The Curse of the Straight Line

All of us have heard that the shortest distance between two points (A,B) is a straight line.  There is no disputing this.  However, sometimes even a wiggly, zig-zag, or curly line still gets you to point B, and sometimes it can be a lot more fun!

Today our teens are being pressured more than ever to take the straight line path from high school (point A) to their first career-based job (point B).   The straightest path is clearly getting as close to a 4.0 GPA as possible, volunteering on a regular basis, joining multiple after-school clubs, and applying and being accepted to a prestigious college.  When we see our teens deviating from this path, parents and other involved adults tend to panic.  If their grades are dipping in school, we begin to visualize their unsuccessful life after high school.  If they don’t show interest in school, we imagine that they are going to be outcasts from society.  We feel like we aren’t doing our jobs as parents and the panic sets in.

In many other societies, teens often take a gap year after high school graduation.  This is a year when they travel or explore other countries or cities.  They begin to get acquainted with the world outside of their own local hedges.  This gives them a moment to breathe, take a much needed break from school, and then make some decisions about their future schooling.  One example is in Israel where they enter the Army for two years. They learn responsibility and are exposed to other aspects of life.  When they enter college they are ready for it and have a better understanding of what they want to do in life.

For parents with teens who are perhaps not following the society-induced straight line, take a deep breath.  A low GPA or a lack of interest in school does not mean that they are destined for a low-paying, underappreciated job.  Chances are that your teen has not yet found their life passion.  Encourage them to keep a decent GPA, to ask a lot of questions, and to explore the world around them.  Have them look for local classes that interest them.  Or see if you can set them up with a mentor who has an interesting job.  Perhaps an internship can spark their motivation and interest. 

Whatever you do, don’t forget to breathe.  Don’t lose sight of the big picture.  Your teen might not get accepted into the college of their choice or maybe not into any college for that matter.  They might choose to not attend college right after high school or even for 5-10 years after high school.  Don’t lose faith in them, though.  If they are happy trying out life on their own squiggly line, be happy right along side of them. It’s OK to not live the straight line.

"I haven't talked to many people who have taken a direct line from college to career success. Most say that they kind of weaved their way through various circumstances to where they eventually landed." -Howard Behar, former Starbucks President.

With Heart, Sheri

www.TeenWiseSeattle.com