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 Not
so long ago you were dressing and brushing your daughter's hair in
preparation for her first day of school. At some point, her initial
excitement evolved into fear of the unknown in her classroom. You
assured her that everything was going to be all right as soon as she
met her teacher and got acquainted with her new friends.
Now the tide has changed. As she prepares to leave
home for college, her excitement leads her into a new journey in quest
of knowledge and independence. She assures you that everything will be
OK.
If you are concerned about your daughter's physical safety as she
departs for college, you are not alone. Many parents share this fear
with you. This is as natural as your daughter's fears were that first
day of school. Fear is nature's strongest survival signal.
Fear is like a fire, if left uncontrolled it will
destroy you. If controlled, it would keep you warm and it could be
used for cooking. So reeducate your daughter on using and controlling
her fears. If she is leaving the campus to walk to her dorm and senses
a gloomy stranger sizing her up and the stranger makes her hairs
stand, at this point she must listen to her intuition. She must look
at this person just in case that she needs to identify him. She should
walk back to campus confidently and trust her instinct. Keep her eyes
forward, yet look at her surroundings, shoulders relaxed, and take
strong but not unnatural steps. She must walk like an empowered woman,
not prey. She should find a friend, campus police or security to
accompany her to her dorm. This might have been a harmless stranger,
yet it is better to be safe than sorry.
Most victims of crime will tell you that they ignored
their instincts. If she is physically attacked, she should scream
"fire" (not help) and "I don't know this man."
Since most people will react to fire, the predator does not want to
attract attention. Review these tips before your daughter departs to
college.
1. Don't' go anywhere alone.
2. If you have to walk alone, take the most well lighted path.
3. Make sure you lock the dorm doors and windows.
4. Find out about the Women's Center on campus, they usually have
helpful information.
5. Double date or let someone know who you are with.
In most incidents on college campuses, the victim
and/or the aggressor were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Educate your daughter on using her fear and you'll
feel as secure as you did on her first day of school.
Julio G. Anta is a Certified Black Belt, personal
trainer and fitness kickboxing instructor at Doral Park Country Club
and Everglades Elemiddle School. For questions or information, via to
contact him at 305-599-3649 or e-mail at fitdef@aol.com.
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