College Launch Collaborative

Join This Collaborative

The Purpose of This Collaborative

Launching into independence shouldn’t feel like freefall.

The transition to college is one of the biggest leaps a young adult makes — new environment, new expectations, new freedoms, and the pressure to “figure it all out” faster than feels humanly possible. Most people only share the highlight reel. Few talk about the truth: the early months can feel overwhelming, isolating, and disorienting.

This collaborative exists to give students something essential:
a consistent, judgment-free community where they don’t have to pretend they’re doing “fine.”

A place to talk honestly about:

  • the awkwardness of making new friends

  • feeling behind while everyone else looks like they’re thriving

  • balancing independence with structure

  • academic pressure, self-doubt, and perfectionism

  • comparison, FOMO, and loneliness

  • roommate tension, identity shifts, and unmet expectations

  • figuring out who you are without losing yourself

Here, students can show up as they are — no pressure, no performing. Just real conversation, shared wisdom, and compassionate support from peers navigating the same realities.

At its core, the purpose of this collaborative is simple:
To help college students feel less alone, more grounded, and more confident as they navigate one of the most challenging transitions into adulthood.

Who this Collaborative Supports

This collaborative is built for adoptive parents seeking clarity, connection, and a community that truly understands the unique challenges of adoption.

For college students who are:

  • Feeling lonely, disconnected, or unsure where they fit

  • Struggling to make genuine friendships

  • Managing academic pressure or self-doubt

  • Overwhelmed by independence, choices, or expectations

  • Wrestling with comparison, FOMO, or perfectionism

  • Navigating identity, belonging, or big-picture “Who am I?” questions

  • Wanting a space to talk honestly without having to edit themselves

This collaborative helps students:

  • Feel understood instead of isolated

  • Learn how others are navigating similar struggles

  • Build confidence in their ability to handle challenges

  • Gain tools for managing stress, anxiety, and academic load

  • Strengthen their sense of identity and values

  • Find connection that actually feels meaningful

Meet Your Facilitator

Ciara brings a grounded, relational approach to supporting young adults in times of transition. With a background in psychology, youth development, and years spent mentoring teens and college-age students, she helps young adults reconnect with their strengths, build confidence, and navigate the emotional ups and downs of early adulthood. Ciara’s style is warm, practical, and deeply supportive — offering students a space where they can be honest, heard, and understood.

Meeting Details

Format: Virtual

  • Frequency: Weekly

  • Duration: 3-month initial commitment (option to continue)

  • Group Size: 8–10 students

  • Tone: Supportive, real, and judgment-free

  • Facilitator: Ciara Fanlo

Ready to Join the Collaborative?

Join This Collaborative

 FAQs

  • No. You don’t need to be in crisis or having a hard time. A lot of students join simply because college feels overwhelming, confusing, lonely, or more emotionally intense than they expected. Others join because they want a space to talk honestly without pressure.

  • Yes — if there’s room.

    Joining early is ideal, but you’re welcome to jump in as long as the collaborative isn’t full.

  • Totally normal. Most people feel that way at first.
    Once you meet the group and realize everyone else is navigating similar stuff, it usually feels a lot easier and more comfortable.

  • No problem. Life happens. You’ll get the weekly themes and reflection prompts so you can stay connected even if you miss a week.

  • Everything that feels real in the early college months—

    • making friends

    • loneliness

    • comparison

    • academic pressure

    • managing your time

    • anxiety

    • identity

    • independence

    • self-care

    • relationship changes

    • the weird mix of excitement and stress

    Nothing is off-limits, and you only share what you feel comfortable with.

  • No, this is your space. What you share stays in the group.

  • No.


    It’s a peer support and coaching collaborative, not therapy or treatment. It’s a space to talk openly, get grounded, and figure out this transition with other people who get it.