Some of these suggestions are things that my wife and I actually did, and some of them are things, in looking back, that we wish we had done a little better. These tips are not just for graduating seniors, but are important for any high school student and their parents regardless of what the students plans are after graduating from high school.
Prepare meals for themselves. Throughout high school, it is important that students learn the basics of how to buy, prepare, and cook food. Students should be able to plan a meal, cook it, and clean up afterward so that they do not have to eat out all the time once they leave home (less nutritious and more costly). This will also, hopefully, help them to know how to look at costs as well as nutrition.
Learn how to do laundry. This might sound kind of basic; however, if a child has never done laundry for themselves, they probably don’t know how much detergent to put in or to the necessity to separate colors from whites.
Read books. I have a feeling that most high school students would rather look at an electronic device (computer, cell phone) instead of reading a book, however, I feel that reading a book can open up many doors. Whether it increases knowledge or imagination, reading books can be beneficial.
Put down the electronics and socialize Whether I am in a restaurant, a waiting area, or in a classroom before a class begins, I always see students staring at their phones instead of interacting with others. In my opinion, this will limit a student’s capability of having meaningful interactions with others. It is so important that students learn “soft skills” (making eye contact, having conversation, correct body language, etc.) to help them survive in social and work settings.
Plan ahead and be realistic. Whether it is planning ahead for the day, the week, the next month, or for the future, students need to think about what is coming up next and plan accordingly. I think that sometimes students get so caught up in what is happening right now that they do not consider what effect it might have on the future. For example, a student might not ask for more hours at work because they are tired or lazy even though they need more money to pay some upcoming bills.
Having some of these things figured out before venturing out on their own can make a big difference in a student’s future. After reviewing today’s list,feel free to look back at my previous blog posted in August 2017 to review what every 18-year-old should know.
John - ICAN Waterloo Center
