Build a Pathway to College & Career Success

Envision Success Tip: Help your child master the skills and behaviors of success.

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Is your child really ready?

We all want our children to be successful. Chances are, if you reading this blog and considering an Envision program, your son or daughter is on the road to college. But are they on the road to lifelong success?

Consider this: More than 40 percent of U.S. college graduates are unemployed or need more training to get on a career track, according to a 2013 survey conducted by Accenture, a global marketing consulting firm. Also, 45 percent of recent college grads (aged 18-24) were living at home or with a family member in 2011, according to a Census data analyzed by Pew Research Center for The Atlantic.

Do these numbers sound like lifelong success for all college-bound students?

Here are some ways you can ensure you son or daughter stays on the path to lifelong achievement (and out of the house):

Strengthen Your Child’s Critical Academic Behaviors:  Help your child master the right academic habits by participating in activities that strengthen behaviors such as managing time, setting priorities and collaborating with others.

Foster Sound Critical Thinking Skills: Encourage your son or daughter to take leading roles in classroom discussions and debates. Such activities are great ways to develop abilities such as critical thinking, problem solving, researching and communicating.

Identify Available High School Pathways:  Identify high school course options and determine the best pathway for your child. Options include Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, honors classes and programs that provide college credit while in high school, such as Dual Enrollment programs and summer study programs.

It takes more than just getting good grades in high school and college to succeed in the competitive 21^st century. It requires attention to the development of critical college and career skills. And it requires your child to have a well-thought-out plan that links abilities with ambitions and academic achievements with career options.

Start now. It takes time and practice for your child to learn the right skills, knowledge and behaviors for success.