College Readiness with Trisha Hasbrouck - Director of College Advising at St. Joseph's Academy
If you’re a perfectionist, college is probably going to throw you for a loop.
Your standards of success will look very different when you’re in a brand new environment, and we want you to be prepared. We interviewed several college prep counselors at local, St. Louis area high schools, to find out the best ways you can help your teen prepare. These counselors have worked directly with students and have first hand experience in what it takes to get them ready for this major transition in their life. We are so excited to be able to bring their expertise to you, in hopes that we can all work together to help your teen thrive when they get to campus!
We’re also still accepting applicants for our Summer College Readiness Intensive - we have just four spots left. Learn more and apply right here:
Today, we continue with Trisha Hasbrouck, Director of College Advising at St. Joseph’s Academy. She breaks down the difference between personal success and perfection. We are so happy to feature her on today’s blog!
How do you define college readiness for teens and their parents?
College readiness has several different connotations, ranging from academic preparedness to emotional maturity. In addition to those factors, I define college readiness as having a sense of confidence in what the future holds. Many students feel pressured to have all of the right answers, to have everything figured out, and that's not realistic. College readiness is when students have the self confidence in knowing they have the skills necessary to persevere and succeed, despite setbacks or challenges.
What do you recommend students work on, including socially and emotionally, to prepare for college?
Both academically and personally, I encourage working on problem solving skills, positive self-talk, and coping strategies. College will have content and situations that are unfamiliar and uncomfortable. Life will have conflict. Students need to work on seeing the best in themselves, in order to clearly see the world around them. They are far more capable than they often give themselves credit for. Also, the ability to write well is really important!
How do you encourage highschool juniors and seniors to cope with anxiety or perfectionism before the move to college?
Every student is different, but there is one universal truth... perfection is not attainable.
It's an impossible and undefinable task. Personal success, on the other hand, is possible and should be pursued. Personal success is individualized, and it has the ability to evolve and grow. Experiencing anxiousness and having anxiety are two very different things, and establishing that truth is a necessary first step. Feeling anxious and stressed are normal components of life, and experiencing those emotions is not necessarily a bad thing. I try to help students differentiate between all of the emotions they're feeling and focus on what they actually have control over. Breathing techniques, physically crossing things off lists, exercise, laughter, rest, and seeking professional support are all important in maintaining emotional health.
What’s the biggest piece of advice you give to highschoolers that are planning to attend college?
College is an individual experience, so is the journey in getting there. Of course, there are ways to make it easier: maintaining good grades, getting involved, and taking on leadership roles are always beneficial. But the biggest pieces of advice I give are that students are far more than any set of numbers on a transcript, and there is a post secondary path that will be the right fit for each individual, even if it changes or is not the most traditional route.
College is an opportunity for continued growth, and it is 100% okay to not have everything figured out.
It's important for students to know they have, or can acquire, the capabilities and skills to make it work for them. They are not alone, and colleges have resources on campus to help them manage: counseling, tutoring, success centers, etc. Finding the right personal fit and knowing there will be support are key.
For a teen with anxiety or perfectionism, not knowing what to expect with college can be really tough. This is why Compassionate Counseling St. Louis created a weekly summer intensive designed to specifically target teens who may need a more personalized approach to handling their college anxiety. This program has limited spots and we only want to work with teens and college students who are ready to dig in and work hard. Read more about the specifics of our program and apply for your free phone consultation right here.
Curious to learn more about college readiness for teens? Wondering if your teen needs to meet with a therapist to discuss coping skills to manage their anxiety instead? Compassionate Counseling St. Louis works with kids, teens and college students throughout the St. Louis area. We highly recommend our college readiness intensive for the summer, but for your student who needs more long term therapy services, you can schedule your free therapy consultation right on our website.