How to Support Career Planning at Home + What to Expect at Parent University

If every conversation about your teen’s future ends in frustration or avoidance, you are not alone.

So many parents tell me, “I just want to help, but I feel like I’m making it worse.” And I get it. Talking about college, careers, or life after high school can feel like walking into a storm, especially when your teen isn’t sure what they want yet.

That’s exactly why I created Parent University: College and Career Planning Strategies That Work. If you’re looking for how to support career planning at home without pressure, guilt, or overwhelm, this is the place to begin.

What Is Parent University?

Parent University: College and Career Planning Strategies That Work is a free, strategy-focused session designed to equip you, the parent, with tools that actually work when it comes to guiding your teen.

The subtitle says it all: No plan after graduation? Let’s fix that.

Whether your teen is still figuring out their interests or already feeling behind, you’ll walk away from this workshop with:

• A clear framework for talking with your teen about their future

• A better understanding of all the options beyond traditional four-year college

• Simple coaching strategies you can use at home to build connection and reduce stress

This is not a lecture. It’s a real-world conversation filled with practical tools you can start using right away.

Why This Support Matters Right Now

If you’re feeling nervous about your teen’s future, now is the time to act. Not out of panic, but with purpose.

Waiting too long to talk about career planning can increase stress for everyone. But done well, early exploration helps teens:

• Discover what motivates them

• Connect school to real-world outcomes

• Build confidence in their ability to make informed choices

  
  

You don’t need to have a perfect plan. What your teen needs most is a parent who is present, curious, and equipped to help them think things through.

That’s where Parent University comes in.

How to Support Career Planning at Home (Even Before the Workshop)

One of the most powerful things you can do as a parent is shift from telling to asking. Career planning is not about handing your teen a blueprint. It’s about helping them build their own.

Here are a few simple coaching strategies you can try at home this week:

• Ask open-ended questions like: “What kind of problems do you enjoy solving?” “What would a successful life look like for you?” “If school didn’t exist, what would you spend your time learning or doing?”

  
  

• Listen more than you speak. Give space for your teen to process their thoughts aloud.

  
  

• Be okay with not having the answers. You can say, “I don’t know either. Let’s explore it together.”

  
  

These small shifts create emotional safety, which is often where clarity begins.

Join Us for Parent University

If you are looking for clarity, confidence, and a better way to support your teen’s career planning journey, I’d love for you to join us at an upcoming session of Parent University: College and Career Planning Strategies That Work.

Choose the option that works best for your schedule:

• ACA – Monday, August 26 at 5:30 PM

• OCA – Tuesday, August 27 at 5:30 PM

• Virtual – Wednesday, August 28 at 6:00 PM

  
  

Space is limited. Reserve your spot today

You Don’t Need to Be an Expert to Be a Great Support

You’re not behind. You’re right on time.

By showing up with curiosity and a willingness to learn, you’re already giving your teen something so many students wish they had: a parent who believes in their potential and trusts them to grow.

Let’s take the next step together.