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Winter Break Reflection

by Betsy Chapman

To all our First-Year Families: Congratulations! Your Deacs are about to complete their first semester of college, and then their Winter Break will officially begin. As this semester concludes, this will be our final Weekly Message.

Winter Break provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with your student. Use this time wisely to learn about their college experience and witness their growth and change.

The Power of Reflection

Amidst the busy college pace, students often move from one task to the next without pausing to truly process their experiences. This break offers a chance to engage in reflection, an important exercise that helps them consolidate lessons learned.

You can gently encourage this by posing a few key questions. Your Deac may choose whether or not to share their answers with you, but simply asking the questions—perhaps over a meal or during a quiet moment—can prompt valuable private thought.

Discussion Prompts for the First Semester

Here are some prompts, inspired by our campus Mentoring Resource Center, to help your student reflect on the last few months:

Looking Back at the Semester:

  • “If you were starting Wake Forest all over, what would you do differently and why?”
  • “What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome this semester, and what did you learn from it?”
  • “When were you happiest this semester? What made that experience so good for you?”
  • “What did you do this semester that made you the most proud?”
  • “What have you learned about yourself since you arrived at Wake Forest?”

Looking Forward:

  • “How do you want to be different six months from now than you are right now?”
  • “If you were not afraid of failing, what is one thing you would try next semester?”

Reflecting on Your Partnership

Asking these questions can also provide insight into how you can best support them moving forward:

  • “Where was I most helpful to you during this first semester?”
  • “What do you wish I had done differently?”

Hopefully, these prompts will lead to meaningful conversations and help your Deac prepare for a successful second semester.

Happy Winter Break to all!

Contact

To contact the Office of Family Engagement or Family Communications, please visit our contact page.

 

For mental health assistance: 336-758-CARE (2273) is a service that ensures someone will always be available (i.e., 24/7 M-F, weekends and university holidays) to provide caring and thoughtful consultation services for Wake Forest students in need of mental health assistance or support. You can also visit we.wfu.edu for resources.