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Teenagers and College Life: Navigating Goals, Expectations, and the Path to Success As teenagers transition into college life, they face a whirlwind of expectations — both from themselves and from the world around them. This pivotal stage is filled with excitement, uncertainty, and dreams of what the future holds. From academic achievements to career aspirations, the pressure to succeed can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that college is not just about meeting external goals; it's about growth, self-discovery, and learning to adapt. For many teens, the expectations surrounding college are shaped by societal standards, family pressures, and peer influences. They often feel the need to choose the "right" major, achieve the highest grades, and secure a prestigious internship, all while juggling social lives and extracurricular activities. But what happens when reality doesn’t meet these expectations? In reality, the journey through high school and college is rarely linear. It’s about discovering your passions, overcoming setbacks, and learning resilience. College is a time to explore new interests, connect with diverse people, and develop skills that will shape your future. It’s not about having everything figured out from the start — it’s about making progress, learning from mistakes, and staying open to change. For those facing the challenges of balancing academic pressures with personal growth, here are a few tips for navigating college life and setting realistic goals: 1.)Set Realistic Expectations: It’s important to aim high, but equally essential to be kind to yourself when things don’t go as planned. Growth takes time, and setbacks are part of the process. 2.)Focus on Personal Development: College is more than just textbooks and exams. Take time to explore extracurriculars, volunteer, network, and develop soft skills like communication and teamwork that will serve you in any career. 3.)Pace Yourself: It's tempting to try and do it all, but learning to prioritize is key. Set short-term goals, break larger ones into smaller, manageable tasks, and celebrate each milestone. 4.)Embrace Failure: Failure isn’t the opposite of success — it’s part of the journey. Learn to see challenges as opportunities for growth. 5.)Build a Support System: Surround yourself with people who inspire you, whether it’s friends, mentors, or professors. Having a strong support system will help you navigate the ups and downs of college life. Ultimately, the key to success in both college and beyond is not just about meeting external expectations, but about aligning your goals with your true passions and values. The most successful individuals are often those who take the time to discover their own path, rather than simply following a prescribed formula. #TeenagerLifeGoals #CollegeExpectations #PersonalDevelopment #CollegeSuccess #LifeGoals #CareerAspirations #HigherEducation #GrowthMindset #Resilience #StudentLife #CollegeJourney #SelfDiscovery

Is it Necessary for College to be 9 to 5? 🕰️ Recently, I joined my master’s program, and it feels like my entire day is booked! Compared to my bachelor’s, where classes were from 7 AM to 12 PM, this is a significant change, each with its own pros and cons. 💡 During my bachelor’s, I often found myself wishing for more structured learning. Professors rarely went deep into the theory we needed, but on the flip side, I had the freedom to intern at hospitals, work on side projects, and even keep up with social media. 🏥 Now, as a master's student, I’ve had to pause many of those activities, including my job and social media, because finding time for everything is impossible. I’m spending 1-2 hours daily just on transport, and with a packed 9-to-5 schedule, it's hard to balance all my passions. While it’s great that I’m learning more and getting a deeper understanding of my field, I do wonder – is the traditional 9-to-5 college day really necessary? Could we find a better balance to allow students to gain real-world experience without sacrificing their education? #HigherEducation #TimeManagement #StudentLife #WorkLifeBalance #MasterProgram #CollegeLife

Absolutely. The lack of high impact practices such as reasearch projects, micro internships and industry certification is a critical factor in the decision students make when selecting a program. We see these in business, engineering and health programs. So, is it any wonder that these are the programs accounting for almost all growth?

Timely recommendations from Strada Education Foundation about promoting and embedding career education early into student's collegiate experiences. A couple of my favorite quotes: "... when students did receive career coaching, they were more likely to work a job that required a college degree (69 percent) as well as think highly of their education’s impact on their well-being (87 percent) and assistance in reaching goals (73 percent)." "Staff, faculty, peers, alumni and employers can all be a valuable resource in giving students guidance and information, so college leaders should give them tools and preparation to fill these gaps." A good read for all higher education professionals as it is a shared effort to develop student's career readiness. https://lnkd.in/gBc9ZdB9

4 signs your 18-20 year old should break out of college: 👇 1. They asked you if they can take a gap year to do something else. - They just want to leave. This is a clear sign it’s not a good fit. There are no other places in life we force young adults to stay while taking on bankruptcy exempt debt. 2. They are having to go find/create their own study material. - They are not learning what they want to learn and using their free time to curate their own curriculum. Your child does not need college. College needs your child. They are going to take credit for their inevitable success due to the work you did raising them or their innate talents. Your child doesn’t need to buy a paper. They need specific skills for the new world of work. Have them come home, and make a plan to study what they want to study. Look for a specialized mentor, program, or school (not a college). 3. They are bored. - They feel most of the classes are a waste of time. This is a clear sign they need better instruction. They are out-of-the-box thinkers, and their energy and time is being wasted. Help find them an instructor or mentor or entry level job or a specialized education program. 4. They tell you that they hate being there. - They are unhappy with the social environment and campus "culture", and they miss family/friends. This is not unusual, especially with extremely creative kids or extremely motivated kids. They dislike having to pretend like a lot of the ‘campus’ behavior is useful or positive. Don’t make them. Let them come home and or help them find roommates and create a career plan or a new educational plan with them. As a parent: Let go of the idea they have to be there. (Only 7.7% of all US jobs legally require degrees. I went through the BLS and counted.) Let go of the idea that ‘finishing’ a degree is best for them. (Only 25% of grads even work in their field of study.) If they don’t need to be there, your child is wasting precious time, money, and energy - the freest and healthiest years of their life. Help them make a plan, decide which of the 5 Degree Free Pathways they are going to take: - get a job - find apprenticeship or OJT - earn a license or certification - build (or buy) a business - or learn a specific skill Be proud that you raised a young adult who understands that success is getting what they want in life, not buying a paper.

