Readiness after high school...

I came across this article that touches upon the very  heart of what our high school students and recent graduates are dealing with as they maneuver through the vast opportunities that lie before them, yet for some reason it seems enough is not being done to help students make these very crucial decisions.  This four part series that was posted by Global News touches on the following :

Link 1
Failure to launch kids" Canadian students are not prepared for adulthood
Students are not ready to face the challenges of adulthood due to the lack of knowlege and the skills needed to carry out every day responsibilities (I do not mean attending classes at the post-secondary level -  they have attained that skill over the past 12 years of K-12 school).  Students can solve a complex math problem but may not know how to set up a bank account or do their tax return.  Practical and theoretical knowledge need to be taught hand in hand.  The bottom line, students have not figured out what they want to do after high school, we need to provide all the options - college, university, work, gap year for life experience, all of these avenues are viable options. 

Link 2
One size does not fit all, Canadian campuses need better mental health services 
Students need to be heard and they need to know that they are not alone, saying you are OK when you really are not needs to be addressed.  It is OK to not be OK and be able to say it out loud.  Mental illness and suicide rates have increased drastically - this ties in with the demand for more counsellors to be available to help students when they are seeking guidance.
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Link 3
University is not better than college, then why is it getting all the glory
In my years of counselling high school students I give equal weight to both university and college.  Colleges provide both hands on training alongside the theory with very positive results.  Universities are beginning to understand the benefits of joint co-op programs that can be integrated with degree programs.

​Link 4
​Canadian school counsellors are stretched thin, and it's our students that suffer
This final article deals with what school counsellors face on a daily basis within the high school and post-secondary settings.  The question that comes to mind is how can we effectively, as counsellors, schools,and parents help the next generations be ready for adulthood?  The age old question "What do you want to be when you grow up" needs to be refreshed, or asked in a different way,  It is such a broad question with no real guidance for open communication.  The answer is usually IDK (I don't know).    

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Global News (September 17, 24, October 1 and October 8):  ​ https://globalnews.ca/tag/failure-to-launch/