Adjusting to Residence

Students must make many adjustments in the first weeks and months of life in residence. 

Your student might be getting used to living with a roommate after a life spent having their own room.  Or maybe moving to residence means moving to the city from a rural area - the population of Lister Centre alone is larger than some towns!   Perhaps your student will have to navigate cultural differences upon arriving in Canada for school. 

Whether students approach life in residence with excitement or anxiety, they are likely to find it difficult to let go of the familiarity of home in favour of the unknown.

Some degree of homesickness is inevitable and you may notice a high frequency of phone calls in the period shortly after move-in. 

Be sympathetic; think about your first experience away from home.  Let your student know that you have confidence in their ability to flourish at university and remind them that you are only a phone call away.  Consider sending a calling card, so they can call home without incurring a personal expense.  You may also wish to make plans to meet over the October long weekend.

Most of all, remember that the Residence Services staff see the same adjustment issues every year.  We are skilled in handling your student's concerns. 

Within the first few weeks of the semester, we create many opportunities for our residents to get to know one another.  We also offer programming to help with the lifestyle changes that occur upon arrival in residence.  The 'Can I Kiss You'? program in Lister Centre, for example, teaches residents about the hallmarks of respectful relationships.