Adiemus Seah Counsellor

1. The unspoken grief in an ivory tower: Examining transition issues among international students using a ‘grief tasks model’ Adiemus Seah Counsellor

2. Transition associated losses for FYIS A series of grief and loss experience Non-death related William Worden’s (1991) grief tasks model Omitted section Developmental challenges Clinical observations University wide engagement strategies Overview

3. 3 types of losses: Familiarity, Stability, Security 6 categories of transition associated losses: Academic Geographic Administrative Practical Interpersonal Spiritual Transition associated losses

4. Major losses of college-university students • LaGrand’s (1986) classical research

5. Interpersonal loss is the most prevalent loss (LaGrand, 1986). Interpersonal loss causes the highest degree of disruption in students’ lives (Toth, Stockton, Browne, 2000). Interpersonal loss can trigger intense physical and psychological symptoms similar to the grief that is experienced with death loss events (Cohen, 1996). Traditionally-aged FYIS are more vulnerable to interpersonal loss. An important need to recognize first year transition as a series of grief and loss experiences Discussion

6. Accept the reality of the loss Experience the pain of grief Adjust to an environment in which the deceased is missing Emotionally relocate the deceased and move on with life Worden’s (1991) grief tasks model

7. Accept the fact that you are now in a new country or environment and many things will be different Experience and express your homesickness in constructive ways Adapt and adjust to an environment where your family and friends are not here physically to help you Remember your family and friends back home while at the same time to re-establish new friendships with other people Revised model

8. Accept the fact that you are now in a new country or environment and many things will be different Share new and strange experiences Understand written and unwritten rules Identify similarities Task 1

9. 2. Experience and express your homesickness in constructive ways Educating Normalizing Expressing Task 2

10. 3. Adapt and adjust to an environment where your family and friends are not here physically to help you Practical living skills Decision making skill Problem solving skill Do familiar activities Promote student support services Task 3

11. 4. Remember your family and friends back home while at the same time to re-establish new friendships with other people Keep in touch with family and friends Make new friends Task 4 Revised model

12. “Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.” - Lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher Conclusion