Starting boarding school is scary for most teenagers, even when they act like there are no problems. It’s important to talk to the teenager to know how they feel during this time. Some teens may be anxious, some excited, and select adolescents may feel both emotions.
Parents should try speaking to teens to figure out what they look forward to and what makes them worried. It’s challenging to know what’s on the mind of teens without engaging them in specific conversations. Here are some of the common emotions teenagers face.
Anger
When facing boarding school, teenagers struggle to vent appropriately. Anger in most teens is a typical expression of emotion, but it extends beyond norma,l disrespectful behavior. For many adolescents, feeling anger is a healthy emotional response to stressors. Examples of stressors in a boarding school may include feelings of homesickness or academic pressure. Unlike some other emotions, anger is a secondary emotion. This feeling masks other issues, including hurt, fear, shame, and sadness. When these other underlying emotions become more challenging to handle, the teenagers may lash out. Adolescence can be stressful. So many teens lash out. When teenagers feel angry, there are various triggers. Here are some to note:- Low self-esteem
- Grief
- Victim of bullying
- Traumatic event
- Substance abuse
Fear
Teenagers can feel high levels of fear when entering boarding school. These adolescents are leaving their homes for the first time and may not know what to expect. Hence, fear is a normal feeling that arises when vulnerable and unsure. Note that some teens are more sensitive to fears than others are and may find it challenging to overcome them. With teens, anxiety may accompany fear and could become chronic, affecting their school performance. If you observe your teen is showing signs of excessive fear, it could be because of feelings of anxiety. In most cases, these teenagers may complain about feeling muscle tension, fatigue, and pain in their back and limbs. When you observe fear in your teenager, try to speak with them about these fears. Be sure to listen carefully and respectfully to their vocal expression of these fears. Without discounting those feelings, ensure the adolescent understands those feelings are a natural of teenage growth.Loneliness
When facing boarding school, teenagers often feel waves of loneliness. Since they are leaving home to a surrounding they don’t fully comprehend, it’s common to stay in their shells. It’s advisable for teenagers to find new activities and new friends to spend time with to combat the feeling of loneliness. Teenagers may need to take a bold step to help feelings of loneliness. Some of these include:- Getting out of the comfort zone: Try to leave your comfort zone and make friends with new people. Most teens ultimately find people with like minds to relate to within school.
- Not being afraid to ask for help: When a teenager experiences a challenge in school, it’s advisable to always reach out for help.
- Staying organized: To get the most out of every experience in school, it’s imperative to plan well and stay organized.
Shyness
Teenagers may feel shy in boarding school and try to cover up those feelings by acting boisterous. For this reason, advise your teen to make new friends and ask basic questions relating to where they live or their hobbies. If you observe your teen feeling shy or less confident, here are some tips that may help:- Help them discover their talents
- Compliment their good efforts
- Encourage them to meet new people
- Teach assertiveness skills
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