Life After High School

For most of us, high school commencement ceremony was an exciting experience. It is a milestone event filled with smiles and laughter and maybe even tears shared with family and friends. Now that the celebration is over, your graduate may be experiencing worry, knowing that s/he is capable of doing great work, but unsure of what direction they should maneuver. We want you to know the feelings are completely normal. Please share the following information with your high school graduate:

YOU AREN'T DONE LEARNING YET

Famous NBA basketball player, Michael Jordan said, “I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” In short, making mistakes is a necessary part of life. We may miss opportunities if we fail to accept challenges or procrastinate. When opportunities are presented if we do not seize the moment, it will pass.

If you recently graduated from high school you may struggle with determining the next step. Researchers at Family Education developed a list of ten possible opportunities following high school:

OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSIDER

1. Get a job

2. Start a business

3. Travel abroad

4. Serve in the military

5. Learn a trade

6. Be an intern or apprentice

7. Volunteer

8. Take adult education classes (part or full-time)

9. Earn a vocational or career training certificate

10. Turn a hobby into a moneymaker

In addition to the list above, it is also beneficial to learn more about yourself. It helps us to acknowledge our strengths and weaknesses. The skills we would like to improve on and areas of life that interest us. This will help you on the journey to adulthood. You are not alone. Many people experience difficulty transitioning into adulthood. We encourage you to consult with a trusted relative or friend and share your ideas about your future plans, your hopes and dreams.

To resist or fear change is often what gets in the way of our progress. Understand that we will all make mistakes throughout our life, but we can and should learn from our mistakes. For many people, experience is the best teacher. Overcoming failure allows us to see that we are capable of overcoming our challenges. If you fail, we encourage you to reflect, make changes and try again.

If you have any questions or seek additional information specific to preparing for next level education, please watch our Facebook Live video or contact us at info@claycounselingsolutions.com.

Mental Illness Awareness

Mental illnesses don't simply emerge out of the blue. Instead, you or others close to you, may begin to notice the differences and changes gradually.

Like many other illnesses, prevention is the better solution than cure. Learn the early warning signs of mental illnesses, and take action to help or be helped, as this can potentially avoid a major mental illness altogether. 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

According to the American Psychiatric Association there are some signs and symptoms listed below that if they occur, it is recommended to see a mental health professional.  

1. Social withdrawal

2. Drop in functioning

3. Difficulty thinking

4. Increased sensitivity

5. Apathy

6. Illogical thinking

7. Nervousness

8. Unusual behavior

9. Sleep or appetite changes

10. Mood changes

Note: One or two of these symptoms alone is not enough to predict a mental illness. Although, if a person is experiencing several (3 or more) at once, the individual should seek mental healthcare right away.

HOW TO PREVENT

Mental illness is not simply a problem that one could just "sleep it off." It occurs due to chemical imbalance in our head. Although, our body has the ability to reach homeostasis under different circumstances, it is still up to us to maintain a healthy living style to maintain it. We can help prevent mental illness by controlling our diet, exercise, sleep and even exposure to electronics. For more detailed information, take a look at our other posts!

Bully Prevention

With the development of technology, bullying does not only occur by physical contact or from peers in school hallways. The fact is, children at home are still vulnerable to being bullied. Those who have been bullied may experience serious emotional and mental disabilities. These experiences may lead to issues with social development, and self-esteem. Moreover, children who have been bullied are also at an increased risk for problems with anxiety and depression, or may carry on the aggression later in life.

WHAT CAN WE DO AS ADULTS

According to StopBullying, as adults, we have to first learn how to differentiate a playful engagement from actual bullying. Often times, learning the steps can help better prepare a prevention plan or avoiding re-occurrences. There are more tips listed down below:

• For parents, recognizing the warning signs that your child is involved in bullying. Even witnessing an act of bullying could affect your child. Talk to your child and see if they display any sort of behavioral or emotional changes. Many times, kids won't ask for help, so it’s important we know what to look for.

• For Educators, establishing a safe school climate. A safe environment can sharply decrease the occurrence of bullying. Also, actively engaging with parents and youth to build a well-rounded positive climate in the child's life.

ALWAYS COMMUNICATE

Goes without saying, communication is the antidote to many mental illnesses, and bullying is no exception. But often times communication between adults and children end up on a one way channel, leaving the child feeling unheard and invalidated. We encourage parents, educators, and adults in a child's life to just listen to what they are feeling/thinking.