| As September quickly approaches, it is important to | | | | graduated due to neglect of a preventable situation. |
| get your teenagers ready for their final year at high | | | | Grade 12 students are under considerable pressure |
| school. But getting them ready isn't simply about | | | | during their final year. Provincial exams are worth |
| purchasing school supplies or setting up study | | | | 40% of their letter grades in most academic classes. |
| schedules. It is about creating a mindset for | | | | English, Math, History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, are all |
| success, preparing for university, living in the moment | | | | highly challenging programs and many of the students |
| and dealing with a highly emotional growth period. | | | | are taking between four and six of these courses in |
| From an educational point of view, this year, getting | | | | order to get into the post secondary institutions of their |
| into university may be easier than ever. Many | | | | choice. Many of the students that I have worked |
| colleges, including Douglas College, Kwantlen College | | | | with over the years, are sleep deprived because |
| and many others in the Province of British Columbia, | | | | they are burning the candle at both ends. I |
| will actually become credited universities this year. It is | | | | encourage parents to give their teenagers a little |
| an exciting time for education. Students are no longer | | | | slack, and offer them opportunities to alleviate much of |
| slaves to the concept of university, and have some | | | | their stress wherever possible. This year is a tough |
| fantastic options to get the degrees they are looking | | | | one - both for them and for us as parents. |
| for. Community colleges in the lower mainland are | | | | The relationships these young people have built |
| particularly fantastic and offer incredible programs at a | | | | during the years leading up to this important time will |
| fraction of the cost of SFU or UBC. BCIT has been | | | | also come to an end. At no other time in our lives do |
| touted one of the best trade schools in the country | | | | we say goodbye to so many important people. |
| and with good reason. The flexibiity of alternative | | | | Years of immature love, dreams, crushes, laughter, |
| schools, and the credibility of these institutions, can | | | | bullying, giggles and tears, will be replaced with grown |
| tailor career specific programs to suit almost any need. | | | | up ambitions. I remember my final year as a blur, and |
| Students can earn any number of scholarships or | | | | frankly, I see very few of the people who helped to |
| incentive programs to help make their education both | | | | form the character I would become. For most of us, |
| cost effective and suitable to their specific career | | | | high school is a mixture of pleasure and utter |
| goals. | | | | madness. After witnessing 50 or more grad |
| Parents, you are not alone. Just so you know, within | | | | ceremonies over the years, the pleasure and pain |
| the first few days of school your sons and | | | | haven't changed since I graduated from high school |
| daughters will be given a package which will outline | | | | in 1981. Promises are made to be friends forever, |
| the many tasks that they will need to do over the | | | | valedictorian speeches are made, pictures are taken |
| year. This package includes scholarship information, | | | | and grad hats are thrown............... |
| photo dates, pre-grad programs and deadlines for | | | | Parents will be growing in new directions as well. |
| university or college applications. A list of scholarships | | | | Many will have empty nests by this time next year. |
| they can apply to will also be included. This is not an | | | | This is an emotional time, as their children are no longer |
| exhaustive list and it is to your advantage to research | | | | children - instead young men and women. As |
| scholarships that are available through your | | | | parents, we want to hold on to our kids as closely as |
| employment, clubs and association memberships or | | | | we can. But this is also the time for us to begin the |
| even, the Internet. There are many scholarships | | | | "letting go" process for ourselves. Don't get me |
| available through financial institutions, insurance | | | | wrong, we will always be our kid's mommy's and |
| companies such as London Life, the IOF etc., social | | | | daddy's, but as they develop, so too shall we. Some |
| groups like Kinsmen, Lions Clubs, and the | | | | of us will adjust easily. Others may face incredible |
| Shriner's Club, to name a few. Other offerings could | | | | withdrawal and a deep sense of loss mixed with |
| include church affiliations, theatre clubs or memorial | | | | enormous pride at shared successes. Go easy on |
| scholarships. Information about any of the Provincial | | | | your spirit, as this is a time of rejoicing and |
| scholarships or your son or daughter's standing are | | | | celebrating. I assure you - we will get in the groove. |
| easily obtained by contacting your school principal or | | | | This year, my son Dakota will graduate from high |
| counsellor. There are an abundance of sources and | | | | school. I am mixed with excitement and trepidation. |
| with a little research, your post grad education could be | | | | Did I do it right? Did I raise him well? Is he capable of |
| paid for, at least in part. | | | | going on his own next year? Can I handle the |
| Each school has their own package; however, they | | | | changes easily, or will I become a teenager myself |
| are fundamentally the same. I encourage parents to | | | | and be somewhat defiant that my sweet child will not |
| get involved with their teenagers plans and to review | | | | need me the way he does today. And although, I |
| the packages carefully. I recommend placing | | | | suspect he will continue asking for money, or the car, |
| important dates on a family calender in your home, | | | | and for some years to come be fairly close by, |
| and touching base with your teenagers regularly to | | | | I recognize that right along with you folks, I will be |
| ensure that these deadlines are being met. I would | | | | tearing up because for the first time - this graduation |
| also recommend a trip to the counsellors office to | | | | will be my sons, and the traditional graduation roses I |
| ensure that your son or daughter has completed all of | | | | give to my students - will be for him. I am tearing up |
| the necessary academic requirements for graduation | | | | now at the thought. |
| long before the time comes. It has been my | | | | Questions? Comments? I invite you to have a look |
| experience (more than once), that a student who has | | | | at my website for support materials, test prep |
| failed an important exam and has not retaken it, (or - | | | | samples, or services that may make your transition a |
| thought the mark would disappear), has found | | | | little easier. |
| themselves having to retake an entire course and not | | | | |