subject: Home Security Tips For Going Away to College in the Fall [print this page] Home Security Tips For Going Away to College in the Fall
At a lot of high school graduations around the country, someone will eventually give a speech that implies or straight-out says that graduation is the first day of the rest of your life. And while this is actually true for all days, it feels especially poignant for anyone who is ready to start anew in the fall by heading off to college. After all, while high school can be a time for fun and friendship, for many students, it is also a pretty stressful experience, sometimes made more difficult by the fact that high schoolers can be pretty mean. Don't believe it? Just check out "Heathers" or "Mean Girls" again, and get taken right back to the "care-free" days of being a junior or senior.
But for those who are about to head off to college, it's not about whether or not high school was actually the happiest time or the least enjoyable time of one's life. It's about getting ready to embark upon something far more exciting. For those who are used to living in houses with somewhat overprotective parents, this means freedom. For others who simply want a chance to follow their dreams, this means something else. But for most parents of high schoolers who will be going off to college in the fall, this means fearing for safety and home security like never before.
After all, if your child is heading off to college, it means that you won't be there to help out, and that old methods of staying safe, like making sure the home alarm system was set before everyone went to bed, no longer apply. In a dorm situation, there should be some measure of security, but the truth is that sometimes, dorms can be a less safe living environment than discovering the right sort of off-campus housing in a great neighborhood. And even then, there's a whole other level of home security--street smarts. If your child has never lived away from home before, much less in a city, then there is a lot to learn before running around at three in the morning with other clueless 18 year-olds.
For parents who are already starting to worry about their children's well-being once off to college, there's no need to completely freak out. First, sit down with your child and talk to them about safety. You don't have to get overly dramatic, but just make it clear that you're coming from a place of knowledge. If your child has never lived in a big city, it's definitely possible that he or she is also nervous about general safety issues, since living away from home means giving up that sense of home security that comes with living with parents.
At the same time, make sure that your child knows all of the different advantages that exist on-campus, whether residing in the dorms or not. There should be shuttles, and if not shuttles, taxi vouchers for late at night. Talk about simple common-sense steps, and make it clear that you are always there to listen or to talk more if there are any questions or concerns. After all, learning to stay safe is in part about the effective communication between parents and children, even after the children in question go off to school in the fall.
