3 Steps to Preparing Your High Schooler for the Future

Many public school students graduate and leave the system without a clear path in life. Or they’re wholly unprepared for life itself. Now, some wonderful public school students excel in life. It would be remiss not to add that. However, more often than not, public schoolers have less time to study their own interests, so they leave the system unprepared. 

In addition, many public schoolers stick to a popular path. For instance, a female student may choose nursing because it pays well and her family thinks that’s the right choice. However, she may love architectural design. Despite this desire, the system programmed her to follow the rules and not to question authority. (This is just an example and definitely not the case for every student.) 

How does homeschooling lead students along a different path? Well, high schoolers have more time. They can follow their own interests and make time to enter a trade program or dual enroll. This gives them a “leg up,” so to speak. So, how do we help our students break the mold? 

• Pull them out of the system. 
• Unlearn the school system mindset.
• Embrace their interests and talents.

Embrace the Journey

Get them out of the school system as soon as possible. This will give them more free time to start a business, dual enroll, or focus on a trade program. Gaining this time gives high schoolers time to try career ideas through trial and error. It gives them time to find themselves, which is vital during the young adult years. 

During this time, unlearn the school system mindset. This applies to both you and your child. I’ve seen many parents push their children into the wrong career because the system deems it popular. Take time to unlearn this mindset and figure out what education truly looks like. Your child might not want to be a lawyer. They might want to be a writer. 

Along the same lines, embrace their interests and talents. Your child might like building Lego sets or swimming in the creek. Figure out where their interests and talents can converge. Then this will help you and your homeschooler figure out the right path for them. Also, feel free to experiment with trade schools, dual enrollment, and job shadowing. Your homeschooler can try new things to discover where their heart lies. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, navigate the high school years with patience, grit, and grace. For yourself and your child. Pull them out of the system (if you can) to gain more time. Unlearn the school system mindset as a family. Finally, embrace their interests and talents. Letting go of public school standards and forced ideologies can benefit you during this time. It will also release stress and pressure. We believe in you, homeschool parent and homeschooler!

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- NxtEra

Written by Bethany (@thebookwormgirl_bethany)