for college?

NAVIGATING BEYOND High School with ADD/ADHD

WHAT WILL THE ROAD LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR CHILD?

You know your child is smart and capable but suspect he is not yet ready to get the full value of the college experience.

The Challenge:

Almost everyone thinks that the only path forward is to go to college immediately. But, what if your child isn’t ready or doesn’t want to go? Then what?

What are your choices?

• Encourage him to go despite your reservations?
• Worry that if he doesn’t go, he won’t get a good paying job and will live at home forever?
• Pray a lot!

There is another solution: Put college into your plan but create a transitional experience between high school and college. This is called a gap year.

Launch For Success:   A Coached Gap Year Program

• Launch your child – out of the house, into a job, environment or life experience, while providing the support, structure and strategies for moving successfully through life.
• Provide the missing piece – essential life skills.
• College in the plan – discipline, time management, understanding how to create structure.

Launch For Success works to:

1.      Understand strengths, purpose and direction.

2.      Define goals and an action plan.

3.      Identify and build specific life and work skills needed for independent living and success in school, career and life.

4.      Understand how to make big life transitions.

We offer a year of 2-3 volunteer, work and/or learning opportunities PLUS weekly coaching.

Sample Opportunities might include:

• Work or internship in local businesses specifically chosen for hands on work experience.
• Work/study in documentary production, marine biology, wildlife rehabilitation, environmental conservation.
• Entrepreneurial and start up training.

Coaching provides support, structure and strategies in living and working with others, budgeting time and money, decision-making and problem- solving.

RESULTS:

Create a path for the future with confidence and hope, plus commitment to action steps to further education in college and/or professional development.

WHO SHOULD EXPLORE “LAUNCH FOR SUCCESS”?

• Parents who realize the need for alternatives.
• Parents who recognize that their child may need more maturity before entering college or living independently.
• Parents who want the best for their child and are willing to explore new and alternative paths to success.

A new year, a chance for new beginnings. I read today “don’t forget that you are still the same person,” even though you are ready for and want to bring about change in your life.

I never heard that before – “you are still the same person.” What does this mean?

I think it means while hope and optimism are terrific motivators, you still bring yourself to the table. (Yourself means your old, familiar, and even comfortable, habits.) Don’t be fooled into believing that setting a goal and wishing for change is enough. It takes work, often hard work and sustained practice, to change behavior.

Sometimes because we bring our same self to the table, we don’t know how to make the change, or we get scared or overwhelmed. Then you know that old familiar story: we back off, turn away from our wish, and/or give up. This is a dishonoring of our highest, best self.  It discourages us from achieving our dreams and keeps us stuck.

So now is when the value of a coach surfaces. A coach can help you:

• set realistic, do-able goals
• help clarify what you want
• provide an objective, non-judgmental point of view
• offer encouragement and support rather than criticism
• give honest feedback about your progress
• help you regroup when difficulties arise
• keep you on track.

So why not make this the year that you decide to empower yourself. Hire a coach to ensure that you achieve what you want!

Good luck and happy trails!