64 JUNE 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Try not to surprise them. One TCK student said he started to leave his phone in his dorm room because his parents would call him unexpectedly all the time—in the middle of class, during a study session, or when he was out with friends—and it embarrassed him. They agreed to text first and then figure out a time to talk. Pictures are worth a thousand words. Photos, memes, social media, video messages—these are all great touchpoints. College Is a Journey, There Will Be Bumps Starting college is an exciting and challenging time in the life of a student. It is also a memorable one, a first step on the journey into adulthood, with students changing both physically and emotionally, exploring newfound independence, and finding the balance between academics and a new social construct. For TCKs, it can be even more challenging. TCK Megan Norton is a founder of Intercultural Transitions, an organization that works with TCKs to empower them through the university experience and beyond. She emphasizes that being a TCK is not an identity—it is a profile and an experience. TCKs who start college often experience reverse culture shock, describing themselves as aliens and strangers in their “home” country. For them, home is not a static geographical location, but the place where their family is at any given time. As new college students, they are faced with processing and owning their story and finding a sense of belonging based on an evolving narrative of life overseas. TCKs may experience loneliness and isolation. The physical absence of family close by and the shift from a multicultural to monocultural experience can be Being a TCK is not an identity— it is a profile and an experience. EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT
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