Back to school. This simple phrase will most likely trigger reactions in your teen. Some may be excited to escape the general sluggish atmosphere of summer break, while others are quite content to be living in the moment. I can say that I know as well as anyone the feeling of going back to school as a teenager. In a week, I’ll be heading back to perhaps the most demanding year of my high school career.
The SAT, SAT IIs and keeping up your grades are just some of the obstacles most 11th graders must face as they are just a few paces from stepping into the inevitable shadow of college applications. The pressure is on, and parents are worried.
An article from The Globe and Mail gives an “inside look” at the attitude of a teen bound for school. Speaking for myself, it definitely heads home with the advice to parents. A New York Times article narrates the attempt of a mom trying to help her daughter cope with her junior year of high school. High School: What to Expect In 11th Grade offers advice to both parents and their teens on the year that matters.
Bottom line: Let your child know you understand what they’re going through and prompt them to do their best. Be in the know with how your teens are doing but stay away from augmenting the ample amounts of pressure that’s already there.
Photo by Dean Terry of Flickr.
