Why You Should Invest In Your Teen’s Future Before College

46% of college students in the U.S. end up graduating; that’s less than half. As a result, many parents find themselves pondering over what went wrong with their maturing offspring. But, degree or not, that college debt is not going anywhere, so is that hard-earned money a waste of investment?
 
It very well could be, at least, without additional or alternative, practical ways of preparing your kid for university before they leave. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with financially supporting as a parent, but your cash could be better spent on seeing that your child is ready to succeed on their own.
 
Supplementing The College Fund
 
A straight-A student in high school is not necessarily one in college. This is the first time teens live on their own without supervision. There are many other obstacles than those of academics that can turn university life upside down. 
 
Here are four accessible suggestions to ready your pre-graduate:

• Have them apply to be a counselor at a camp to learn some leadership skills, problem solving skills and become more independent.
• Summer jobs, chores, and internships are wonderful for building work ethic and career inspiration.
• If your child has an allowance, open a savings account to deposit checks in to. This teaches financial discipline rather than putting cash right in their hand.
• Start to intentionally relax some of the boundaries at home so that they can can learn to take on more responsibility for their own well-being in a safe environment. (When they leave home, the rules won't be there.)

 
But What If College Isn’t For Them?
 
Believe it or not, no matter where you came from, college isn’t for everyone. And while it may seem like it to you, it is not the end of the world In fact, with the right life skills in hand, it might be the beginning of a whole new wonderful world to take an alternate path. Just because your young adult does not attend college does not have to mean they will live in your basement for the rest of your life. 
 
In fact, research firm Wealth-X found in 2016 that nearly a third of the world’s billionaires didn’t have a bachelor’s degree. In addition, numerous studies confirm that higher self-confidence and self-esteem predict a higher level of happiness According to clinical psychologist Barbara Markway, Ph.D., “Self-confidence is linked to almost every element involved in a happy and fulfilling life… including less fear and anxiety, greater motivation, more resilience, improved relationships, and a stronger send of the authentic self.” 
 
Who wouldn’t want that for their child!? When you can have that kind of self-awareness, it is much easier to find your path.
 
The fifth and probably the best way to prepare your pregraduate is to invest in a mentor that can teach your teen relationship skills and develop the confidence to take on the world. Not only are you ensuring that your finances and efforts are put to use, but this is also an excellent opportunity to ease the pre-college jitters of you and your teenager. Being fully prepared for adulthood, no matter what path is chosen, is the best gift you could give, so neither of you has to look back and wonder, what happened there? Instead, take pride in your contribution to your baby’s successful future
 
There are countless options out there for you and your teen, contact me to start a discussion!