Inform youngsters of job and study options

MY DAUGHTER is writing matric at the moment and is very concerned about what her results are going to be. What can I do to make this time easier for her?

Dr Felicity Coughlan, director of the Independent Institute of Education, answers the question:

As a parent, you might want to "play out" scenarios with your child, but this can make her feel trapped in an anxious web of uncertainty. Respond to the conversation when it is raised and begin to explore other options, but keep it all tentative.

Make sure that you, as the concerned adult, know what the options are, such as how one would go about registering to repeat the year, how to apply to write supplementary examinations or what the options are if her tertiary institution or course of first choice fall through.

Explore public and private options, degrees, diplomas, certificates, volunteer work opportunities, part-time study or second semester registrations.

If there is any chance she is likely to be disappointed and not be able to follow Plan A (her ideal choice), as her mother, you need to consider alternative options and suggest that her Plan B may turn out to be a better one in the long-run.