Graduation is quickly approaching as high school students prepare for their final semester. College applications have been sent and acceptance letters are rolling in. Parents and students alike are thinking about the next steps, from dorm life and purchasing a new computer to planning graduation parties.
Young adulthood is a time of immense change and transition, filled with significant life decisions such as choosing a college or career path. Navigating the complexities of adult life can be especially challenging during the period between high school and college, as well as from college to career.
This is where life coaching can make a huge impact. It can help young adults successfully navigate these important life transitions and make the most of them. Whether it's choosing the right college or figuring out the right career path, a life coach can provide guidance and support to young adults during these exciting but sometimes confusing times.
Life coaching is a process that helps individuals identify and achieve their personal and professional goals. By working with a coach, young adults can gain:
Clarity and Direction: A life coach can help young adults gain clarity on their goals, values, and aspirations, and develop a roadmap for achieving them. This sense of direction and purpose can be especially important during the transition from high school to college and college to career, as young adults navigate the many challenges and uncertainties of adult life.
Coping Skills and Emotional Intelligence: Life coaches can help young adults develop the emotional intelligence and coping skills needed to navigate the challenges of life transitions. This includes learning to manage stress and anxiety, navigate difficult relationships, and develop healthy habits and behaviors.
Self-Confidence: Life coaching can help young adults build self-confidence and a sense of personal power. This can be especially important during the transition from college to career, as young adults work to establish themselves in the professional world.
Unfortunately, statistics show that every year, over a million college students drop out of school. The majority are first-year students with an average dropout rate of 24.3%. Younger students are more likely to drop out due to low interest in their chosen career stream or disinterest in college. In addition, 9% of college dropouts report feeling a lack of family support. These students often find themselves confused about whether to continue their education due to financial constraints, family responsibilities, or dissatisfaction with their degree program.
According to research, the consequences of dropping out can be severe, with dropouts facing more economic difficulties due to a lack of college qualifications, connections, and professional life experiences. For example, the typical undergraduate leaves college with approximately $14,000 in student loan debt and an income that is 35% lower than that of a college graduate. This is not the future any family prepares for.
Parents can play a crucial role in helping their young adults avoid college dropout. To begin with, encourage your child to be open and honest about their college experience, offer financial support to assist your child in managing the financial aspect of college life, encourage academic engagement, promote a healthy lifestyle, and offer resources, such as tutoring, counseling, or life coaching, to help your child succeed academically and personally. These resources can help mitigate the stress and pressures of college life and reduce the risk of dropout.
In summary, while you wrap up these academic years with a celebration and that special Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You'll Go, book you've had since pre-school, remember to prepare your child for what's next just as well. Parents can provide their young adults with the support and resources they need to succeed in college and avoid the risk of dropout. Life coaching can be a valuable tool for young adults as they make the often challenging transition from high school to college, and then from college to career. With the guidance and support of a life coach, young adults can gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
References:
Shocking Statistics About College Graduation Rates, Mark Kantrowitz, Forbes, 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/markkantrowitz/2021/11/18/shocking-statistics-about-college-graduation-rates/?sh=50aa9fe12b69
College Dropout Rates in the U.S., Jessica Bryant, Best Colleges, 2022, https://www.bestcolleges.com/research/college-dropout-rate/
College Dropout Rate: Detailed Statistics For 2023, Alvin Parker, Prosperity for America, 2022, https://www.prosperityforamer