Page Cvelich has brought a wealth of knowledge to the Work/Life Center from prior experience as a high school guidance counselor and parent education coordinator. Page has been responsible for setting up a high school college and career center, designing a career exploration program for teens and serving as a counselor at a backpacking camp in the Rockies. In her role as Teen/College Program Manager, Page enjoys interacting with small groups of parents and teens, as well as consulting one-on-one with parents and referring them to resources so that they are better able to provide the support and encouragement their kids need.
I recently read an article by a parent coach I admire about phrases she has used frequently over the years with her daughter. Here’s a snippet: "My daughter mouthed the words as I began to say them, "Don’t decide how things are going to be later." She has heard this phrase
"When your child 'comes out' to you, thank them. Thank them for loving and trusting you enough to share this important part of themselves with you. They have given you a gift, an opportunity to interact with them in an open and honest way. It means they want your approval
Full Disclosure: I have my Master's in Education in School Counseling and I have worked in high schools in this capacity. And, yes, I have heard numerous unfortunate stories from families about how ineffectual their school counselor seemed to be. I’m not here to defend my profession[i], but to give
I have 3 mantras: less is more; you must start the way you want to finish; and, life is short but wide. As many of you know, I’m a planner. I’ve had my funeral folder since I was 19. Even with my good genes (my 98 year old father is
I remember going to a workshop about grief a few years back. At one point, the speaker talked about various types of support grieving folks need after the typical mourning rituals have receded and life continues on. He asked the workshop participants to pull out a sheet of paper and
In the spirit of my intention this year—to be mindful vs. mind full--I was at a gathering the other day and my attention was immediately drawn to the corner of the room where a fully-blooming Amaryllis was displayed on the side table. Its beauty was shocking. Such a weirdly amazing
Welcome back from your Thanksgiving holiday break! I have to ask. Was your time with your returning college student as wonderful as you thought it would be? Chances are there were at least some brief moments of disappointment. You thought you’d have more time together…and, yet, your student spent more
Parents, I don’t need to tell you three obvious things: Sleep is critical to our well-being (no matter what age you are). Ask any primary care physician or therapist. Tweens and teens need more sleep than they get (need an average of 9-10 hours, but almost half get fewer than
Do you remember going to a sleepaway summer camp when you were a kid? I do! My first sleepaway camping experience was a Girl Scout camp when I was in fourth grade. My mom helped me pack my duffle bag. We selected a pair of shorts, t-shirt, underpants, and socks
My colleague, Lisa, and I were comparing notes the other day. Both of us starting working in our teens (14 and 15 respectively) during the academic year as well as the summers. I worked at Sears in the drapery and bedspread department. I’ll never forget my first boss—Mr. Arnold. He
I am delighted to have as one of my 2017 College Series’ guest bloggers, Theresa Maitland, PhD. Dr. Maitland is a Senior Learning Specialist and Academic Coach at UNC’s Learning Center. She has co-authored three books and engages in training and consulting with educational institutions. Q: When you think of
As part of the 2017 College Series, I have invited a few individuals to write guest blogs. Today’s blog comes from Christopher Campau, the Collegiate Recovery Program Coordinator for the state of North Carolina. If you have a student who has struggled with substance use in high school and you
When we built our house in Durham ten years ago, I asked the builder if I could make a special request. He was very accommodating. He said he had heard it all. “Can you install a switch to turn off the doorbell?” That he had not heard. His response, “Why
Hi! My name is Allison, and I recently completed my undergraduate work at UNC-Wilmington. I am currently in grad school at NC State getting my Masters in Social Work (Go Pack!), and am an intern in the Work/Life Center here at SAS. I am assisting Work/Life with aspects of the 2017 College Series
I have a pet peeve. When folks I barely know ask me to write them a letter of recommendation or reference. I say no when I feel that my sense of personal integrity would be compromised in the process. With youth, I don’t say no right away. I use it
I was at the park with my three year old granddaughter this past weekend. As I was watching the parents running, fetching, pushing, I was reminded of some advice I received from a very wise woman when I had young children. She said, “If you are expending more energy than
The last time I wrote a blog about teen dating, I shared that my colleague, Lisa Allred, and I were learning new terms from the teens in our lives. One was “ship”. Of course, the funny part was that although Lisa got the concept correct, she mis-remembered the actual term.
True confessions. I’ve been working here at SAS for 15+ years and I have never used the Recreation and Fitness Center. That’s not quite true. I frequently go there to get a diet lemonade or a cup of coffee if our machine is not working. I have picked up some discount movie
Winter holiday traditions and family rituals are the stuff of rich memories for many grown kids like myself. As a parent educator, I also know that traditions can benefit all members of the household: The repetitive nature of traditions contributes to a sense of comfort and belonging. Traditions can help
Everyone all sugared up? I remember the annual scene of Halloween night as my sister and I shed our costumes, poured our loot onto the living room floor and began the negotiations. Fortunately, I was partial to the chewy fruity candies and and she was partial to chocolate. The only chocolate bar I was
I was with my two grown sons and their spouses this past month for a family wedding. I have to say that they have turned out well. They seem to have great relationships with their spouses and children; they are working productively in their fields of interest; they care about
Sleep has never been my forté. Even as I child, I dreamt of a world where the sun would never set and I could play ad infinitum. When Dr. Gupta opened her "Importance of Sleep" seminar in May with an observation that many people disdain sleep and equate it with
Just before my son's wedding this spring, I was considering what I could share about Michael at the rehearsal dinner. As I sorted through pictures from his childhood, I came across one from 5th grade. Michael played the main character in Leo Tolstoy's Christmas story, "Papa Panov". During the performance, he stayed in
The other day I was listening to a Hidden Brain clip about reference bias. Apparently, a new research study found that students exposed to their very best peers became discouraged about their own abilities and performance — and were more likely to drop out. Just on face value, that rang
The other day the thermometer shot up to 80. I had been pulling from my winter wardrobe when the heat compelled me to put on a pair of pants I hadn’t worn for the past 6 months. Hmmm. They didn't fit as I had expected. :) Reality check. Reality checks are
This past Saturday evening, my husband & I took a stroll around downtown Durham and checked out a pizza place in the historic Fire Station #1. As I was chatting with the manager, I learned that they hosted a “Family Meal” every Sunday afternoon with the goal of bringing families
Next week I will begin facilitating a six-session class, “Preparing for the Teen Years”. I have taught this class more than two dozen times and each time I do it, I learn something about the topic of parenting teens…and about myself. One truth I have learned over the years as
Parents, My boys are now young adults, but when I read a blogpost by Kari O'Driscoll about "What NOT to Say to a Teen Girl on Thanksgiving", I found myself remembering some very awkward moments around the dinner table from past years. Her first point, which has nothing to do
Years ago, during a performance review at a non-profit, my supervisor wrote the following comment at the end of my self-evaluation, "Page, you have exceeded my expectations, and, clearly, are adding value to the organization, but I wonder sometimes if you know how to stop and celebrate what you have achieved. It seems like you
The school year has begun, and, as parents, we are intensely curious about what is going on in the minds, hearts, and lives of our children during those hours they are away from us. We try to act nonchalant as we query, "How was your day?", but we are anything
