Join Julie Riga as she sits down with Danielle Barone, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Founder of Waves Therapy Group, to explore how preparation, self-awareness, and the right tools can transform the college transition from one of life most overwhelming experiences into one of its most empowering. This conversation is for every student, parent, and leader who believes that when people are equipped with the right foundation, they do not just survive big transitions they thrive through them.

In This Episode:

✨ Why 94 percent of incoming college freshmen experience homesickness and what to do before it hits
✨ How treating college as the beginning of your professional life changes everything
✨ The power of building real connections through class friendships, study groups, and professor relationships
✨ Why self-advocacy is the most underrated skill a student can develop before arriving on campus
✨ How parents can shift from rescuing to guiding and why that shift transforms the whole experience

Key Takeaways:

📌 Preparation is not optional students who arrive knowing what to expect thrive while others crumble in the first semester
📌 College is not 13th grade it is the very first chapter of your professional career and it starts on day one
📌 Find a friend in every class within the first two days and build a study group that holds you accountable
📌 Visit your professors during office hours recommendation letters and professional connections are built long before you need them
📌 Energy and presence matter how you show up on campus shapes the opportunities that come to you
📌 Parents who guide instead of rescue raise students who lead instead of depend
📌 Self-awareness accelerates growth knowing what you need before you need it is the foundation of resilience

Memorable Quotes:

"Nobody told me I was going to get homesick. Nobody told me how to write an email. Nobody told me I had authority and agency in my college experience." - Danielle Barone

"College is the very beginning of your professional career. This is not 13th grade. This is where your professional development begins." - Danielle Barone

"The answer is already no if you do nothing. Explain the situation. She is an adult and so are you." - Julie Riga

"We are setting them up to succeed and thrive instead of just surviving that experience." - Danielle Barone

"After the first week, all that fear starts to come down because you realize it is not as scary as you thought because you have prepared." - Julie Riga

Perfect for parents of college-bound students, high school seniors, educators, and any leader who believes that purposeful preparation creates lifelong success and that every great journey deserves a strong and intentional foundation.

Thriving in College Workshop
Date: June 26 and 27, 2025
Location: FAU Alumni Center, Boca Raton, Florida
Hosted by: Julie Riga and Danielle Barone
Register at: wavestherapygroup.com or email julie@julieriga.com

Connect with Danielle:
🌐 wavestherapygroup.com
💼 Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Trauma-Informed Therapist
📍 Boca Raton, Florida

Connect with Julie:
🌐 julieriga.com
🎧 Stay On Course Podcast
📱 LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
🔗 Resources and tools: https://stacklist.app/julieriga

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💡 Share this episode with a parent or student who needs to hear this before the next chapter begins.

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