Graduating can be incredibly exciting, but the transition afterward from high school to whatever’s next can also be terrifying. From providing emotional support to practical guidance on career paths and college applications, below we’ll explore various strategies that can ease their transition into adulthood.
Ideas for Transitioning After High School
There are several things you can do to support your high school graduate, such as:
- Encouraging them to explore their interests and passions
- Providing resources and information about post-secondary education or career paths
- And, offering guidance on how to develop important life skills such as time management, communication, and critical thinking
Important Things to Keep In Mind About Transitioning After High School
While you might want your high school graduate to dive into finding a career or going to college, there are a few important things to keep in mind.
1. College isn’t the right path for everyone.
If you graduated high school in the late 90s or early 2000s, there was still a heavy amount of pressure on students to go to college. With the rising costs of school and uncertainty around student loans however, college might not be in the cards for your graduate right now. Other options might be:
- Taking a year off to explore career paths
- Trying different jobs to gain experience
- Community college to get your feet wet without the pressure of a 4-year school
2. What you want for your graduate might not be what they want.
Odds are you want to be in your graduate’s life for a long time. If you didn’t you likely wouldn’t be reading this article in the first place. With this in mind, consider for a moment that your high school graduate might want something different for their lives than what you do. The best thing you can do right now is listen to them, and communicate without judgment about the options ahead of them. Bringing up pros and cons is fine, but don’t pressure them into anything they don’t want to do.
3. Remember, they could be experiencing a lot of anxiety and stress.
Not everyone is comfortable with leaving something they’ve known. This is especially true if your graduate went to school with the same people during their entire grade school career. Acknowledge their emotions and let them know you’re available to chat about what they are feeling. Also make sure they know that any step they take right now doesn’t have to be set in stone. Just knowing this can ease a lot of tension.
4. Encourage them to take care of themselves.
Regardless of what they decide next for themselves, remind them it’s important to take care of themselves physically, mentally and emotionally. Encourage them to practice self-care activities such as exercise or meditation and prioritize getting enough sleep and eating well-balanced meals. It’s much easier to take the next step in life when we’re coming at it from a healthy space.
It May Take Time to Transition Smoothly
The best thing you can do for your graduate right now is be there for them. Not everyone can snap into the next thing quickly. But, with an ear to listen, loving encouragement, and judgment free support, your high school graduate can transition more smoothly into the next phase of their life.
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