I get this question a lot from the families of our new Bears, and it’s a question that is very important to me. People ask me “Isn’t SOAR a time the “experts” say you should give your student independence? Yes, it is highly recommended that the student be given room to grow. But that doesn’t mean your involvement has to end; it’s just a different kind of involvement. SOAR registration will be opening in the next few days so now is a great time to be considering attending SOAR with your student.
SOAR is a great example of staying involved. Even if your “grown-up” student thinks there’s no need for you to be there, the truth is they’ll hardly know you’re around. During SOAR, you will not be with them the entire time — they go to the student program and you, of course, go to the family program (we have a very good program if I must say so myself). At various times throughout the SOAR experience, you’ll meet back up with your student to catch up and share what you’ve each learned.
There are numerous reasons you should attend, but here are two important ones:
Attending SOAR with your student affords you another chance to bond as you both make the transition (yes, you are going through a transition also).
Even though you’re not together for the whole event, the time you do spend together will help you find out what’s important to your student, what they’re interested in, what they’re concerned about, what they’re hoping for. It’s an opportunity for you to be there for them, to listen and learn and help as needed.
The family orientation program will ease your mind as your student heads to Missouri State.
At both of my daughter’s orientations, I wanted to know about health care, housing and safety: Where do students go if they get sick? I was worried that my daughters would be sick and there would be no one to help them. Would my daughters be safe on campus? What did I need to know about housing? The family orientation program is designed to answer questions most pressing to family members. You’ll find out about Taylor Health & Wellness; campus safety; housing; and student organizations; and meet the professionals at the university.
There is also an emotional component to attending SOAR. When a student leaves for college, the entire family goes through a transition. At SOAR, you will meet other families who are sending their first student to college. You’ll also meet families who have “been there, done that” and can serve as a wealth of knowledge and support. You can share stories, make connections, learn how to encourage your student while still letting them grow, find dates of important campus events such as Welcome Weekend and Family Weekend (September 15-17, 2017). Family Weekend is a great time to return to campus, visit your student and see the school through their eyes. And yes, take them shopping while you are in town!
As you can tell, I’m a strong advocate for attending SOAR. For me, it was an important part of the process of raising my daughters and allowing them the freedom to follow their dreams. At each orientation, I learned how things worked on campus and what my daughter’s first-year experience would be like. I made new friends. Most importantly, I came away with a sense of peace. I wasn’t as anxious as I had been because I saw the school (rather than just touring it), met the key players, and discovered that the faculty, staff, and administration wanted to see my student succeed as much as I do. That made everything worthwhile.
Here is some practical advice to help you get the most out of SOAR:
- Wear comfortable shoes! You will be doing a lot of walking.
- Come prepared to get lots (and I do mean lots) of great information and many pamphlets, flyers, etc.
- Bring a sweater (for some reason conference rooms are all cold, no matter where they are).
- Accept that you will need time to process everything you hear.
- Plan on being tired (but the good kind of tired).
- Bring a list of questions that you want to ask different offices on campus. These include (but not limited to): Financial Aid, Residence Life, Dining & Housing, Student Employment, the Bookstore.
- Introduce yourself to other families. Networking is good.
- Bring an umbrella. It will probably rain!
- Contact me when you have questions.
We look forward to seeing you in just a few weeks at your student’s SOAR session. Please call me at (417) 836-3060 or email me at pchildress@missouristate.edu if you have questions.
~Priscilla