Dear Parents,
The exams of your children are to start soon. I know you are all really anxious for your child to do well. But, please do remember, amongst the students who will be sitting for the exams, there is an artist, who doesn’t need to understand Math…. There is an entrepreneur, who doesn’t care about History of English literature…. There is a musician, whose Chemistry marks won’t matter…. There’s an athlete… whose physical fitness is more important than Physics…. If your child does get top marks, that’s great! But if (they) don’t, please don’t take away their self-confidence and dignity from them. Tell them it’s OK, it’s just an exam! They are cut out for much bigger things in life. Tell them, no matter what they score… you love them and will not judge them.
From a school principal, courtesy of @russellbrunson
For some ways to help your students prioritize well-being in preparation of exams, refer to Dear Freshman Self, by Lauren Chan- A senior reflects back on her high school experience after she reads a letter she wrote as a freshman to her senior self. With hindsight, she realizes that high school is about much more than achieving a 4.0 or playing a single sport. Remind your student to:
- prioritize sleep
- always err on the side of believing in oneself.
- try something new or they are terrible at (hip-hop!)
- discuss the idea of trusting oneself to course-correct. If honors math is causing debilitating stress, think about the shift to a different track next year and to move forward with their head held high.
Read more for concrete ideas from the Center of Parent and Teen Communication.
Tuesday, Dec 14 at 4pm Challenge Success will be hosting a Healthier Approach to College Admissions talk, helping parents to support their students’ well-being during the college admission process and beyond. Registration link is here with a recording sent afterwards for those who cannot attend the live event. Cost is $10.
Thursday, Jan 20 Save the Date Challenge Success will present a virtual workshop on the Well-Balanced Student.
Finally, if your teen is struggling with academics or feeling down or frustrated about school, don’t forget to connect with our Counselors, our Nurse, and our Wellness Center.
Feel free to reach out and connect with us with ideas for future topics, shareable resources, or thoughts at parented@acalanesparentsclub.com.