Seems like August 16, 2023 (𝘺𝘦𝘴, 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦) was just yesterday. It's crazy how fast time flies and I'll be starting my second year in just a month. The experiences of the first year always stay close to our hearts since no matter where we go, we always remember our firsts. Here are some of the lessons that I learnt during my freshman year of college: 📍In a room of subject and stream-toppers from their respective schools and academic backgrounds, you often find yourself one amongst the crowd. I remember saying to myself, "You're not the best here, Bhavya". Almost all of us were brought to this realisation in the first year, but always remember, '𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳'. 📍Balancing classes, managing college societies, teaching class 10th students, participating in competitions, and getting caught up in grades and deadlines was tough for me at first, but I eventually learned to manage time effectively and prioritize responsibilities. In short, 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 = 𝘜𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳, trust me. 📍STAY HUNGRY, STAY FOOLISH. College is a place where you learn and unlearn a lot of things. Step out of your comfort zone, explore different opportunities, meet new people, participate in inter-college competitions, learn new skills and be curious about how everything works.(I heard this from almost everyone and believe me, it really does work.) 📍Never let the fear of how others perceive you stop you from being yourself around others. 📍College is ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME journey. Post that LinkedIn draft, resume the hobby you once enjoyed, start reading the book you bought a long time ago, visit your favourite hangout spots and make sure to do everything that you have planned during your college years. 📍 It's perfectly alright to ask for help when you need it. I remember being hesitant at first, but reaching out for academic support or someone to talk to actually made a huge difference. 📍 Messed up? So what! Not everything goes as planned, and that’s okay. Every mistake and every rejection is a lesson in disguise. Your efforts and hardwork will always pay off in the end and never go unrewarded. Just remember, "𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥". 📍From late-night gossip sessions and campus events to building life long friendships and connections, make the most of every moment because '𝘺𝘦 𝘫𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘩𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘪, 𝘷𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘲𝘵 𝘯𝘩𝘪 𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘪.' 𝘈𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 :)

"College isn’t the only path to success, and nondegree pathways are on the rise. College has long been our country’s default, but it is not the only path to success." Learn more about what we need to prioritize for student success in 2025 in this article by eSchool News, featuring insights on career exploration and education by our own President & CEO, Jean Eddy:

Today is a day of mixed emotions for many Year 11 students. While some are celebrating their hard earned successes, others may feel overwhelmed with concern about their future, especially if their grades didn't meet their expectations. It's important to remember that your grades do not define your worth or potential‼️ There are always alternative pathways and opportunities ahead. This moment, though challenging, can be a stepping stone to discovering new strengths and possibilities. Your future is not determined by a single set of results, but by your resilience, hard work, and determination to keep moving forward. As a parent to two teenagers, my son who is 16 will also be picking up his GCSE results today. I decided to create a list of ways that parents could support their children today 💜 ✨Here are 10 practical and simple ways parents can support their children who may not have done well in their GCSE exams: 1. Offer Reassurance: Start by reassuring your child that exam results don't define their worth. Emphasize that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and that this is just one step in their journey. 2. Listen Without Judgement: Allow your child to express their feelings openly. Listen carefully without interrupting or offering solutions too quickly. Sometimes, they just need to be heard. 3. Focus on Effort, Not Just Results: Acknowledge the hard work they put into studying, regardless of the outcome. Highlight the importance of effort and learning from the experience. 4. Discuss Next Steps Calmly: Explore options together, such as retakes, alternative courses, or vocational training. Remind them that there are multiple pathways to success. 5. Create a Positive Environment: Encourage a positive mindset by celebrating what they have accomplished, no matter how small. Avoid negative comparisons with others. 6. Help Them Set New Goals: Guide your child in setting realistic and achievable goals moving forward. This can help them regain confidence and motivation. 7. Provide Resources for Improvement: Offer to help them find additional resources, such as tutoring, online courses, or study groups, to strengthen their skills in weaker areas. 8. Encourage a Break: Suggest taking a short break to relax and de-stress before diving into the next steps. This could be through a fun activity, a day out, or simply resting at home. 9. Stay Informed About Alternatives: Educate yourself about alternative education and career paths, like apprenticeships, BTECs, or other qualifications, so you can offer informed advice. 10. Be Patient and Supportive: Understand that it might take time for your child to process their emotions and decide on their next steps. Be patient and let them know you're there for them, no matter what. These actions can help your child navigate this challenging time with confidence and reassurance. #GCSEs #education #nextsteps #support #parents #secondaryschool #college #sixthform #mentalhealth #youngpeople

Ellen Ullman What a great article! Preparing students for today's careers requires software and ACCESS that is costly to provide with hardware. I love that itopia bridges this access divide via virtual labs in a way that creates #ROI for districts and #JOBS for students! Districts make real money when more students obtain certifications. Some have shared up to $7M generated annually! Want to see what your 5 year #savings could look like? Try out our calculator: https://lnkd.in/gAPp_FvE James Riley Colin Burns

Guts and brains from a 17 year old! Without procrastinating, he reached out our friends and relatives, planned and executed a successful year round-the-world-tour.... on a shoe string. As it relates to a startup scaling up sales, expanding the customer base, networking, and other critical aspects of small business growth: start the right conversations, and everything changes, without a huge budget. What conversations could you start today to change everything? So many people out there willing to help... #NetworkingTips #BusinessStrategy #StrategicConversations #Leadership #SuccessMindset #guts #proudparents #lifechangingdecisions