Why It’s Okay If Your Student Struggled This Year (And What To Do Next)
Introduction
As the school year ends, many college students are heading home for the summer—some with pride, others with relief, and many carrying a mix of emotions. If you’re a parent and this year didn’t go the way you hoped for your student, you’re not alone.
Maybe your student struggled with time management or motivation. Maybe their grades slipped, or they withdrew from a class. Maybe they made it through, but it felt like a constant uphill climb.
Whatever the specifics, here’s the most important thing I want you to hear: struggles aren’t signs of failure.
They’re signs that your student is learning how to navigate adult life (academically, emotionally, and logistically) and that process is rarely smooth.
You Don’t Have to Fix It (even if you want to)
It’s completely natural to want to jump in and solve the problem. But often, what your student needs most is something quieter but more powerful: your steady presence, your belief in their ability to figure things out, and your willingness to stay connected even when they stumble.
That doesn’t mean they have to go it alone. In fact, summer is a great time to explore support options.
Support Comes in Different Forms
Every student’s challenges look a little different, which means the kind of support they need might look different too.
If your student is feeling unmotivated, disorganized, or overwhelmed, working with an executive function coach can help them build practical strategies and structure—without judgment.
If your student is facing bigger emotional hurdles like anxiety or depression, talking with a therapist can be a helpful step toward gaining clarity and relief.
Not sure which kind of support is the right fit? I put together a post that walks through the differences between coaching and therapy to help you figure out what might serve your student best.
Summer Is a Reset Button
Even if things went mostly okay this year, but your student is still growing into their independence, that’s normal too. Executive function skills (like planning, prioritizing, time management, and follow-through) are still developing well into the mid-twenties. Summer can be a great time to regroup, reset, and get intentional about what’s next.
College is a big transition, for students and families alike. If this year was harder than expected, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It just means there’s still support to be found and skills to be built.
You don’t have to have all the answers.
You just have to stay in the conversation.
Final Thoughts
College is a big step, but you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Struggles are often part of the process—not signs of failure. What matters most is helping your student reflect, reset, and move forward with the right support.
Whether that means executive function coaching, therapy, or just having more structured conversations at home, your steady presence and belief in their ability to figure things out can make a lasting difference.
Need Help Making the Most of This Summer?
I support students and families in turning academic setbacks into learning opportunities—from reflecting on the year to building executive function strategies that support next steps. Reach out here to learn more.