My City May 2022

MYFUTURE

Getting Them Started: Parental Tips for College BY PETER HINTERMAN T hey grow up so fast. One day they are taking their first wobbly, little steps and before you can even blink, they are heading out the door to start their own life. As your child grows, matures and begins to think about who they are, who they want to be and what they want to do with their life, it is a parent’s duty to help guide them through and that in cludes creating a plan for life beyond high school – wheth er that means attending college, beginning a trade career, or taking time off to backpack through Europe. As your child ages, it is up to you to plant the seeds to get them thinking about the next steps in their life. What will that be? If your student has expressed interest in a profession that requires a college degree, then helping them plan for it is one of the best ways to set them up for success.

There’s a lot of uncertainty out in the occupational world and confronting the future can be a daunting task. What is a new graduate to do? As seniors leave the halls of high school for the last time, their path towards a productive professional life can be stressful. There are a lot of heavy, important decisions to make and a lot to learn about life on their own. Having a clear-cut plan to a future they can be proud of can help inspire the confidence needed to successfully meet the chal lenges ahead. In this section, MCM offers some tips and alternatives for students and parents to consider as each young adult takes their first steps toward their futures. TAKING THE NEXT STEP

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seeds, encouragement and support – never force. 2. Teach finances. As your child pro ceeds through their high school experience, they may begin job hunting, paying car insurance, and more. Teach them scal responsibility so that they understand how to save and how to spend when they are away. Teach them how to responsibly use a credit or debit card and the problems irresponsibility can create.

Here’s a few tips to guide you toward your child’s collegiate success: 1. Start early. e best time to plant the seeds for your child’s future is when they rst enter high school. It ’s a great time to discuss extracurricular activities and how they can be important when apply ing to colleges. Most public schools have a plethora of clubs and societies that can help spruce up a resume. Re member: it ’s about planting

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