You know what’s interesting about academic success?
Everyone wants it. But nobody really knows what ‘academic success’ is.
I’ve seen thousands of parents and students with the idea that academic success is something you figure out along the way. Some parents would say something equivalent to ‘I’d like for us to go somewhere with a beach…’
But there are so many places around the world that have beaches — Bondi, Copacabana, The Maldives, or even the Philippines — each with different vibes and vastly different experiences and opportunities.
Would you like white, sandy reef beaches of Bali — or a hostile encounter with Somali pirates along the coast of Africa?
In reality, academic success is a destination, it’s a measurable end-state. It’s not a journey.
And that’s the biggest mistake most families make when setting their child up for academic success: letting their child go on their way without any specific idea where they’re supposed to.
If a child doesn’t know where they’re going or how to get there, it’s inevitable for them to feel frustrated, overwhelmed and lost. It’s no wonder that a 2023 survey by Monash University found over 40% of Australian secondary school students admit to having prevalent feelings of anxiety with having no future direction.
So, how can you help your child find their way and chart a path to what academic success is for them? We explore how to support teenagers in navigating Years 7-12 and achieving academic success through higher marks and future opportunities.
How Maddie Achieved Academic Success
Maddie was a Year 11 student with complex health conditions that made her receive ‘distance-education’ instead of attending traditional school. Her school emailed her assignments, but she struggled to manage the content and fell behind. Because she didn’t know how and where to begin, she was completely overwhelmed and stressed out by her deadlines.
Maddie was anxious and spent hours struggling with her tasks and thoughts. She handed in formal exams that were barely completed and received warnings from her school. Maddie also tried all sorts of tutors, but none were able to help her improve her marks.
Maddie’s confidence and mental well-being hit an all-time low, and her admission to university seemed almost impossible. Her mum, Katrina, was on the verge of giving up her career to support her daughter until a family friend suggested reaching out to us.
Our education strategists first assessed Maddie’s unique learning profile. Then, we designed a strategic roadmap to help Maddie reach academic success — right into her first choice of university course. We also created an assessment battleplan to break down her notifications and plan tasks, so Maddie got the highest possible mark with minimal stress, and supported her progress with mindset coaching and accountability.
In just twelve months, Maddie went from being unable to write a three-word homework response on her own to achieving 20/20 Advanced English essays under exam conditions. She received awards for English, Legal Studies and Geography and got into her first preference university course — she even messaged us to say she completed her first university semester with High Distinction.
But her mum Katrina did much more than just save her daughter’s HSC and get her into uni. By taking a more strategic approach, she changed Maddie’s entire life trajectory by helping Maddie build a roadmap to success and unlocking her future potential.
Defining Success for Successful Future Navigation
Like Katrina, helping your child define academic success is one of the most important things you can do to point your child in the right direction. It helps them gain certainty in their future, how they’re going to get there and most importantly, how they’ll know they’ve ‘made it’.
It also helps your child become more energised with their learning. With a clear definition of academic success, they start to get laser-focused and reach out to their teachers without being told. They also begin to hold themselves accountable, even when they stumble. And when they start to lose steam halfway through, their definition of academic success helps them build their motivation, until it ideally peaks in Year 12 and they get their aspired 90+ ATAR.
Here at Kalibrate-Ed, we support parents and students in achieving all that by building a Future Navigator, a personalised GPS system to guide children in charting a path to their future. It’s tailored to your child’s unique learning profile and designed to clearly define a roadmap, so your child arrives at their destination of academic success —whatever those coordinates may be.
A 2022 study by the University of Sydney found that personalised learning helps students develop a clearer sense of direction, leading to better outcomes in both academic and mental health. That’s why our team devotes our energy and focus to getting to know teenagers and creating a Future Navigator on their terms, that’s aligned with their strengths, weaknesses and goals.
The fastest way to help your child navigate high school is by identifying their destination. What does academic success look like for them? It all starts with uncovering their aspirations and how you can support them in reaching those goals.
If you want advice on defining your child’s academic success and how to build a roadmap for their future, our education strategists are ready to brainstorm with you. Click the button below to reach out and schedule a 15-minute consultation.
