5 Tips to Help Teens Overcome Graduation Anxiety

written by Valerie Kirk, posted on Connections Academy

Since their first day of kindergarten, your student has been working towards one overarching goal: graduating from high school and earning their diploma. And while many students are full of excitement and anticipation for graduation day and what comes next in their lives, there are others who experience fear, uncertainty, and graduation anxiety.

What is Graduation Anxiety?

Graduation anxiety is when teens feel scared and nervous about graduation to the point that it interferes with their daily lives. Graduation anxiety goes beyond feeling a little anxious about all the changes that are happening in their lives. Students who experience graduation anxiety and post-graduation anxiety are full of dread and uncertainty, constantly scared about the future.

There are many factors that lead to graduation anxiety.

Fear of Change

High school graduation is a time of significant change, and change is hard. Teenagers are faced with changes to their school routine, friends, activities, and even where they live after graduation, which can be more change than some know how to handle emotionally.

Uncertainty About Their Future Career

Many teens just don’t know what they want to do after high school. Adding to the stress is the social pressure teens feel today to know exactly what career they want to pursue once they graduate. Many students feel pressure to declare a field of study before they even step foot on a college campus.

Self-Doubt

High school offers a safety net and support structure for students. They may feel that their support structure will disappear after graduation. They may also worry that they don’t have the skills yet to succeed in the adult world.

Familial Expectations

Families may have big dreams for their kids, but those dreams may be different than what their child wants. Students may feel that they just can’t live up to the expectations others have for them.

Concerns About Finances

Whether going off to college or joining the workforce, entering adulthood includes more financial responsibilities, which can be stressful, especially for those who are uncertain about what they want to do after high school or who have limited experiences with managing their own finances.