( Listen on Apple Podcasts) As parents of high school seniors, you’ve probably heard the phrase “senioritis.” It’s that moment when students feel like they’re almost done, college acceptance letters are arriving, and motivation starts to slip. But here’s the truth: how your student finishes high school matters more than many people realize. In Chapter 11 of my book, Your Next Big Step: The Complete Manual for Christian Parents and Students Preparing for College, I close the

(Listen on Apple Podcasts) If you’re a parent of a high school student thinking about college preparation, there’s one strategy that many families overlook — but it can make a big difference both academically and financially. Working ahead. Specifically, earning college credit while still in high school . This is exactly what I discuss in Chapter 6 of my book, Your Next Big Step: The Complete Manual for Christian Parents and Students Preparing for College. When students appro

Learn how mentoring helps teens grow in wisdom, character, and decision-making. Discover how parents can surround high school students with trusted mentors who reinforce values, provide guidance, and prepare them for life after graduation.

WWW.YOURNEXTBIGSTEP.ORG One of the greatest gifts parents can give during senior year is patience in decision-making. Students can sometimes choose their major based on the dollars earned per degree or on what their friends are doing. Sometimes, they feel compelled to pick something because that’s what their parents are asking. Haste tastes sweet until decisions are made in a rush and regret sets in. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understandin

WWW.YOURNEXTBIGSTEP.ORG I don’t think I’m alone when I say that every once in a while, my wife and I find ourselves silently contemplating the same question, “Am I losing my teenager?” They are thinking for themselves. They are making adult decisions. They are preparing to leave the nest. Don’t despair. Your influence isn’t ending, it’s changing. “As you guide a child, so he will be; when he grows up, he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) The groundwork you have laid spi