester is also a good time to remind your student to ensure their contact information is up to date in their my.fsu.edu account, the University’s record system (more info about updating this information can be found at https://emergency.fsu.edu/services/FSUAlert/SMSText). This will keep them up-to-date in case of inclement weather or an event on campus.

Florida State University offers numerous resources and services to help your student to succeed. Encourage them to reach out to our on-campus partners. Remember that while family members can help their student think through difficult situations and come up with tangible solutions, the student needs to take responsibility, advocate for themselves, and seek assistance. Some of the most commonly used resources on campus can be found at https://dsst.fsu.edu/nsfp/resources/helpful-links. 

If you are unsure of where to refer your student, feel free to contact New Student & Family Programs at (850)644-2785 or by e-mail at family@admin.fsu.edu. We are more than happy to assist you in supporting your student throughout this semester and the remainder of their time at FSU