By Rebecca Liebeskind, Associate Director of Holistic Success at Verto Education
As your student begins their semester with Verto Education, many families will find themselves at a familiar but still meaningful moment. For some, this is their student’s first post‑high school semester; for others, it’s a second or third term abroad.Whichever it is, transitions do not lose their impact. Each one brings new expectations, new challenges, and new opportunities to grow.
This semester coincides with the new year, offering a natural moment to reflect, reset, and be intentional about your routines, communication, and engagement moving forward.
While much attention is given to students, parents and families are also navigating a transition.. As your student steps into greater independence, your role continues to shift — from directing and managing day-to-day decisions to providing guidance, support, and a safe space for exploration. The most effective way to support your student at this stage is to balance connection with autonomy: stay engaged, offer encouragement, and provide advice when asked, while giving them room to make decisions, solve problems, and learn from their experiences.
By now, many families have adjusted to new patterns of communication and distance. A second semester often brings increased confidence for students, alongside challenges that stretch their independence. It is common for families to feel both greater trust and occasional uncertainty at the same time. The most helpful stance is to allow space for autonomy while remaining a steady source of guidance, even as communication becomes less frequent or takes new forms.
The start of a new year and semester also offers families a moment to reflect on their own needs. Being intentional about routines, interests, and connections can provide stability during this transition. By modeling balance and independence ourselves, we reinforce the growth we hope to see in our students.
To be intentional during this transition, consider asking yourself a few key questions:
- How am I adjusting my role to balance support and independence? Am I stepping back enough to let my student make decisions and learn from experience while remaining available as a trusted guide?
- What routines, interests, or practices can I prioritize to support my own growth and well-being? How can I use this time to focus on hobbies, friendships, learning, or self-care that keep me grounded?
- How can I approach communication in a way that strengthens connection without creating dependence? Am I setting expectations that respect my student’s independence while staying emotionally present and engaged?
With this transition, we invite you to lay a strong foundation, for both your student’s independence and for an evolving parent-child relationship built on trust, respect, and confidence in what comes next.
