A Family of Friends
As students grow into adulthood, a natural sign of independence is that they begin creating a second family made up of good friends. There may be the roommate who "feels like a sister to me" or the friend from student government who "I love like a brother."

By developing these bonds, your student isn't saying that her primary family isn't important. She's simply surrounding herself with even more supportive, loving partners to help her get through life's ups and downs — while she helps them do the same. It's a sign of maturity and of positive relationship building.

Part of this friendship-making process is mourning the separation when summer comes. Being separated from college friends during the summer hiatus can be traumatic and troubling for students. Bonds develop quickly and strongly during the year, as students experience everything together, from classes to meals to deep 2 a.m. conversations in the laundry room. So, when May rolls around and it's time to say goodbye, it's natural to expect that your student may have some trouble. Talk with him about it, work together to figure out ways he can stay connected with these friends from afar and applaud the fact that he has connected with others so well. This is a sign that he's developing genuine friendships at school filled with give and take.