January tips for families

With the end of the Fall 2022 semester, many of our students are discovering what has worked well for them and what strategies were less successful. Perhaps your Hokie student found major challenges in their academic lives. Others may have excelled academically but struggled with emotional or social challenges. Some students may have made sacrifices toward their well-being, decreasing emotional, physical, or mental health. All students who are accepted to Virginia Tech have the ability to be successful academically. However, their initial choice of a major may not be the right one for them. It is critical for them to be able to find the major that inspires and challenges them so they can be successful, both in their academic and personal lives.

January presents a time for reflection, evaluation, and dreaming both for students and their families. First-year students may be wondering whether the spring semester will be better while second year students may be reevaluating their choice of a major. Third year students are often concerned that their prior academic or campus involvement will negatively affect their choices for an internship. Students in their senior year are thinking about a life after graduation and career opportunities. Regardless of the student experience, new challenges await your Hokie. One of my favorite musicals is “Sunday in the Park with George” by Stephen Sondheim. In the final scene of the show, George Seurat takes out a new canvas and states: “A blank page or canvas—so many possibilities.” This statement is true each and every day for your Hokie.

All students, whether or not they struggle, need to know they are loved; that their families and friends stand with them and want the best life for them that is possible. Students need to know that regardless of whether they make a mistake or fall, they can always recover and get back up. When families can find room to support their students in their struggles, students can find the resources and options they need to live full and meaningful lives.

There are many resources at Virginia Tech to support your Hokie as they navigate their academic and life struggles. The Virginia Tech community wants to work with all students during their academic and personal journeys. Please encourage your student to connect with the resources available, such as those at Cook Counseling Center.

Ellie Sturgis
Director, Thomas E. Cook Counseling Center