How Does Attendance at a School for Troubled Teens Impact Their Future Opportunities?

Schools for troubled teens or therapeutic boarding schools provide intensive therapy, academic programs, and a structured living environment. These schools provide the help many teens so desperately need with their emotional, psychological, or behavioral issues. But it’s natural for parents to wonder what will happen when their teen graduates from that school and becomes an adult. Will their future opportunities be affected because their record shows they attended a school for troubled teens? Will employers hold that against them? Will they be able to enroll in college or post high school training programs?

What the Records Will Show

Troubled teens generally get in trouble at school, get failing grades in their classes, and get in trouble with the law. While attending a school for troubled teens, or a therapeutic boarding school, teens are able to work through their emotional, psychological, or behavioral issues. They learn better ways to cope with their problems, rather than acting out and getting into trouble. They are less likely to break the law and get arrested, or be expelled from school. They also get academic help and earn the credits they need to graduate. When future employers or school admissions offices look at your teen’s records, they will see that your teen has a high school diploma and no police record, or at least, no recent arrests as an adult, because of their time spent at a therapeutic boarding school.

Overcame Adversity

Potential employers or schools will take note that your teen has learned to overcome adversity. By completing the program at a school for troubled teens, your teen demonstrates that they were able to turn their lives around, take responsibility, and deal with their problems. Going through therapy takes hard work and commitment. Going to live at a therapeutic boarding school means adapting to an entirely new environment, learning the rules, meeting new people, and adjusting to the changes. Graduating from a school for troubled teens shows that your teen accepted the challenge and did the work required, improving their life and achieving a diploma at the same time.

Developed Important Life Skills

Students in schools for troubled teens learn to develop healthy social relationships, to support their fellow students, and to cooperate and encourage each other. They learn about being respectful and compassionate with others. They participate in group activities and socialize without aggressive or bullying behaviors. They are required to do chores, such as laundry, housekeeping and cooking. They are taught about responsibility, and they are held accountable for their choices and behaviors.They take classes in leadership and participate in community service projects. All of these skills and experiences are desirable to employers.

Achieved Goals

Both employers and post-secondary schools want people who are mature and reliable, who are ready to learn and willing to cooperate with others. Completion of a program at a school for troubled teens indicates that your teen successfully met the challenges they faced, earned their diploma, and developed skills that will make them valuable employees and successful students.

Their Future Starts Today

While it’s normal to be concerned about your teen’s future, you also need to consider your teen’s present behavior. If they have emotional, psychological, or behavioral issues, and they’re already having trouble at home, at school, and with the law, you need to step in and put them on a different path. Opportunities are much more limited for an adult with a police record and no diploma. Provide for a better future by getting them the help they need right now. A therapeutic boarding school can put your teen on the path to a better future. They will get help with their problems, earn credits for graduation, and learn useful life skills that will help them in both their private and work lives. They will gain confidence from overcoming their challenges and achieving goals. As mature and responsible adults, they will be ready to succeed at work or in college.