This is the time of year for launching. Young adults are finishing up their last few weeks of high school, and parents are experiencing a whirlwind of emotions as they prepare for their children to embark on the next chapter of their lives. We often see young adults graduate from high school and immediately jump to what’s next. This has got us thinking about the minimal space between the end of a significant season and moving onto the next.
We often see young adults and families get caught up in the excitement of what’s to come without pausing to reflect on the previous season of life. As Americans, we continuously move from one thing to another and from season to season, with much of the focus on what’s to come rather than where we’ve been. This spring, we want to invite parents to lead their young adults into a time of reflection and gratitude as they begin to put closure on their time in high school and look ahead to the next chapter.
Our hope behind the questions below is to give parents and young adults a launching point to reflect on who they were, who they are, and who they are becoming. We encourage young adults to embrace a growth mindset as they move into the next stage of life and continue to develop their identity. Taking time to reflect on their journey helps them embrace and take ownership of their past, present, and future selves.
Questions to invite your children into reflection:
As you look back on your time in high school (or insert significant event or season in life)…
- What are you grateful for?
- What are you most proud of this year?
- What does closure in this season look like?
- What are you proud of?
- Where did you grow?
- What stretched you?
- What parts of you have changed?
- What parts of you are the same?
- What learnings do you want to bring with you into this next chapter?
Cultivating a growth mindset is perhaps one of the most valuable life skills we can impart to young people. When our hearts are curious and open to learning, it allows us to adapt and embrace the twists and turns that life often brings. Identity formation is a 10–15-year process; some might argue that it’s a lifelong journey. Without a growth mindset, people can get stuck in “coast” mode. While there can be a time and place for coasting, when it becomes the default mode, life can pass by without intentionality and reflection, often missing opportunities for growth and change. We want young people to embrace the dynamic nature of humanity, experience growth, and live a lifestyle of exploration.