10 Life Lessons Every Mom Needs to Teach Her Daughter Before College
Every mother eventually needs to send her daughter out into the college world . Keep reading for some advice to give your daughter as she transitions into the next chapter of her life. Here are the following life lessons:
1. It is okay to change your mind about what you want to do with your life.
Many high school seniors stress over the huge decision of what to major in once they are in college. They think what they initially choose is what they will be stuck with the rest of their lives. An important thing to realize is that it is never too late to change the trajectory of their life. If your daughter is freaking out over this decision, remind her there is always the option to switch later on and that you will be there for her if the time comes.
2. It is okay to make mistakes.
Everyone makes mistakes and it is important for your daughter to remember this. Advise her not to be afraid to tell you about the mistakes she might make. Also, let her know that you will try and help her through any mistakes she might make. She will feel much better overall just knowing that she has her mother there for support.
3. Your family will always be there for support when you need it.
Following up on #2; remind your daughter she has a support system. This is also not specific to right before she leaves for college but is something you should do throughout her whole life. One thing to remember is when your daughter is seeking out support, try and provide her with guidance first before lecturing.
4. Keep your head held high, especially when you most want to hide.
Your daughter will be faced with a lot of challenges in college, anything from critical professors to bad social situations. Some good advice to give her is to keep her head held high. If her response to these moments is one of poise and grace, she will be remembered for that and not the specific situation she found herself in.
5. Hard work is where success is found.
This is one of the many life lessons for anyone going to college. A lot of college freshmen managed to glide through high school without working hard and still received great grades (I should know, I was one of them). The problem is that most high schools do not develop a student’s habits for studying. The advice you should give your daughter is to develop these habits as soon as possible, if they are not already in place. If she struggles, maybe try and help her discover new methods of studying.
6. Do not be afraid to share your talents with the world.
Everyone has a talent that makes them unique. It may not be the most obvious talent but it will set them apart in the real world. Remind your daughter of this before she leaves and, if you know of something you consider to be a talent of hers, tell her.
7. The friends you make in college will last you a lifetime.
Your daughter will be meeting a lot of new people in this new chapter of her life. It is important for her to have the skills to discern if someone is bad news. These people will be the people she will know for the rest of her life. This isn’t only specific to friends, the connections she makes will also help her later on in life. Some of the connections might help her get a job. This is some good advice to give her and might guide her to be careful about who she associates with during her time at college.
8. Be kind to everyone, even those who are trying to break you down.
This advice goes along with the “hold your head high” advice. People will try and break your daughter down so it is important to remind her not to let them. Instead, respond with kindness and respect so in the end, they look petty and your daughter will look like the better person.
9. Do not be afraid to ask for help, especially in class.
This was something that I needed to learn and it took me a long time to do that. Do not be afraid to ask people for help when you need it. That includes professors and parents. Remind your daughter of this on a regular basis.
10. Make time for yourself.
People do not realize they need to take time to work on themselves. They are either working all the time or rushing from one obligation to another. Advise your daughter to schedule time for herself. She will be much happier overall once she makes herself a priority. This may be some of the most important advice you can give your daughter as she gets ready for college.
Can you think of any other life lessons to give someone before going to college?! Comment below!
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