Like many families whose students had recently begun their first year at A&M, I was anxious to see my son over the break and couldn’t wait to hear about how the fall went. I quickly found out that his number one priority was to catch up on sleep!
My son was a freshman members of the Corps of Cadets (or a fish, as they are most commonly known) and had a tremendously busy first semester. Whether or not students are members of the Corps, they often find their first semester is a nonstop current of activities, events, assignments and deadlines from the first day of the year until finals conclude. As excited as I was to have him home and visit with him between semesters, I realized rest was also a priority for my student during this rare down time.
After a day or two of sleep, we were able to catch up on all of the highlights of the first semester on campus. (The joke at our house was how quickly our son forgot how to keep a room clean!) Most of his spare time was spent with family and a few close friends.
I was relieved to see that students in the Corps who make it through the first semester in good standing are very likely to persist through the entire four years. It was also encouraging to see the successes, large and small, my student had found during a time of transition that can often be challenging. They may not realize it in the moment, but you will be able to see the bonds students have begun forming in their first semester and the lifelong support system that is developing around them.
As students head back to campus for the spring semester, encourage a good start academically. It’s wise to seek academic help sooner rather than later, and many resources are available across campus. In the spring, Cadets look forward to earning their Corps Brass, March to the Brazos and Final Review. (If you as a parent can make it to Final Review, it’s a great experience to see Cadet and their fellow fish who worked so hard together during their first year in the Corps.) Students across campus will soon be celebrating the accomplishment of finishing their first year on campus as Aggies.
During the winter break, I hope you’re able to savor the time spent with your student, join them in reflecting on their first few months at A&M, and celebrate their successes as they prepare to return to campus for a new semester. Gig ‘em!
Mike and Martha Page
Aggie Parent & Family Advisory Council