Almost 1 in 3 High School Graduates Don't Feel Ready for 'Real Life'

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18 hours ago

Fact checked by Sarah ScottA new survey shows 32% of high school graduates say school didn't prepare them for the real world.
Some high school graduates feel pressured to become social media content creators.
Parents can help fill the gaps to help prepare their kids for life on their own.High schoolers are mastering square roots, cell division, the Revolutionary War, and how to write the perfect essay. But, what about learning more practical skills?
Case in point: My teen recently called me to ask how to boil water—I wish I were kidding! Meanwhile, I'm certain she isn't being taught how to fill out a tax return or other real-life applications in high school. Yet, in one short year, she'll be off on her own!
Now, a new study by online education company K12 reveals that both parents and students have reservations about how ready kids are for life after high school graduation. According to 300 recent high school graduates and 200 American parents, these eye-opening realities were also teased out:
32% of high school graduates say school didn't prepare them for the real world.
59% of students aren't ready to deal with credit, taxes, or insurance.
38% of kids feel unprepared to manage money.
30% of grads say they feel unready to handle stress and have mental health concerns.
It's also worth noting that more than half of recent grads say social media is shaping what they plan to do for their careers, with some admitting to feeling pressure to become content creators.
There seems to be a divide between what kids feel they are ready for and how their parents view their preparedness. Consider that 84% of parents believe their kids will be more successful than they were at the same age.
But parents also expressed concerns about their child's ability to handle life post-high school, especially when it comes to their emotional states, with 81% saying they've shared worries with their kids about their trajectories after receiving their high school diploma.
Now that my soon-to-be high school senior knows how to boil water, my plan is to figure out what else I can do to get her ready to take on an independent life away from home.
Adam Hawf, K12 Superintendent, tells Parents that the first step in promoting 'real life' readiness is to make sure your child can come to you with any questions and receive guidance without judgment.
Then, it's all about tackling one thing at a time. 'Gradually imparting skills that are key to survival, such as how to file taxes, manage health insurance, or create a monthly budget, can go far toward establishing competence and confidence,' Hawf says.
Scott Stump, the CEO for the National FFA Organization, a national, school-based, youth leadership and career readiness program, encourages parents to make these learning experiences hands-on when possible. For instance, you might have your child observe and help you complete a tax return or credit application.
'Kids learn by watching us,' Ariana Hoet, PhD, Executive Clinical Director, Kids Mental Health Foundation (KMHF), says. 'While it may seem boring, it's helpful to have kids participate in adult things like taxes and paying bills.'
As a Millennial mom, I graduated to 'the real world' without social media—and even the internet!—as a factor in my career-planning process. But as this study points out, 1 in 3 kids are feeling the pressure when it comes to succeeding online. Am I alone in being resistant to the idea of my child chasing likes for money?
Hawf says that although this is a relatable sentiment, parents should dig deeper to understand why their child wants to be an influencer.
'Is it freedom, creativity, money?' he prompts parents to understand. No matter the reason, according to Hawf, 'This isn't so much about having to go viral. It's about a generation growing up in a world where online success is highly visible—and often glorified.'
Kids are going to aim for what they see, agrees Dr. Hoet. 'If they are on their phones for hours a day, they are exposed to content creators for hours a day,' she says. What parents can do to counteract this influence is to expose them to other career paths.
'I think it's important that high schoolers be regularly reminded that there is a world outside of social media,' concurs Stump. Of course, it's OK if a teen ends up as a happy and successful creator. But as he says, 'There are a multitude of different career pathways that exist outside of the realm of our social feed.'
Ultimately, parents need to recognize that their kids are growing up in a different world than they did, according to the experts. 'Gen Z is coming of age in an era of constant visibility, economic instability, and information overload,' Hawf says.
More access to information can help today's grads gain exposure to more career opportunities than ever, but Hawf cautions that this can also lead to decision fatigue and emotional burnout.
That said, as Dr. Hoet rightly notes, parents worrying about their kids isn't anything new! It's still our job to help our grads navigate the next step of their lives, the best we can. Most importantly, we just need to be there for them during this huge life transition.
Read the original article on Parents