Post Graduation Cycle

I have been reminded recently that life is full of cycles. It’s cyclical, which from a mathematician’s standpoint, means it’s repetitive and predictable. I find myself less than thrilled to be embarking on college admissions and all of the expectations that come with graduation again. Just as I spend large portions of the summer reminding myself that my new pre algebra students are learning the material for the first time this fall and to try to make it as exciting as it was the first time I really started to understand it, I must do this with high school graduations.

The reality is that exploring options for post graduation is a completely new territory for my child. Even if I’ve done it multiple times before, I need to treat it as the fun and exciting transition that it is. In the summer, I read math books. Truly. I dive into the world of mathematics and learn something new or something old in a new way. This helps get me excited for yet another year of pre algebra. So how do I replicate this with my child’s high school exit plan?

1. Remind myself of our homeschool vision. Why are we here? Especially with my graduating child, I should see the vision clearly.
2. Assess my child’s gifts and passions. Here are some questions to get you started:
   1. What do you love doing?
   2. If you were given a weekend to do whatever you wanted, what would you do?
   3. When I was a kid, someone told me ____, and it showed me that I ___. Has this every happened to you?
   4. I’ve noticed that you’re really good at___. Do you enjoy doing that? 
3. Create a roadmap with your child. A series of tasks that work toward a common goal. Start with a small goal and show her how to accomplish it one step at a time.
4. Check your child’s class transcript to make sure she has the necessary credits. Have your child join you and ask her which classes she enjoyed the most.
5. Pray. Pray for the Lord to direct your child’s steps. Pray together. Pray often.

Navigating a post high school plan with all of its accoutrements can be daunting, but try to enjoy it. Every child is unique and brings his own flare to the process.