When Kids Choose to "Do Good"

In a situation like this, I would suggest meeting with the would-be dropout first. Once you explore his reasons for leaving school and feelings about coming back to finish, you’ll be better able to advise your clients on a response. You may need to reassure them with accounts of young people who dropped out of college to do activist work and then returned with a greater sense of purpose. Try to help them move beyond self-centered reactions to consider their child’s needs. One of the hardest life lessons for parents is realizing that their children are on their own path.