Quotes and Videos
Quotes
On
this page, you will find comments and advice from parents of COSMOS
alumni. They answered the following questions:
- Did your child experience homesickness? If so, how long did it last? How did you help your child get through it?
- How did you communicate with your child while they were at COSMOS? Any tips on communication strategies that worked?
- Did you visit your child on the weekends? How was it?
- How was Opening Day and saying good-bye to your child? Anything comments that would help parents prepare for Opening Day?
- How was Closing Day and "reuniting" with your child?
- How has your child changed since attending COSMOS?
- Other comments…
- Did your child experience homesickness? If so, how long did it last? How did you help your child get through it?
"This was the first time our son was away from home for more than a week. It seemed like he had some homesickness beginning the second week, when he began calling home frequently. During our conversations, it seemed as though his homesickness was balanced by the fact that he really was enjoying the activities at COSMOS."
"Despite our mild fears when dropping our daughter off at UCSC, my husband and I were the only ones who had any adjusting to do. As we worried about how homesick she might become, she was merrily making new friends and enjoying her new role as a coed. She said that during the first week, when she woke up in the morning, she would start to get a little homesick, but once the activities of the day started she felt fine."
- How did you communicate with your child while they were at COSMOS? Any tips on communication strategies that worked?
"We set up his own free hotmail email account, and asked him to send email at least once a week. We would send email asking him questions. He was good about checking his email 1-2 times a week during his free time and responding. The COSMOS Newsletter was really helpful in keeping parents informed. I'm sure it was a lot of work for the COSMOS staff."
- Did you visit your child on the weekends? How was it?
"I did not visit on weekends, and personally wouldn't encourage it. The kids are there to learn, and to learn to be independent, and they are in great hands. This is a great time for them to learn to become their own person -- allow them to do it."
- How was Opening Day and saying good-bye to your child? Anything comments that would help parents prepare for Opening Day?
"Opening Day was wonderful -- the most organized school-related (or otherwise) event I've been to…The excitement and happiness was contagious. When I left, I really felt my child was in good, safe hands. When saying goodbye to one's child, I'd advise just a nice hug, kiss, goodbye and leave. No drawn out, overly sentimental stuff. This could only make them more homesick … Don't let your own sentimental feelings spoil their special time. It's not forever, only four weeks. It seems long at first, but when they get home, to them (and to you) it seems like it flew by."
- How was Closing Day and "reuniting" with your child?
"…I could tell that something extraordinary had occurred not just for our daughter, but for every person involved at COSMOS. The happiness and enthusiasm was still there as on the first day, but now there was a genuine closeness and affection that was very heartwarming…She was happy to see me, was happy but urgent to spend one last day with new, special friends. She wanted me to meet EVERYONE -- she was so proud of everything and everyone! … She held up really well all day, through numerous sentimental goodbyes, but cried in the car on the way home -- partly from exhaustion, mostly from leaving a special place, special people and a special time -- one I think she knew she'd never quite experience the likes of which again."
"Closing day was fine. By that time our son had mixed feelings – He was happy to be going home, but he was also sad to leave his new friends. He still keeps in touch with several of his COSMOS classmates via instant-messenger."
- How has your child changed since attending COSMOS?
"I think COSMOS was a life-changing event for my daughter. She attended the summer before ninth grade and she started ninth grade full of confidence and poise, ready for anything… Her high school experience, academically and socially, so far has been the most positive of anyone’s in her immediate family."
"My daughter has become much more self-assured and comfortable with who she is. She knows more about what she wants in life, what is important to her, and is more confident in and accepting of herself. She is also more accepting of others. She has a better appreciation for her friends and a broader view of people and issues. An evening lecture on particle physics that she said "put everyone else to sleep" really excited her and cinched her interest in majoring in physics in college."
- Other comments...
"According to my son, COSMOS was a test for me – the mom! Since he knows that he will be going away for college which is longer and more permanent, he decided that he wasn’t going to call or communicate with us as often while he was in Santa Cruz. Believe it or not, it worked! It really gave me a taste of what it’s going to be like in 2004, when he’s away at college."
Videos
On the UCOP website, there are two videos for viewing (English and Spanish). Below, we feature two videos that highlight UC Santa Cruz's 2000 COSMOS program. Scenes from classes, field trips, and residential life are interwoven with student interviews.
CLIP ONE: KAYAKING Download the 3.7 MB QuickTime movie
CLIP TWO: DISCOVERY LECTURE Download the 4.9 MB QuickTime movie
CLIP THREE: DISCOVERY LECTURE Download the 4.9 MB QuickTime movie
You'll need the QuickTime Player to view the COSMOS videos, above. Download a free player at www.apple.com/quicktime/download/.
