First Year - Introduction to the series 

 
Did you know? 
The dropout rate for first year post-secondary school 
is very high in America. About 20-30% of first year 
students drop out of college or university. They do not 
go on to second year. Many students return to post- 
secondary education later in life. Follow the series to 
see if Kate makes it through her freshman year. 
 
New Vocabulary. 
drop out = ​to quit school (vs. drop = fallen) 
freshman = ​first year student 
heading off = ​leaving to go somewhere 
on campus = ​on the property where the university or 
college is located 
emotional rollercoaster = ​experiencing many 
different feelings such as happiness, sadness, 
loneliness, and excitement 
comfort zone = ​a setting you are used to; where you 
feel comfortable 
in one piece = ​without falling apart or failing 
count on = ​to rely on other people or things for 
support 
deal with = ​to take action in order to address an issue 
or problem 
ups and downs = ​good and bad events or occurrences 
 
Match the words on the left to the definitions on 
the right. 
1. drop out = c  a. in first year of post 
2. freshman = a  secondary school 
3. heading off = h  b. rely on 
4. on campus = j  c. stop attending school 
5. emotional rollercoaster  before a course or 
= e  program is incomplete 
6. comfort zone = g  d. highs and lows in life 
7. in one piece = f  e. many different feelings 
8. count on = b  f. together mentally and 
9. deal with = i  physically 
10. ups and downs = d  g. where you feel at home 
or safe 
h. leaving for another 
destination 
i. address an issue 
j. on university or college 
grounds 
 
Fill in the blanks with words from the vocabulary 
list. 
Kate is ​heading off​ to university. She is going into her 
first year of undergraduate studies. Not only is she 
leaving her family and friends, she is moving into a 
residence ​on-campus​. Kate will experience many 
firsts this year. She will have her first roommate, take 
her first exams, land her first job, and begin her first 
serious romance. First year is an ​emotional 
rollercoaster ​for Kate. Leaving her ​comfort zone ​is 
not all fun and games. With so much freedom, Kate 
finds it difficult to focus on important things like 
school and finances. To get through first year ​in one 
piece ​Kate will have to ​count on​ the people who 
matter most in her life. These people include her best 
friend and her family members. Follow these 15 
conversations with Kate as she ​deals with ​the ​ups 
and downs ​of campus life and her first year of 
university. 
 
Comprehension Questions  
1. Where is Kate going? 
2. True or False. Kate is going to work while she 
attends university. 
3. What will Kate have trouble doing this year? 
4. Kate's first year is described as _____________. 
5. Who will Kate need to count on to get through first 
year university? 
 
Discussion Questions 
1. Have you ever headed off to a place outside of your 
comfort zone? How did it feel? 
2. What do you think will be the most difficult part of 
Kate’s first year? 
3. Have you ever had a roommate? What was your 
first experience like? (If you haven’t had a roommate, 
would you want one?) 
4. Describe a time when your life was an emotional 
rollercoaster.