Planning for life after high school can be exciting and daunting for teens. Choosing the right career, choosing the right school, applying to schools — the list of decisions and preparation tasks goes on and on, and can put a lot of pressure on our teens. As a parent of three now adult children, I have experienced this firsthand.
Yvonne Johnson
President, National PTA
“The best thing we can do as parents is to be supportive throughout the process and equip our teens with knowledge to help them confidently transition to the best next step for them.”
It’s important to remember there is no one clear decision for every student and there are a number of post-secondary options: going to college, doing a job-training program, going straight to work, going into the armed forces. The best thing we can do as parents is to be supportive throughout the process and equip our teens with knowledge to help them confidently transition to the best next step for them.
Creating a plan
At the beginning of high school, talk with your teen about their aspirations and goals. Then sit down with their teachers, counselor, or other adviser to discuss what it will take for your child to graduate, your child’s goals, their aspirations for after high school, and the best ways to support your child. Create a plan together to help your child reach their goals and review it every year to make sure they are on track.
This plan should include:
- An appropriate course sequence to meet your child’s goals. For example, if your child wants to study biosciences in college, they will likely need additional or advanced math and science courses in high school to be prepared for college-level coursework.
- The most appropriate extracurricular activities for your child to participate in. For example, if your child is interested in journalism or photography, encourage them to sign up for the school newspaper or yearbook. These activities will help your child expand their learning outside of school and may help foster new hobbies or interests.
- Ways you can help your child prepare for college or career. For example, if your child is interested in a particular field, look to see if internships exist to build their work experience in that subject area.
- Finding ways to pay for college or advanced training. College can be expensive, but there are lots of ways to get financial help, such as scholarships, grants, work study programs, and student loans. You can start by helping your child fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during their senior year. Visit StudentAid.gov for more information on FAFSA and financial aid.
Change can be hard, and your student’s aspirations may shift frequently over their four years of high school, but it is important to talk openly and often, help them maintain perspective, and praise them for their big and little accomplishments.
And as you work collaboratively with your teens’ teachers, counselors, and other advisers, know that you are providing the critical support they need during this important time in their lives.
