I’ve Graduated....
Now what?
By Clarissa Lee Kennerly
So your child has graduated from
high school...what’s next? Is it
community college or a four year
university? Do they go directly
into the workforce or do they go
into the military? Do they take a
year off and travel the world or
do they stay at home with mom
and dad until they figure it all out?
Ultimately, it is their decision, but
who says that they are ready to
make such a big decision at that
age anyway? And what about
those stories we all hear of stu-
dents following their dreams and
majoring in things like Puppetry
and then being unable to find a
job? Or a student who majors
in biology to become a doctor
but then when they get to med
school, they realize that it is not
for them? What is our responsibility in all of this as parents and
how do we guide our children
through their choices after they
graduate from high school?
Most parents feel like it is their
responsibility to help guide their
children. Not just when it comes
to what they should do once
they graduate but in every area
of their life. This decision is a
little tricky because the world
tells us that once our children
are 18, that they adults and are
equipped to make this big decision. Our children believe that
as well and even if they don’t feel
equipped to make the decision,
it is one that they are expected
to and they do-hoping that it is
the right one. So as parents, do
we step in or do we allow this
to be their first grown up decision that can essentially dictate