MAR 2009 |
VOL 5 ISSUE 3
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About Staying Connected |
Safe Spring Break Patrick Stack, D.Min., LMFT, LPC, NCC, CASAC Director of Counseling/Life Development It is just about that time of the year for the famous, some would say infamous, Spring Break. Throughout my career in higher education I have witnessed many different student responses to spring break activities. Over the last several years a significant number of students volunteer their time helping worthy projects. There still are work projects from the devastating Katrina hurricane that university students all across America will help complete. Most volunteer projects are well organized and frequently supervised. Some other students will use their spring break to catch up on studies, rest, and friendships, or work a part time job to help out with their financial situation. Then there are the students who consider spring break a time to Raise Hell! This is the group that we are concerned about. These students often will let loose. Their letting loose will be guided by limited maturity and limited life experience. Asking your daughter or son what plans they have made for spring break is most reasonable. If your daughter or son falls into the category of Raising Hell, I suggest you have a heart-to-heart talk about your expectations concerning safety, how to respond to emergencies, and alcohol/drug use. I think moms and dads who explicitly, or implicitly, suggest to their students that drinking or drugging is okay as long as they are safe, don’t do foolish behaviors, and don’t get caught, create some serious damage. The damage created is the belief, “We don’t have to follow the rules.” So think twice whether to ignore a daughter or son who is bent on a Hell Raising spring break. Congratulate your student who utilizes spring break wisely. Contact me with any questions at stackpa@webster.edu. |
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