health + wellness - Explore Big Sky
health + wellness - Explore Big Sky
health + wellness - Explore Big Sky
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FaMily pathways<br />
getting ready for college<br />
advice for parents of rising seniors<br />
by steve MiChaud<br />
Summer is a great time for exploration<br />
and new beginnings. If you are<br />
a parent of a rising senior in high<br />
school, you may be stressing about<br />
finding the right college and about<br />
the upcoming application process. If<br />
you do find yourself anxious about<br />
what lies ahead, keep in mind you<br />
can harness this feeling and set up<br />
a game plan for you and your rising<br />
senior. Summer can be a perfect time<br />
to expand family vacations by visiting<br />
college campuses.<br />
As an independent college counselor,<br />
I suggest students set a Sept. 1<br />
deadline to have the list of colleges<br />
to which they will apply. This list<br />
should be a result of on-campus visits,<br />
interviewing and online exploration.<br />
These are the schools to which<br />
the student will apply during the first<br />
part of his or her senior year.<br />
I also advise parents to encourage<br />
their student to know who he or<br />
she is academically and to continue<br />
identifying areas of academic and<br />
social interest. This will help pave<br />
the way for college readiness. This<br />
can help define the type of college<br />
or university best fitting a student’s<br />
academic needs and learning style.<br />
For parents of seniors, it’s never too<br />
late to focus on what’s important:<br />
Understand that learning is ongoing,<br />
transitional and more powerful than a<br />
focus on the outcome or the score.<br />
But sometimes students misconstrue<br />
their parents’ opinions and<br />
feedback as intrusive rather than<br />
helpful. So, what can you do during<br />
summer to help a rising senior<br />
through the process of self-discovery,<br />
and the transition from high<br />
school to being more independent?<br />
remember, this is a journey<br />
for all of you. letting go is<br />
part of being a parent.<br />
• listen with an active ear. Listen<br />
between the lines; what your<br />
student is not saying can be as<br />
revealing as what he or she actually<br />
says.<br />
• Validate your student’s uncertainties.<br />
Most don’t know what it<br />
will be like when they leave home<br />
or live in a group setting with many<br />
other students.<br />
• talk. This is a great time to give<br />
your teen opportunities to share<br />
hopes and dreams. Help him or<br />
her see the value in being realistic<br />
while at the same time entertaining<br />
all possibilities.<br />
• Keep a sense of humor. These are<br />
challenging times for all of you.<br />
Tensions run high, stresses are<br />
many, but there are also rewards.<br />
Work to keep a sense of balance.<br />
• stay positive. Planning for college<br />
is new territory for many. With a<br />
little planning, perseverance and<br />
guidance, everyone can succeed.<br />
There is a college for every student.<br />
• It’s a fine balance. Working<br />
to model calm, supportive and<br />
encouraging behavior for your student<br />
will help you and your family<br />
as you pursue new pathways.<br />
Steve Michaud, owner of Family Pathways<br />
College Counseling, is a practicing<br />
independent college counselor in<br />
Bozeman. Michaud has more than two<br />
decades of experience helping families<br />
across the country navigate all post<br />
secondary options. Contact him at:<br />
Stevemichaud73@gmail.com or (406)<br />
570-1178.<br />
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explorebigsky.com July 15, 2011 19