How to support the matriculant in your life: iLIVE

As the matric exams get into full swing, it is time for the grown-ups around young adults sitting the assessment to consider and prepare for what comes after, leading education expert Dr Felicity Coughlan of the Independent Institute of Education, says it is time to move away from the idea that matric defines one absolutely and forever.

“Soon, the last paper will be written and hundreds of thousands of matriculants will begin the countdown to the release of their results. This is a long period, and although it might not be obvious, many will silently suffer a torment of ‘what if’ questions during these weeks in limbo,” says Dr Felicity Coughlan, Director of the Independent Institute of Education.

What if I do worse than expected? What if I don’t get into my chosen tertiary institution? What if I do better than expected and now have more options available? What if I can’t raise the funds I need to study?

These are but some of the questions this year’s crop of matriculants may fret over before the verdict arrives on results day, says Coughlan.

She says that a parent or other involved adult may be tempted to “play out” scenarios with matriculants, but that this had the potential to get the youngster 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,” says Coughlan.

“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 the tertiary institution or course of first choice falls through.

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

Coughlan says that if there is any possibility that the matriculant is likely to be disappointed or thwarted in their Plan A, the adult close to them would be well advised to inform and familiarise themselves with alternative options, and even to leave open the possibility that Plan B may turn out to be a better one in the long run.

Keep in mind that:

·         How much you as the adult share depends on how much of a gap you are given to do so

·         It is helpful to suggest that there are other options available in response to the “what if” question, but one needs to do so in a manner that matches the tone in which the question was asked

·         One should keep the response “light” when that is all that is asked for, while being prepared to haul out the facts when it is apparent that a real need for information exists.

“While many parents have worked hard to ensure that their children have completed their own applications and were able to make their own choices, it is still the responsibility of the parent or guardian to be well informed of the requirements and implications of the choices the child has made.

“Empowering the child must not equate to abdication of the responsibility to guide and support the child appropriately. You do not want to be struggling to determine what the results mean when they do come in. Arm yourself with the facts so that you can support the young person effectively and efficiently – whether you are surprised on the upside or disappointed on the downside.”