How should I welcome my former students to adulthood?

[Luopio27]

It's been 10 years since I started internships in after school activity clubs & elementary schools. Next year the those in 1st grade are now 18 and 6th grade are 23!

The teachers, sudents & staff together gave me the inner peace while I was an intern, learning to become a substitute teacher. In my childhood (because of ADHD diagnose) I was raised to believe I will never become normal, dont even dream of entreprenuership, uni degrees or anything, all because of childhood diagnose. In the primary school I was thaught how to succeed, even parents started saying my work had made me important not just to the kids but to the whole families as well. Those who graduate unis, get the title of qualified, I got the title of being important. After the internships were over I became a youth worker, a substitute teacher without the title of qualified teacher because its lower leven career school, not uni!

What I want is to make one letter to those entire age groups, welcoming them to adulthood. This is not the future I could have warned them about. We are each year closer to WW3, news papers filled with generals speculating nuclear wars. In adulthood, I learned the hard way hierarchy based abuse of power, over complex/counter productive byrokracy, the real quality of public services, and how hard life can get for those that fall behind from the mainstream. There is so much that schools just dont prepare students for all the good, great, bad & worse of adulthood!

Hardest is to decide what to tell them and what not to! Then comes the how, when, where and even the question of professional distance, the question of should this be done at all?

[Oliverlogan263]

Wow, that's really cool that you've been able to stay connected with those students over the years, even though your journey didn't quite go as planned. It's awesome that you were able to have such a positive impact on them, even if you didn't end up with the traditional "qualified" teacher title.

I think it's a great idea to reach out and welcome them to adulthood. They're probably going through a lot of big changes and uncertainty right now, so having that encouragement and wisdom from someone they trust could mean a lot.

The key is to strike the right balance - you want to be real with them about the challenges of adulthood, but not scare them or make them feel hopeless. Focus on sharing the lessons you've learned the hard way, and emphasize that even though life can get tough, they have the strength and resilience to overcome it.

Maybe talk about how school doesn't always prepare you for the realities of the "real world", but that's okay. Validate their feelings of being overwhelmed, but also remind them of how capable they are. Share some practical tips for navigating things like finances, mental health, and relationships. And most importantly, let them know you believe in them and are there to support them.

As for the logistics, I'd suggest doing a group email or even a short video message that you can share with the whole graduating class. That way it feels personal, but you maintain that professional distance. And make it clear you're available if anyone wants to reach out one-on-one, but don't force it.

The main thing is to come from a place of genuine care and encouragement. You've already had such a positive impact on these kids, and I'm sure they'll really appreciate you taking the time to wish them well as they enter this new chapter of their lives. Just speak from the heart, and I'm sure it'll mean the world to them.

[Luopio27]

Thank you for your great and thoughtful answer. Let's start with the logistics as you described. I thaught hundreds of kids on my intern years and now as a full time substitute teacher I have over 1000 students to teach in 15 schools. Maybe I can ask a news company to publish my letter to the new generation of adults so it reaches all. That is easier shared by masses! We do not have any email adresses and contacting them on social media can give wrong signals, like in instagram, if I was to follow a former girl student and press the like button thats shaped as a hearth, it can get wrong signals spreading like wild fire.

Based on your answer, maybe one advice per area of life would be short & sweet. Like dating world advice would be not to let anyone fight over you. Most fights cops settle are those situations involving two guys and a girl!

In schools, justice is equal. In adulthood, the justice system works best for those highly inteligent or rich enough to get a good lawyer. This is only the tip of the iceberg of realities that schools can't prepare the kids for, especially special needs class students to match the standards of employers!

[Oliverlogan263]

I hear you, that's a really thoughtful idea to try and reach all your former students through a published letter. That could be a great way to share your wisdom and perspective with the wider group, while still maintaining appropriate boundaries.

I like the idea of keeping the advice short and sweet - one or two key points per major area of life. That'll make it digestible and impactful without feeling overbearing.

The point you raise about the justice system is a really important one. School does such a poor job of preparing kids, especially those with special needs, for the harsh realities they'll face as adults trying to navigate things like the legal system. Sharing that insight could be hugely valuable.

Maybe you could also touch on things like personal finance, mental health, and navigating the workforce. Those are all areas where people often feel totally unprepared when they hit adulthood.

The key is striking the right tone - honest and empathetic, without being overly pessimistic. Acknowledge the challenges, but also inspire them to face adulthood with resilience and optimism.

If you can get a local news outlet to publish it, that could be a great way to reach a wide audience of your former students in a professional, appropriate way. Just be thoughtful about the specific advice you choose to include.

I think this is a really admirable idea. Your students are so lucky to have had you as a mentor, and this could be an awesome way to continue supporting them as they embark on this new chapter. Let me know if you need any other suggestions as you put this together!

[Anonymous]

Tell them to think for themselves and never accept anyone else's claims or the first answer they hear. I know the contradicts your perspective from the education system side, but it would do them a tremendous load of good if they master that skill now instead of when they're shot-out, bitter middle aged people.

[Luopio27]

Free will, right to question the society, & looking at many people's perspective before judgin others is what you pointed out and I believe in 100%. If the system dictates our thoughts, feelings, opinions and everything it can, it becomes dictatorship.

Also getting the skills needed in life, is very poorly implimented in schools due to overflow of academic stuff. This is why many fail in life.

I mean not everyone in business, politics and elswhere play by the fairest of rules! Whistleblowers get punished for doing the right thing!

[AI Opinion]

Reflecting on personal and shared growth, welcome them with encouragement and optimism. Acknowledge life's unpredictability yet celebrate resilience and personal dreams. Highlight how education and real-world experience blend over time, preparing them for various challenges. Share insights about facing adversity and the importance of kindness and perseverance. Encourage them to stay hopeful and adaptable, emphasizing that adulthood is a journey of continuous learning and self-discovery. End with a reminder that they're not alone, and their impact on others is invaluable. Keep the message genuine and heartfelt, focusing on empathy and inspiration.

[KrakenAttackin]

It's not your job to see they properly adjusted, they will have to do that for themselves.

[Luopio27]

Yes you are on to something! I just want to believe that the yongest generation of adults today will leave the world a bit better than our generation!

I guess thats wishful thinking!

[KrakenAttackin]

Every generation has its issues with the next generation, but the Gen Z shit show might doom us all. I don't blame Gen Z for being upset about home prices and basic living costs (I'm Gen X and I feel the same way). The female
Gen Z wokeness and entitlement is on a biblical scale. For the salvation of the West the Gen Z men are going to have to step up and take on the difficult and dangerous tasks required in an economy. The problem is there isn't any motivation for the Gen Z men to step up for a society that openly detests them and sees them as predatory for just being male. A person can only go so long being called a villain for just existing before he loses all motivation.

This is the world your students are entering.

[Luopio27]

The world is messed up on so many levels.