Introduction to the Problem
Parents across the country are spending more money than ever on their children’s education. In some areas, the average cost for a high school education can be as high as $27,322, with some reputable schools costing over $70,000. Additionally, families incur huge expenses on back-to-school materials, tutoring, test prep, extracurricular enrichment, and summer programs. However, despite these significant financial investments, parents are finding that their children are unprepared for the real world.
The Readiness Crisis
While expensive education can provide students with the ability to analyze complex texts, speak multiple languages, and conduct research in state-of-the-art labs, it often fails to teach them essential life skills such as making a budget, planning a meeting, or independently keeping track of their weekly tasks. Teens across the academic spectrum lack the leadership skills they need to meet deadlines, hold a conversation with a professional, solve problems effectively, and navigate the real world.
The Extent of the Problem
A recent study found that about a third of high school students surveyed felt that their secondary education left them unprepared for life after graduation. Students expressed particular fears of falling behind, not having a clear plan, and losing support systems. These results were confirmed in a Gallup report, which found that less than 30% of high school students felt “very well prepared” for their post-secondary education paths.
How Helping Sometimes Hurts
Over the last decade, the demands placed on ambitious teenagers have skyrocketed. High school students are taking on more challenging coursework, combining more extracurricular activities and volunteer work, while scaling increasingly ambitious passion projects. However, amid increasing pressures and responsibilities, students are failing to develop the basic life skills that parents assume come with good grades and impressive accolades. Helicopter parenting can strain the relationship between parent and child while further hindering student growth.
What Students Really Need
It may be tempting to hope that the solution lies in more robust curricula that teach students life skills alongside academic ones. However, this does not address the far-reaching nature of the problem. Students need individualized support that allows them to learn how to become autonomous adults and navigate the world with confidence. This support can come in the form of mentors who are close to their peers, providing guidance on how to advocate for themselves, plan ahead, communicate effectively, and manage their stress.
The Importance of Individualized Support
Students thrive when they receive individualized support from mentors, giving them the opportunity to grow both academically and as emerging adults. This type of support allows students to transform from high school freshmen who are afraid of public speaking into seniors who confidently lead their communities. It enables them to become young adults who can manage many tasks with ease and have meaningful conversations with professionals in their future field. By investing in individualized support, parents are investing in foundational skills that will last their students for the rest of their lives.
