By the time your teen is ready to leave school, they will have packed in lots of life experience. Even though they’re only 18 years old, they know how to study and get work done, they’ve had a taste of responsibility, and life skills like handling finances and caring for themselves have probably been on their plate as well.
This can sometimes leave them with a less than positive view of the future ahead! They know a lot more work is to come, and considering something bad happens every time we turn on the news, it can often be difficult to think about growing up with any hope at all.
So, is there a way to encourage them to feel a bit more excited at the prospect of leaving school and making their own way in life? The tips below might be able to help.
Explore Possible Next Steps Together
A teen about to leave school doesn’t want to hear about how they need to focus on their studies or get a job – they already know all that!
But they might not be all that aware when it comes to who they can rely on, or turn to when they’re unsure about the best decision to make.
Let them know that person is you. Explore the next steps together, and don’t put too much pressure on any one option. Come up with a few to think about, and have an open talk about the pros and cons of each direction.
Remind Them They Can Travel
Reminding your school-leaver teen that being out of school, as well as an adult, means they can travel on their own now. They can go wherever they want to – as long as they can afford it – and get some genuine, real world experience as they do.
They can even head abroad to live and work, if just for a little while. This is where you can tell them about work arrangements and international study programs, and even the legal stuff like how they might need a O-1 visa lawyer if they’re interested in the arts and want to seek out opportunities elsewhere.
The latter is a particularly good thing to introduce to them right now, as it can help them see a more certain future they can actually start to work towards. Plus, it can help to demonstrate that the world doesn’t have to feel so closed off from them!
Don’t Brush Away Their Worries
When a teenager feels ignored, it’s pretty common for them to shut down. Brushing away their worries can make it feel like you still see them as a kid, despite how close adulthood really is.
Talk these worries through. Don’t let them dwell in private. The less of a mental burden they’re carrying, the more room for excitement! Plus, they’ll have had some support in processing the emotions too.
Is your teen about to leave school? Then let them know the future can still be exciting.
