FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 12, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 31
How to inspire your teen to expand
their horizons and fi nd their passion
With mounting pressures and expectations,
the high school years can feel overwhelming
- for students and parents alike.
Teens grapple with questions like: Which
colleges should I apply to? What should I
choose as a major? What do I really want
to do with my life? What if I don’t have
a clue?
As a parent you naturally want to give
advice and steer them in the right direction,
but you also know it’s a tricky balance.
It’s their life, aft er all, as they’ll oft en
remind you.
So how can you help? Encourage
them to explore diff erent interests, with
no strings attached. Look for activities
beyond the usual choices. Research extracurricular
programs at your school, in
your community, even overseas so they
can see the breadth of what’s out there.
Expose them to a range of possibilities
and see what they pick.
Does your teen already have a clear
focus? Look for innovative programs that
allow them to dig even deeper in realworld
settings. Or maybe your son or
daughter is shy or stuck in a rut and needs
a gentle nudge to try something new? It’s
amazing how a change of scenery can
inspire students and tap hidden talents.
Over time they’ll gravitate toward one
thing or another, and the journey will be
rich with self-discovery.
From local to global, there are many
valuable paths that help spark new interests
while building self-knowledge, confi -
dence and 21st century skills along the way.
Global clubs and activities spark interest
in the world at largeMost high schools
off er a range of extracurricular opportunities
to get involved in a topic of interest
or try out something new, from sports
and theater to robotics and debate. Many
off er programs with an international
theme as well. Aft er-school language
clubs provide a chance to practice conversational
skills in a relaxed environment
while joining in cooking and other cultural
activities. And bonding with other
language enthusiasts inspires many to
want to travel to experience diff erent cultures
fi rst-hand! Larger high schools off er
more languages, from French, Spanish
and German to Mandarin, Arabic and
Japanese, while teens with more limited
off erings can oft en fi nd regional programs
a bus ride away.
Model UN is another valuable program
that teaches students about the world
around them, and builds confi dence as
well as leadership and communication
skills. A new activity picked up on a
whim may turn into a lifetime source of
joy or even a career. If options are limited
at school, branch out. Urge your teen
to get involved in the local community,
meet new people, and bond with others
who share similar interests. Th ey’ll see
what’s out there in the bigger world while
demonstrating to colleges and employers
that they’re engaged beyond the standard
classroom requirements.
Service programs help teens gain valuable
perspectiveWhen teens off er their
time and talent to nonprofi ts and worthy
causes, they gain more than just
real-world experience for their college
resumes. Th ey gain maturity, perspective,
practical skills and a greater appreciation
for what they’ve got. Volunteering
can be customized to one’s own interests,
whether it means walking dogs at an animal
shelter or building a website for an
environmental group. Adventurous students
can take it one step further by participating
in service programs abroad.
Whether working to raise social awareness,
lending a hand with environmental
and conservation project, or mentoring
underprivileged youth, teens grow exponentially
during a summer far away from
their usual routine.
Study abroad transforms the way a teen
looks at fi elds of study - and lifeStudying
abroad is not just for college. More and
more high school students are making
the leap overseas for summer programs
or for a semester or gap year. As many
students, parents and guidance counselors
have discovered, this is an opportune
time to develop valuable lifelong
skills, learn a new language and discover
career interests in a way that is not possible
in an everyday classroom environment.
Perhaps the ultimate opportunity
for personal growth, studying abroad
also expands communication skills and
helps students understand diff erent cultures
and ways of living.
Not sure study abroad has crossed
your teen’s mind? Surf the web together
for resources and get on mailing
lists for brochures. CIEE (Council on
International Educational Exchange), a
nonprofi t that operates high school study
abroad programs in more than 30 global
destinations, is a good place to start.
Transported to a world far diff erent from
their own, teens fi nd themselves fully
immersed in a new topic and a foreign
culture. Programs range from three
weeks in the summer to a full semester or
academic year.
Planning ahead is key. By involving a
teacher or counselor in the discussion
early on, you’ll ensure a smooth transition
to and from the study abroad experience.
It also gives you more time to
plan fi nances and research scholarships
to make the opportunity possible. Do
your research sooner rather than later:
Organizations like CIEE off er scholarships
based on merit and fi nancial considerations,
but be sure to check the application
deadlines so you don’t miss out.
To learn more about CIEE’s Global
Navigator High School Study Abroad
program and available scholarships, visit
ciee.org/globalnavigators.
Courtesy BPT
college guide