In just a few short months, lots of young Houston gals will be making the big transition from high school to college. It's one that can be really stressful, especially when it involves leaving the comfort of home. Shari Fish is committed to helping these young women make a successful transition to life away from home. Shari, a certified wellness coach and a mother says, “There’s a lot more involved in going off to college than choosing a roommate and picking out your bedding. After giving your daughter every opportunity for success these past 18 years, don’t send her off to college unprepared for her new independence."
What do parents neglect to do before sending their kids off to college? Well, according to Shari, "It is not what parents forget to say; most of the students have a lot of 'information'. It is more about setting realistic expectations and helping the girls to develop the mindset and resiliency necessary to overcome challenges and disappointments."
To help college-bound women prepare for their next major step into adulthood, Shari Fish Wellness, in collaboration with The Women’s Fund for Health, Education and Research, will offer several FITeens Pre-College Workshops over the next few months. The first one is this weekend. "At a time when young women are about to make one of the biggest transitions of their life, this fun and interactive event is a great way to promote support systems for them,” says Katherine Stackel, The Women’s Fund Education & Outreach Manager. “Research has shown that when women are provided with tools to make healthy goals and decisions, they are more likely to bounce back from bad situations as a result of those resiliency skills."
As a mother of two, soon-to-be-three college students, Shari had the inspiration and personal knowledge needed to start the workshops. "It became apparent to me that college freshmen face a host of issues as they begin the challenging, and oftentimes overwhelming, tasks associated with transitioning into independent living," says Shari. "So much emphasis is placed on getting into college, and then the focus often turns to roommates and bedding. There is so much more to know to ease this milestone transition. "
College can be stressful on so many levels for incoming freshmen. Shari says, "Students often feel overwhelmed by the many demands on their time and energy and are searching for where they 'fit in'. Feeling homesick or lonely during the freshman year is common, as well."
The topics in Shari's interactive workshop will include handling stress, time management skills, budgets & finances, exercise, drinking, dating and sex. There's a group of experts helping cover these topics. Among them is Shari's own daughter, Stephanie, who graduates from the University of Texas at Austin this May. She'll share her personal insights from a student’s perspective. In addition to her professional knowledge, Shari relies on her personal experiences to lead many of the workshops. "My three children, my nieces and nephews, countless friends and clients have helped me to understand the scope of experiences as well as to find the common threads"
The first FITeens Pre-College Workshop is this Sunday, April 17th from 10 AM to 2:30 PM at The Houstonian Club. The cost is $185 a person. Registration includes a healthy lunch and snacks, a FITeens workbook, giveaways, and the book, What About Me?, A Girls' Guide To Health, published by The Women’s Fund. To find out about upcoming seminars, visit Shari's website or call Shari Fish Wellness FITeens, 713-899-6159.
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