Summertime is an important time for high school students to change gears from the often very intense pace and demanding schedule of high school, and to pursue interests and build experiences not afforded during the school year. Students build independence, meet other students with similar interests, expand friendships and ultimately learn more about themselves when they plan an engaging summer.
For a recent high school graduate, the same opportunity to expand and grow holds true, however, with a special twist. For a high school graduate, this is the summer of significant change come August. So, what should their summer look like?
Parents often ask us what we think their child should be doing post-graduation and we thought we would share some of our advice here.
Some families stay the course…and that is okay
Even with a child and family heading toward a big life change, many families describe their summer as feeling like any other summer where family vacations take place, their child pursues programs or experiences of interest and stays as busy as they usually were in high school. For certain students, they have grown accustomed to their busy lives and prefer not to experience the summer ahead of them any differently. Also, many new opportunities are available to students who have now graduated because of the specialty of the program and the required older age range to get accepted. And we tell families that it is absolutely okay; we do recommend they discuss with their child the importance of incorporating some downtime over summer (no matter how much or how little they will have), especially after a long, sometimes grueling, high school career and for the inevitable transition that lies ahead.
Some families celebrate the moment…and that is okay
Other families recognize this summer as special – one in which the activities are no longer aligned to the high school experience, interests and even the college application process. Previous summers may have been scripted specifically to add to the weight of application and toward a process that values “well rounded” students. For a high school graduate, no longer is summer tied to the college admissions process (yay!). Some families take special trips, encourage their child to relax more, schedule less and enjoy the moment. It is important to some students to connect with friends more often since high school is now over and everyone will go off in a different direction come August.
Some families plan for a different summer altogether…and that is okay
Other graduates are eager to find work to save toward the expenses and fun of being at university where they previously did not seem to have time to work. Your son or daughter could also focus on career exploration and connect to internships and opportunities that again may not have been available to them at a younger age. Many times, the ability to drive to and from and officially volunteer or intern at places that were not previously allowed offers new direction and experiences.
A friend Cathy said that when she thinks of her daughter Leah in high school, her strongest memory is of her sitting at the dining room table studying. Cathy and her husband truly wanted Leah to relax and enjoy her time especially before entering the Coast Guard Academy. They insisted she slow down and enjoy a summer of freedom.
Another friend Carson says they felt compelled to spend time together as a family versus squeezing in more things that would “help our girls get into college”. She also made sure that they planned for dedicated time at the end of the summer to prepare for the sendoff. At times, she said she felt a sense of panic on whether she and her husband had fully prepared her girls to live on their own. Throughout the summer, she remembered sharing every tip she could think of, “to boil water faster, put the lid on,” “keep on top of your laundry, it is better done in small increments” and “never ever walk alone at night.”
Whether you want your child to stay the course, take some time off or celebrate in a special way, remember that you know what works best for your family and your child. Let them take the lead in what an ideal seems like for them, help them to prioritize the summer in a way that emphasizes the uniqueness of the summer right after high school. Then plan for what works best for the family overall. We encourage you to trust what feels right and value what is important for you.
This blog post was originally published in College Raptor.