The Importance of a Support System During the High School-to-College Transition

Whether you're a teen facing challenges with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or navigating the transition from high school to college, our experienced team of licensed therapists is here to guide you. There are many transitions in life that you are going to experience during adolescence but one that people don’t talk about enough is the transition from high school to college. It’s a major transition and to successfully get through it you need a support system to help you. A support system is defined as a group of people who give somebody help, money, or encouragement. Every single person needs a support system - no matter how big or small.  Having one can benefit you in more ways than one, especially if you are undergoing major life changes and challenges. 

The transition from high school to college is such a hard one to navigate for many reasons.  First, many 18-year-olds are leaving everything they know behind, including their own family and friends. The initial choice between leaving for college or staying home is a hard choice to make. Once you have made that decision then there is a great deal of money involved which is something teenagers are not the most familiar with since a good portion of them have never taken out loans or been in debt before. They also have to be able to balance all the activities for their last year of high school such as homecoming, prom, and senior activities while also applying for colleges, scholarships, and trying to figure out what path will benefit them the most as they enter into their future. Many schools differ in their activities for seniors but in my experience we have senior banquets, interviews, meetings, retreats, projects, and what feels like 1000 other things that need to be completed before graduation day comes. 

This is a lot of work for one person to manage alone which is where a support system can benefit you. A support system can be a wide variety of people such as a friend, a family member, a dog, a cat, a teacher, a student, and even one of our licensed therapists. The important thing to note is that everybody should have a support system no matter its shape or size. A support system for one person might just be their mom and dad while for another it may be their mom, dad, best friend, a teacher and a therapist. It doesn’t matter how big your support system is, only that your support system benefits and helps YOU. 

You can’t compare support systems when you and another person are in completely different areas of your life. Yes, you may both be undergoing a major transition in life, however, you each have different strengths and weaknesses so only put your focus on if your support system is supporting you well in the areas you need. As noted by many, comparison is the thief of joy and will get you nowhere so work on putting time and energy into you and the things you control. Don’t put it into other people who won’t help you grow into the happiest and healthiest version of yourself. 

While you may be a very independent adolescent, not having a support system when you need one can harm you more than you may think. When you don't have somebody to support you then you can become withdrawn from social settings, you have no desire to reach out to people when you need help, and you begin self-isolating instead of seeking the help you need. If you don’t have a support system there are many ways in which you can work on building or finding one. You can try talking to your parents or a best friend to help you, especially with a big transition like this one. There are also support groups for teens in online or in-person settings that you can attend if you need somebody closer in age to understand you. You can start talking to a therapist if you need counseling on what to do as you enter a new era of your life. 

Either way, having a support system will help you so much as you enter into your last year of high school and your first year of college. If you need help with this pivotal life transition, the Thrive team is here to support you during each stage of your life. With virtual therapists who can work with clients in Indiana, Illinois, Florida & New Hampshire, Thrive for Life Counseling understands that life's challenges can be overwhelming but you don't have to face them alone. Begin your journey toward healing and personal growth with Thrive for Life Counseling today. 

Abby Wisthoff is an intern at Thrive for Life Counseling for the 2024-2025 school year. She is an avid writer with a passion for exploring and analyzing various psychology topics.