Appropriate age:
High School & Beyond

Description of technique:
The schoolÆs guidance counselor can be a great resource for your teenager. Your teenager will need to develop a relationship with the guidance counselor to create the template for his or her goals and to fulfill the requirements needed to accomplish those goals. This professional can play an important part in your teenagerÆs future by providing information on scholarships, intern programs, honors classes, etc.

Instructions:
1. When school begins, have your teenager make an appointment with the school guidance counselor.
2. Your teenager should present his or her goals and state to the counselor what he or she would like to accomplish while in high school.
3. The guidance counselor will work with your teenager to create a plan with goals to attain, e.g. if the teenager wants to get into get into school with a pre-med. program, he or she needs to know which classes to take in a prescribed order.
4. The counselor can supply information on programs offered to prepare your teenager for higher education.
5. The counselor has many suggestions and resources for your teenager to fulfill his or her community service requirements.
6. Work with your child to keep him or her on track.
7. Keep your communication open.
8. You donÆt want your teenager to feel pressured or stressed out by unattainable goals.
9. Stay within realistic boundaries of what your teenager can handle.
10. Once your teenager is on a good path, you can watch him or her evolve and develop his or her raw potential into skills and abilities.