Do you remember your first day of high school? How did you feel stepping into that new school, seeing new faces? There are good odds that you felt nervous, anxious, and maybe a little bit overwhelmed.
If your teen is getting ready for his first year of high school, he may also feel some of these things. Do you know how to ease some of the anxieties that he is likely to be feeling? How can you best support your teen as he embarks on this next chapter of his life?
Common anxieties teens face about high school
If we were to listen to some, high school is meant to be some of the best years of our lives. However, not all of us have the same experience at school. Your teen may struggle with anxiety about going into his first year of high school. Some of the fears he’s facing may be quite common and may even have been things you struggled with:
- Bullying
- Peer pressure, whether about drinking, drugs, or sex
- More homework with more challenging classes
- Increase pressure to succeed
- Needing to think about colleges
- Not being in the same classes as familiar friends
If your teen is already struggling with generalized anxiety or depression, the thought of going to high school could worsen his mental health.
Tips for the first day of high school
You can offer a few tips to your teen for his first day of high school. He needs education, so it’s not an option to simply not go. Be sure to speak to your teen and have an honest and open conversation with him. You should hear him out to understand the sources of his anxiety and any potential emotional triggers.
1. Make sure that his class schedule is correct ahead of time. This can help to ease some of his first-day jitters.
2. If the school offers orientation, take advantage of it. Walking the campus and getting familiar with it may help your teen’s anxiety about being in a new building that may be twice as big as his middle school was.
3. Discuss what he could expect versus what he may be expecting. Television shows and movies are not always the most realistic versions of what can be expected in high school. Bullying happens, but your teen shouldn’t expect to get stuffed in a locker or have his lunch stolen. These are rare exceptions and not rules about high school.
4. Make sure your teen is on a good sleep schedule for at least two weeks before returning to school. A well-rested teen will be less likely to fall victim to anxiety when he steps onto that new campus.
5. Encourage your teen to make plans with his friends to meet up at an agreed-upon spot so that he isn’t completely alone on his first day of high school. This can be challenging if it’s an entirely new school in a new area. If neighbors have teens, perhaps he could befriend some of them so that he has a head start on establishing his social circle at school.
6. Keep things upbeat when talking about high school. Don’t dismiss his anxiety, of course. Instead, focus on the benefits and the potential for making new friends and finding new interests.
Be sure to help your teen manage his after-school commitments. Between his part-time job, the football team, and other afterschool activities, your teen may inadvertently take on much more than he can realistically handle. This may also be an area of anxiety for him as he starts high school.
The support network your teen needs
Your teen may feel like he is alone as he begins high school. While he should be taking steps towards independence, you should not feel like he is without help and resources. You are your primary source of support and help. Remind him that you are just a call or text away if things are escalating. His teachers, school guidance counselors, and administrative staff will be able to offer help.
Often, schools will be able to make specific accommodations for students struggling with their mental health. This could include an adjusted class schedule or a safe space to retreat to if anxiety takes over. With open communication and the knowledge that he’s not alone, your teen may begin to feel better about going into high school.
If your teen has been struggling with his mental health and you’re considering an alternative to traditional high school, Liahona Academy may offer the solution you need. At a therapeutic boarding school, your teen will be able to focus on his education while also getting the treatments required to address his mental wellness.
