As the end of the year approaches, Grade 12s should be starting to consider life outside of high school.
This is often a bitter-sweet time for many young South Africans. The prospect of starting an adult life, with new possibilities and freedoms is very appealing. However, choosing and finding suitable opportunities can be overwhelming and hard.
Grade 12 parents should make the time to understand their child’s emotional needs during this time. Understand that they might be feeling confused, stressed and sad during this time. It is equally important that parents actively explore different possibilities with their Grade 12 children.
Getting into tertiary institutions can be competitive and confusing, and it is therefore advisable to start this process early and seek career guidance and course planning from these institutions. Parents are advised to give their children their advice, but also be open to listening to their child’s own feelings and opinions.
Start by setting your child the task of coming to you with several post high school options. Then, sit down together and go through these options, systematically looking at the pros and cons of each.
This process also allows your child the chance to take ownership and responsibility for their planning and decision-making.
