Learn how to support your students in making the right post-secondary decision.

As an educator, your role is constantly shifting to support the evolving needs of your students.

 

Now more than ever, it’s time to start talking to them about post-secondary readiness and encouraging them to have these conversations with their families.

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But, how do you measure postsecondary readiness?

Let’s start with the most common 5 student measurements:

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1. Academic Readiness: Most students and families because that if their grades are good and they get “accepted”, they’re ready to continue. That’s why the next 4 measurements are crucial for accessing what makes sense as the next step in their journey.

2. Emotional Readiness: Can they emotionally self-regulate themselves? This is a key competency of successful transitions into adulthood. We all experience strong emotions, especially during our teenage years, but how we handle them is a helpful indicator of emotional readiness for next steps.

3. Social Readiness: Can they assess risky situations and make the right choice? Moving into an environment where they are the youngest and usually the most inexperienced, students will be presented many new experiences and opportunities - both positive and negative. 

4. Financial Readiness: How financially literate are they - and has grade 12 prepared them for student loans and the financial responsibilities of student life? College and university means students have to be responsible for their own money, and usually for the first time.

5. Life Readiness: Are they responsible with their own schedule and aware of their needs? Living under their parents roof and having access to a family routine that functions like clockwork is helpful in high school, but with increased independence, fluctuating class schedules, and potentially taking on a part-time job and moving out, they are thrown into a new world that can quickly lead to overwhelm and burnout. 

 

The gap year pathway helps build on these student’s post-secondary readiness, addresses the “gaps” in their skillset, and provides an intentional pause to focus on laying the foundation for a new chapter of their life: adulthood.