The Foreign Service Journal, December 2022

86 DECEMBER 2022 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT residence halls are closed. Having an initial travel plan will ease anxiety about finding a friend to host them, especially in the first year. Having emergency contact informa- tion is also needed. Agree on whether you can contact their roommate or friend if you haven’t heard from them and are worried. Provide emergency contact information to your teen if they can’t get hold of you at your current post. Your teen is one of many who will face new challenges completely on their own in college. Many second- ary international schools already have fantastic programs in place to support the socioemotional TCK transition realities. Organizations for Transition Support If schools are looking to improve their transition sup- port, they can contact several organizations such as Safe Passages Across Networks, Intercultural Transitions, Foreign Service Youth Founda- tion , and TCK Training that all facilitate workshops and programs among families and students. See also TCK Connect groups: MuKappa International and Interaction International. Third culture kids have a unique back- ground of cultural adaptation, resilience, resourcefulness, flexibility, and creativity that shouldmake themparticularly adept at “adulting” when heading off to college. Usually, TCKs have had a range of experi- ences that make themmature, articulate, and poised, traits that help other adults feel like TCKs have it under control. Of course, this worldly perspective and perceived maturity can also mask the mental health challenges that are occurring in a TCK’s transition process. Ensure that your teen knows where and how to reach out for help when they feel overwhelmed. n For resources on supporting TCKs’ transition to college, see page 88.