When your teen is ready to leave school and finally head off into the world by striking their own path, it’s natural to feel a little worried for them. It seems to be harder than ever to get what you want out of the career you train for, and the current cost of living is still at an incredibly high rate.
And now that their high school graduation is getting closer, you want to do your best to get them started out right. Most of the time, that means supporting their dreams, hopes, and aspirations for the future ahead. To do that, it might be good to keep in mind the tips down below.
They Might Not Have a Plan
Not every teenager does, and it isn’t necessarily a problem. They’ve still got plenty of time to work on the plan, and you can be there every step of the way.
Encourage them by getting involved. Uplift their hobbies and interests, mention potential study options, and let them know you’re always around to talk about anything they’re worried about. You might just find out they do have a plan, they’re just too nervous to give it a try!
Sometimes They’ll Want to Go Pretty Far, and That’s OK
Really it is! You might not want them to go, and you’ll be worried for them the whole time, but this could be an excellent thing for them to focus on.
Talk about what they’re thinking of doing, what their expectations are, and join in on the research they’ll need to do to make their travel arrangements. Indeed, if they’re going to have to work while they’re away, that might be a bit of a hard lesson to impart at short notice!
If they do want to check out what life (and work) is like in another country for a while, do your best to give them a realistic picture of the process. For example, if they’re interested in the arts, including working in TV or film, you can help them get an O-1 visa lawyer.
Of course, it may take some time to become eligible for this kind of visa, but this is where you can set those expectations and help them create some goals for the years ahead.
Constructive Encouragement is Always Best
This doesn’t mean you have to go out of your way to support every wild, left-field idea your teen comes out with. Sometimes you do have to sit your kid down and let them know that you don’t think their plan is as good as it could be.
But instead of focusing on the negative, and making it sound like you’re crushing their dreams, look to the positive.
They’ve put a plan together, for one. They’ve done their research, for another. Now’s just the time to go through all of this and see if you can help them find a more productive, worthwhile direction.
For high schoolers, parental support goes a long way!
