Welcome back, Tar Heels!
Setting up the semester for success—together
Welcome back to campus, Tar Heels. As the semester begins, you may be feeling excited, overwhelmed, or somewhere in between. However you’re arriving to this moment, the Heels Care Network is here to help you find support and navigate what comes next.
A new semester brings new routines, responsibilities, and expectations. It also offers a chance to pause, reflect, and reset. You don’t need to have everything figured out. The Heels Care Network exists to help connect you to care—no matter where you’re starting.
Looking Back to Move Forward
Before jumping into the semester ahead, it can be helpful to reflect on last term—not to judge yourself, but to notice what support looked like for you.
Consider the following questions:
- What challenges did I face last semester?
- When did I feel overwhelmed or stuck?
- Who or what helped me get through difficult moments?
- What’s one thing I’d like more support with this time?
Needing support is a normal part of being a student. Recognizing when and where you need help is an important step forward.
Setting Intentions (Not Pressure)
As you start the semester, consider setting one or two intentions that focus on care and support, rather than trying to do everything on your own.
Examples might include:
- Reaching out earlier when something feels hard
- Asking for help instead of pushing through alone
- Checking in with yourself when stress starts to build
You don’t need a plan for the whole semester. Small steps—taken with support—can make challenges feel more manageable.
How the Heels Care Network Can Support You
The Heels Care Network helps connect you to resources when life feels overwhelming—academically, personally, emotionally, or socially.
Heels Care can help you:
- Figure out where to start when you’re not sure what kind of help you need
- Connect to the right campus resources based on your situation
- Navigate multiple challenges at once
- Access support before things reach a crisis point
You don’t have to know exactly what to ask for. The Heels Care Network is here to help you find your way.
Part of Healthy Heels
The Heels Care Network is part of Healthy Heels, a collaboration across campus to support your whole self. Healthy Heels includes:
Campus Health
Medical care, preventive services, and support for your physical health.
CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services)
Mental health services including same-day support, counseling, groups, workshops, and 24/7 crisis care.
Student Wellness
Wellness coaching, stress management, sleep support, and skill-building resources.
These services work together to help ensure students don’t fall through the cracks when they need support. And there are so many more on the resource section of this website - filter to find what will best support you.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
College can be complicated, and challenges rarely show up one at a time. Reaching out for help doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it means you’re taking care of yourself.
If you’re unsure where to turn, the Heels Care Network can help connect you to the right resources and next steps.
This semester, remember:
- It’s okay to ask for help
- It’s okay to need support navigating challenges
- You don’t have to figure things out on your own
Welcome back to campus. The Heels Care Network is here to help you find support this semester.
