Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready?

The 3 Questions Every Parent Should Help Their Teen Answer Before College | Featuring James McLamb

Episode Summary

What if preparing your teen for college has less to do with getting into the "right" school and more to do with helping them discover who they are? In this episode, Shellee Howard sits down with James McLamb, youth development expert and founder of Generation Youth, to discuss one of the biggest challenges parents face today: helping teens navigate anxiety, social pressure, identity, and purpose in an increasingly complex world. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience working with young people, James shares practical strategies parents can use to strengthen their relationship with their teen, build trust, and have meaningful conversations that prepare them for college and life beyond graduation.

Episode Notes

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The three questions every teen should be able to answer before leaving for college
• Why anxiety, peer pressure, and loneliness are often symptoms of deeper issues
• How to start meaningful conversations with your teen—without making them feel interrogated
• Why identity, belonging, and purpose are essential for long-term success
• How parents can reconnect with their teen, even if they feel like they've missed opportunities in the past
• Ways to help high-achieving students avoid burnout while staying motivated
• Why college readiness is really about preparing students for adulthood

Whether your teen is in middle school, high school, or getting ready to head off to college, this conversation will give you practical tools to build a stronger connection and help them develop the confidence and resilience they'll need for the future.