Dear Parents,
It’s back to school season again! Whether it’s high school or university, your student is about to embark on the final hustle and bustle of schedules, assignments, exams, and extracurriculars. You may think to treat this like any other year, but senior year comes with its own unique challenges that need specific support.
1. Be A Safe Space
Even if senior year starts with excitement, it can change to anxiety once it begins or as the months go by. There is unfortunately a lot to be anxious about: from all that is needed to be achieved in order to walk across the stage to the uncertainty of the future post graduation. There will be nail biting about acceptance letters, how to get employed in the current job market, and how to be a success that you both can be proud of. So, it’s crucial here to allow them to talk to you about it, express their worries openly, and not fear being dismissed or unheard. Be a place to seek comfort, encouragement, and helpful insight.
2. Ask What They Need
As a parent, it may be your knee-jerk response to their stress, worries, and hopes to immediately give advice or talk about your experience. Or it could be that you’ll immediately validate them and empathize. Neither one is inherently wrong, it’s just that you should ask what they need by telling you what they’re feeling. Are they looking to vent? Are they looking for encouragement? Or do they need advice? You don’t know until you ask. This way, you can support them the way they need.
3. Don’t Add to the Pressure
Senior year is when the need to finish strong and be successful beyond the classroom will lay heavily on your child’s shoulders. While you should encourage and want for them to do well, it’s also important that they know it’s okay to make mistakes, be unsure of what their future will look like, and that their path to success isn’t linear.
P.S: Don’t Forget to Celebrate Milestones!
Yes, graduation is the time to celebrate but you should also acknowledge the hard work that brought them there. Celebrate the good grades, the high test scores, and learned life skills throughout the year, not just when it’s all come to an end.
For the parents of seniors who aren’t sure what post graduation looks like, we would love to help! Book a free consultation today with our ICF-certified career coaches who can provide personalized advice, guidance, and planning for building a career path.
