Teenagers have a lot of worries whirling around their minds. You might not think it to look at them, with many teens acting like they’re ‘too cool’ for you, or being outspoken about the things they care about.
But a lot of teenagers are facing high levels of anxiety these days, and studies even show that new uni-goers potentially experience more mental health problems than any generation before them.
So when your own child is off to university, and you want to do your best to support them, it’s a good idea to understand what they might be worrying about.
And when you want to try and talk to them about it, make sure you’re ready to both listen to and validate these worries, no matter how small they might end up being.
Affording Everything They Need
When you’re in uni, you’ve only got a limited income to work with. It’s why a lot of students get a part time job, so they can have their own cash when they need it.
But that presents another worry; finding a part time job in the first place. Young adults already have a hard enough time in the current job market, but when you have a strict uni timetable to account for as well, your options can narrow even further.
Some students also worry about the pressure of trying to work and study at the same time. Energy levels can run thin when you’re attending back to back lectures, have a project to finish before 11.59pm, and have a 5 hour shift at a local restaurant starting at 3pm.
Making Friends
Even adults can worry about this when they start a new job – and they get to go home to their own space, families, and usually they have plenty of other friends outside of the workplace.
But when you’re a student striking out on your own for the first time, making friends can be an incredibly anxiety-inducing situation. And while the uni social life is a big draw for many people, the idea that it’s entirely up to you to make a new friend can become a sticking point.
Remember, your teen has just come from school or college. And when you’re in school, you make friends because you see the same people in the same classrooms every single day.
When you’re at uni, there’s less proximity to thrive off of. Campuses tend to be bigger places than we realise, and the range of student accommodation that might be on offer could stretch all over the city.
Being Away From Home
Getting homesick is pretty common amongst uni students.
For some it’s caused by being away from home for the first time. For others it’s down to how different university life is, compared to what they’re used to. And for many, it’s because being at uni means your family isn’t around when you need them.
Homesickness can be managed, of course. You can make a bit of time for regular calls home, as well as being able to message your parents or siblings at any time when you’re in need of advice.
But it’s still a very powerful feeling that can make more than a handful of students drop out, or need to resume their studies later on.
Getting Overwhelmed by the Workload
University workloads can be legendary. Depending on the different classes you might have signed up for, you could have more than 4 projects due in the same week, as well as 2 or more lectures per day.
And while homework amounts can be startling in schools, there’s nothing quite like the academic demands that university puts on a student’s shoulders. Many students even report feeling burnt out by their workload, and many need assistance from the university itself to help maintain good mental wellness as time goes on.
Uni Worries are Very Common
No teen is alone in feeling worried about going to university. For all the excitement it can cause, and all the doors it might open up, it can still make you a bit panicky when the time really comes.
And it’s important to highlight that, so teens never feel like they have to hide their anxieties or try to play them off. Listen, support, and learn wherever you can. It’ll be much more helpful for your child in the long run.
With that in mind, here are 4 of the most common worries teens tend to have about going to university.