Suggestions of things our P’27s should let their ’27s do this summer
LDOC doesn’t just mean the pace of Wake is accelerating for your students, it’s that way for administrators too. There are a lot of big processes coming up: having finals mean we will soon be recording students’ final grades; getting people checked out of their residence halls; Commencement; planning for the arrival of the Class of 2027 in August. We are all rocking right now. Let’s get right to it.
LDOC message from President Wente
Today is LDOC (Last Day of Classes). And President Wente had a video message for our students. I hope you enjoy it.
Message to P’23s with graduating seniors
This message was sent to families of Class of 2023 students who are eligible to graduate.
Suggestions of things our P’27s should let their ’27s do this summer
The bulk of today’s Daily Deac is for our new parents and families of the Class of 2027. We refer to you as P’27s.
One of the greatest gifts you can give your incoming students is the gift of experience. In just a few short months, your students will be on their own and independent. They will be making 100% of their choices and will be expected to take care of business on their own. Help them gain that experience by putting them in charge of everyday things, such as;
If your student is not already doing their own laundry, put them in charge of doing the laundry for all the family for a week.
Have your student be the one to set up medical appointments (such as physical exams/check ups) and calling in prescriptions. Don’t do it for them. This includes them looking up their doctor’s name and phone number, calling and making the appointment, locating the insurance card, paying, etc.
Put your student in charge of buying groceries for the house for a week. No list from you – have your student do all the reconnaissance for what is necessary (food, drinks, household staples like paper towels and toilet paper, medicine, etc.)
Charge your student with finding a local dentist in Winston-Salem, or a mechanic/auto shop, or a therapist, etc. Let your student be the one to research service providers and determine which one to use.
Ask your student to be the one to research plane fares if you need air travel to Winston-Salem. (Before they pull the trigger and commit to a price, of course, they should get final OK from you if you are paying).
Charge your student with coming up with a game plan for packing their belongings – what supplies do they need, what are considered vital items to take, etc. Give them a budget for necessary supplies and let them get it.
Especially if this is your first student to head to college, you might be tempted to let your kiddo take it easy for one final summer while you take care of all the details. Try to resist that temptation.
It will be to your student’s benefit to have some real world experiences this summer – even doing the drudgy stuff – and move toward being as independent as possible.
Giving your students time to learn how to manage their own affairs helps build their experience and confidence so they feel ready to be truly on their own when school starts. It will also help you feel confident that you have done all you can to prepare them to be successful.
