College Entrance Pressure

Since the fall Bridgett and I have been having informal data gathering sessions with community members who work with our kids to get a pulse on how our kids are doing and how Youth Connect can help.  We heard a consistent message: that our kids are stressed by the pressure to get into elite colleges, and that this pressure is mounting at lower and lower grades.  We also clearly heard that this pressure is resulting in real risks to our kids in the form of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.  

A new report due out today from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, "Turning the Tide" documents the same message we've been hearing here in Sewickley.  Here are some highlights:

The study found that "rates of depression, delinquency, substance abuse and anxiety ... appear to be considerably higher in [middle and upper income communities]'"

"Kids are getting the message partly from the admissions process, but also from their parents that if they don't get into a certain kind of school they've failed in life and forever more will be behind..."  Frank Bruni speaking on CBS this morning in a discussion about the Harvard study. 

The report suggests that colleges put less emphasis on:

- standard test scores

- class rank

- number of AP classes

See links below for more information on this study.

Time will tell if the college admissions process changes as a result of this study.  In the mean time Youth Connect will remain mindful of the stress on our kids and we will be looking for ways to minimize that stress.  We hope you will too.

CBS News:

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/new-report-suggests-ways-to-revolutionize-college-admissions/

New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/opinion/rethinking-college-admissions.html?_r=0

The Wall Street Journal

http://www.wsj.com/articles/educators-seek-to-ease-pressure-in-college-admissions-process-1453249687

Kindergarten to College ... Help Please!

From transitioning into Kindergarten all the way through starting the college entrance process there is SO much to know!  Sewickley Academy webinars are a great resource for our entire community (and beyond!) to find help.  These 30 minute, free to the public, programs are informative and easy to access from your desk at work or your kitchen counter while you eat lunch!  Please take a look at the 5 Topic Series and see if there is something there for you.  

Thank you!

Bridgett Bates and Emily Lyons

http://www.sewickley.org/Page/Admission/Webinar-Series

Response to New York Times "Is the Drive for Success Making Our Children Sick" January 2 article (follow link below)

Excellent, but disturbing, article. I can tell you that my 16 year old regularly reports on stress related illnesses in her friends. One recently developed (what sounds like) an eating disorder and another has regular migraines (and has since 4th grade). Both of these kids are AP students and one is pushed intensely by her mother (I've known the mom for years). These are the worst cases, but sleeplessness and anxiety are a regular conversation at our dinner table. As the parent of a kid with learning differences, it is a constant anxiety on my part of when to push and when to let go. Luckily my kid talks to me extensively and I know when the stress is taking a toll, but I think many of her friends are at risk due to "suffering in silence" (because they accept it to be a normal part of teen life today).

The pressure to be the best and succeed (academically and extracurricularly) is intense in high school. I feel like an oddity because I don't push my kid to succeed in and out of the classroom. Being a kind, sensitive, good person with "good" (not excellent) grades is not nearly enough in the eyes of today's culture, and our kids know that. If, like my daughter, you are smart but have trouble navigating the current system, you perceive yourself to be "stupid." That's what I hear her call herself regularly, "stupid"--even though she is managing two honors classes and an AP class with learning disabilities.

The pressure is there for a reason though. Kids and parents know it's what you need to do for scholarships. No one can afford college!!!

It's an awful system and it is too much for adolescents. I hope this type of information comes to light more often so our expectations can be modified, and our kids can have more reasonable expectations of themselves.

Susan - (mom of 16yr old)

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/opinion/sunday/is-the-drive-for-success-making-our-children-sick.html?smid=fb-share

A startling reminder to talk to your kids about the dangers of drug use.

CBS's 60 Minutes piece on heroin use shows just how dangerous drug use is.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/heroin-in-the-heartland-60-minutes/

How to teach your kids to drink responsibly: make them wait until they’re 21

 

 

Many parents believe that allowing their teens to drink under supervision will create more responsible alcohol consumers. However, recent studies have proved this line of thought to be wrong. Parents who “teach” their kids to drink, in fact, do just that. They teach and, unfortunately, prompt their teens to adopt a practice of drinking, and usually not in a very healthy manner.

An American Medical Association study, looking at both Australian and American middle schoolers, found that those teens that had begun drinking with parental supervision were more likely to have engaged in risky behavior or experienced health related issues due to the overconsumption of alcohol. Another AMA study reported data suggesting that teens with parents who condone supervised underage drinking are more likely to have trouble with alcoholism or alcohol abuse later on in life.

Because the brain is still developing into the twenties, alcohol affects teens in a much more pronounced way than it does adults. Therefore, health and research professionals encourage parents to firmly prevent their teen from drinking until the age of 21.

This, however, does not necessitate a complete ban on any alcohol in the house. The most effective action parents can take in forming responsible alcohol consumers is to model moderate drinking behaviours themselves. So go ahead and have that glass of wine with dinner, but maybe just one.

This information is taken from the NBC article “Letting teen drink under parent’s watch backfires.” To read the full article you can go to the following link: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42807670/ns/health-childrens_health/t/letting-teen#.Vh5TJk2FPIV.

 

During our last gathering we heard how the heaviest burden our young people are carrying is STRESS. The anxiety that comes with the expectation of high performance across a variety of areas (school, sports, music, etc.) is the biggest challenge facing our kids right now ... so the kids say. This article is very relevant and could open up a new conversation about what we can do to help. So, go forth, read, think, and talk. Thanks!

http://wpo.st/ORpg0

Crisis Text Line: Turning “Hot Moments to a Cool Calm” Virtually

Despite the many positives that come with advances in technology, virtual communication has been marked for years by its facilitation of cyber bullying and its tendency to perpetuate bad choices in the teen population.

Nancy Lublin, however, has found a way to turn this problem around. Initially partnering with a data scientist, an engineer, and Link2Health Solutions, Lublin of DoSomething.org founded Crisis Text Line (CTL) in the hopes of providing crisis solutions instantaneously.

CTL is based on the belief that adolescents and young adults are already comfortable with the medium of text, so reaching out for help through their phones is only natural. Thus, more individuals are likely to use this free platform in times of trouble, and CTL is able to help more people avoid harmful decisions.

The CLT crisis team consists of volunteers that are extensively trained over six weeks, partner crisis center organizations, and expert supervisors who lead these counselors. So when an individual is facing any situation, from cyber hazing to suicidal thoughts, he can text in to CTL and receive emotional support or helpful referrals anonymously and instantaneously.

CTL is upfront about not being a substitute for regular therapy or doctor’s appointments. But it is passionate about connecting those in crisis to “active listeners,” and CTL has already sent over 8,668,953 texts aiding individuals in changing their potentially risky behaviors into “safe and healthy” decisions.

To find out more about CLT, its new international division, or how you can become involved, visit crisistextline.org. To receive help from CLT text “Start” to 741-741 at any time.

Information obtained from: http://www.crisistextline.org/faq/