It’s August. Which means everything is shifting. New backpacks, new syllabi, new routines. But let’s be real, it’s not just a change in your planner. It’s a full-body system shock.
High schoolers are stepping back into crowded hallways, weird social dynamics, and a never-ending carousel of expectations. College students are juggling independence, identity, and tuition bills while trying to figure out how to feed themselves something other than caffeine and Doritos.
And parents? You folks have it the worst! You’re either trying to let go, hold on, or pretend like everything’s totally fine when it absolutely is not.
Let’s unpack it.
High Schoolers: The Pressure is Real
If you're in high school, you're not just learning algebra. You're figuring out where you fit. Or who you are. Or what the hell to do with that anxiety that lives in your chest all day.
The social stuff can feel louder than the schoolwork. And the pressure? To be smart, social, driven, rested, involved, athletic, creative, and somehow mentally stable? It’s a lot.
Here’s what helps:
Pick your battles. You don’t need to join five clubs. Pick one or two things that feel interesting and say no to the rest.
Talk to one adult who gets it. Not necessarily your parents. Find a teacher, a coach, a therapist. Just find someone who doesn’t talk down to you.
Label what you're feeling. Even if you don’t fix it right away. "I’m overwhelmed." "I’m mad and I don’t know why." Naming it reduces the charge.
College Students: Everything Changed Overnight
You left home. Or maybe you didn’t, but your world still flipped. You’re managing way more than just classes. You’re managing your mental health, your relationships, your sleep schedule, and probably your bank account.
And let’s be honest, sometimes college doesn’t feel like “the best years of your life.” Sometimes it feels like isolation, burnout, or imposter syndrome in a hoodie.
Here’s what helps:
Build structure, not perfection. You don’t need a color-coded spreadsheet. Just start small. Wake up at the same time every day, drink water, take your meds if you have them (PLEASE DO THIS).
Find your people. It might not be your roommate. It might not be your old friends. But they exist. Go where the weirdos hang out. That’s where you’ll belong.
Get support early. Counseling centers, crisis lines, or even a quick check-in with someone like us at Northside. You don’t have to wait until you're down and in pieces to ask for help.
Parents: Yes, It’s Hard for You Too
Whether your kid is walking into high school or moving into a dorm, this season brings grief, pride, stress, and a hundred tiny identity crises. You’re allowed to feel that. You’re allowed to not love this season. And you’re allowed to not know how to help.
Here’s what helps:
Stop trying to fix. Try validating instead. “Yeah, that sucks. Want help or just someone to listen for a bit?”
Ask questions that aren’t loaded. Instead of “How are your grades?” try “What’s been most overwhelming this week?”
Let them fail a little. Resilience grows in discomfort, not perfection. Be their anchor, not their autopilot. STOP being a shitty lawnmower parent. You're not helping!
Therapy Is Not Just for Crisis
If school already feels like too much, or if your kid is shutting down, or if you as a parent are trying not to scream into your pillow every morning, that’s not a failure. It’s a signal.
This is where therapy and Northside comes in. You don’t have to wait until things are falling apart. We help people before they hit the wall, and after too.
For teens and college students:
You don’t have to do this alone. You don’t have to have the perfect words. You just need a place to start saying the real stuff out loud. We’ve got couches, weird fidgets, snacks, and zero judgment.
For parents:
We help you figure out how to support your kid without losing yourself in the process. You don’t need a parenting manual. You just need someone in your corner.
And for friends:
If you’re the one everyone vents to, please hear this... you are not their therapist. You can love your people and recommend they get real help. That’s not betrayal. That’s care with boundaries.
At Northside, we’re not interested in being the place you go because you “should.” We’re the place you come when you’re ready to breathe, vent, unravel, and rebuild in a way that actually works.
We’re real. We’re human. We’re here.
GOOD LUCK THIS FALL! YOU GOT THIS!
