R.O.C.K. ON!
Aside from the tips above, Painaga lists four simple rules that can help students get along inside the classroom. ● Respect your peers. We all have different views, religions, and beliefs, but if we respect one another and the principles others live by, we will have a good relationship with almost all of the people in school. ● Observe and listen. Another key to surviving high school is following school regulations and listening to your teachers. Nothing will go wrong if you are aware of the set of dos and don’ts imposed in your school. ● Cooperate. There are a lot of group projects and activities in high school that require teamwork and harmonious relations to pull off. Also, by making contributions and sharing your ideas, you motivate your team to work well. ● Keep it real. Being yourself is your best strategy for an enjoyable high school experience. High school is a time of exploration, but remember to make discoveries without losing yourself. Be open to suggestions but always use discernment as to whether something is good for you or not. “High school life is a pretty exciting phase in your life. Make friends, and enjoy the moment and savor every minute of it,” advises Painaga. “Make wonderful memories with your friends and teachers so when you go back 10 or 20 years after graduation, you’ll have fond memories to share with everyone.”
A Guide for Parents Adolescence is a roller-coaster ride of emotional, physical, and social changes for your child, says Ma. Eleanor Painaga, MAEd, RGC, a guidance counselor to Grades 5 and 8 students at UP Integrated School in Diliman, Quezon City. Here, she gives tips to moms and dads on how to better help their teenagers make the most out of their growing-up years: • Set rules with your child. This is a new stage in your child’s life and your rules 10 years ago might not apply anymore. Sit down with your son or daughter and come up with a new set of rules together. Compromise if you must but when you have laid down the rules, implement them consistently. Setting down rules will help you and your teen avoid future conflicts with each other. • Support your teen in both success and failure. Sometimes we express vocal support to our children when they excel in class, but not when they fail. It is important for teens to feel that their parents are with them even in times of failure, as this enables them to bounce back faster after a setback. • Take time to know your kid’s interests and friends. Most conflicts between parents and teens arise from the issue of “bad-influence friends.” If you know your teen’s friends well, then you wouldn’t be bothered if he or she stays a bit late at friend’s house. If you know your teen’s interests, you will have ways to bond with your child and his or her friends at home. Knowing is the key to erasing your worries.
Always choose your friends wisely; avoid classmates who encourage you to take up vices or who get you into trouble.
• Allow your teen to handle his or her own problem. Your child will encounter a lot of difficulties in high school. Don’t troubleshoot everything, but permit your children to deal with problems on their own whenever possible. This will teach them to be more responsible and to be accountable for their actions. Be there, though, to guide them through different emotions. • Talk to your child. Always find ways to converse with your child. Make your dialogues light but warm. When your teen starts to tell you how his or her day went, listen without interrupting, asking questions only after your child has finished talking.
June-August 2016 • FamilyMatters 43