A letter about letting go, holding on, and the beautiful year ahead.

Dear Mom,

I know the feeling.

It’s the moment you look across the kitchen and realize your child is suddenly taller than you. The face you once held between your hands is beginning to look more like an adult’s. The little boy or girl who once needed you for everything is becoming someone who can do so much on their own.

And somewhere in the middle of an ordinary Tuesday, it hits you.

Next year, you’ll be sending graduation invitations.

Next year, you’ll be taking senior pictures, ordering a cap and gown, and wondering how on earth the years managed to move so quickly.

Next year, you’ll be preparing to send a piece of your heart into the world.

But not quite yet, Mom.

You still have this year.

And what a beautiful, important year it is.

You Have a Front-Row Seat to Something Extraordinary

The year ahead is one of the most significant seasons in your child’s life so far.

There will be exciting moments, difficult decisions, unexpected changes, and conversations about a future that once seemed impossibly far away.

You will watch your teenager begin to imagine a life beyond the one you’ve built together.

You will see glimpses of the adult they’re becoming.

And you will have a front-row seat to the miracle of it all.

There is something extraordinary about watching a child grow into their own person. Someone with their own opinions, dreams, convictions, and ideas about the world.

You helped build the foundation.

Now you get to watch them discover what they want to build upon it.

It is a wonderful time of life.

And, if we’re being perfectly honest, a little heartbreaking, too.

The Last Firsts Are Coming

Soon, the calendar will begin filling with moments that carry a little more weight than they used to.

The last first day of school.

The last first game of the season.

The last homecoming.

The last concert, performance, competition, or school dance.

And eventually, the last last day of school.

Some of these moments will announce themselves with photographs, flowers, and celebrations.

Others will slip quietly past you.

You may not realize that an ordinary afternoon was the last time your child would do something they’ve done a hundred times before.

That’s part of what makes this season so tender.

We spend years teaching our children how to grow up, and then one day, we realize they’ve been listening.

And somehow, we are surprised.

When They Begin to Pull Away, Don’t Take It Personally

Toward the end of junior year and throughout senior year, something interesting often happens.

The teenager who once told you everything may become a little quieter.

The child who wanted your opinion on every decision may suddenly have very strong opinions of their own.

They may spend more time with friends, close their bedroom door more often, or seem less interested in the family activities they once loved.

You may feel a little distance growing between you.

Mom, this can be a natural part of growing up.

Your teenager is beginning to explore what independence feels like while still enjoying the security of knowing you’re nearby.

They want to make decisions.

They want to discover who they are.

They want to know whether they can navigate the world without someone holding their hand.

And yet, they still want to know you’ll answer the phone.

They still want to know they can come home.

They still need you, even when they aren’t particularly good at showing it.

So give them room to grow.

Let them explore.

Let them make some decisions that aren’t the ones you would have made.

And when they come back to you with questions, worries, or a change of heart, make sure they know there is always a place for them beside you.

Your role is changing, Mom. Your importance is not.

Listen More Than You Plan

This is especially important when the college conversations begin.

One afternoon, your student may announce that they want to attend college halfway across the country.

Two days later, they may decide that the community college down the street sounds wonderful because they aren’t quite ready to leave home.

They may want to become a doctor in October and discover a passion for architecture in February.

They may have their entire future planned out on Monday and absolutely no idea what they want to do by Friday.

Let them explore.

Listen.

Ask questions.

Resist the urge to turn every conversation into a decision that must be made immediately.

Your student is learning to imagine a future that belongs to them.

And sometimes, the most valuable thing you can do is create a safe place for them to think out loud.

You don’t have to have every answer.

You just need to keep the conversation open.

Now, Let’s Talk About the Practical Side of Junior Year

As much as I want you to enjoy this season, I also want you to feel prepared.

Junior year is an important time to begin laying the groundwork for college admissions, scholarships, career exploration, and financial planning.

A little preparation now can make senior year considerably less stressful.

Here are a few things I encourage families to focus on.

1. Make a Thoughtful Plan for the SAT and ACT

Standardized testing has changed considerably over the years, and colleges do not all follow the same admissions policies.

Some require test scores. Others are test-optional or test-free. Scholarship programs may have their own testing requirements.

Begin by looking at the policies of colleges your student is considering.

If testing makes sense for your student, junior year is an excellent time to develop a plan.

You can register for the SAT through College Board and the ACT through ACT.

I also encourage families to take advantage of free preparation resources before spending thousands of dollars on private test prep.

College Board’s Bluebook offers official digital SAT practice tests, and Khan Academy provides free SAT preparation.

Taking a test more than once may be beneficial. Some colleges superscore, meaning they combine a student’s highest section scores from different test dates, but policies vary by institution.

My advice? Develop a reasonable testing plan, prepare intentionally, and remember that a test score is only one part of your student’s story.

Don’t let testing steal the joy from this season.

2. Pay Attention to What Makes Your Student Come Alive

One of my favorite parts of working with students is helping them discover the connection between their natural strengths and their future possibilities.

I believe that when we pay attention to what a student genuinely enjoys, we often find clues about careers they may love.

Notice what captures their attention.

What do they talk about without being prompted?

What problems do they enjoy solving?

What activities make them lose track of time?

What comes naturally to them?

The student who loves video games may be fascinated by computer science, animation, digital storytelling, or game design.

The student who enjoys organizing events may discover an interest in business, hospitality, or project management.

The teenager who loves helping younger children may find fulfillment in education, healthcare, or child development.

And the student who hasn’t discovered a passion yet?

That’s perfectly fine, too.

Junior year is a wonderful time to explore careers, investigate college majors, talk with professionals, and discover possibilities.

Your student doesn’t need to know exactly what they want to do for the rest of their life. They simply need opportunities to discover what might be worth exploring next.

3. Take a Road Trip Together

This may be my favorite recommendation.

Get in the car.

Visit a few colleges.

Walk around campus. Eat in the dining hall. Sit on a bench. Visit the library. Ask questions.

And please, don’t limit your visits to the schools with the most recognizable names.

Visit a large university and a small college.

Explore a community college.

Look at a school close to home and one a few hours away.

Give your student the opportunity to experience different environments before deciding what feels right.

You may be surprised by what they discover.

The college they thought they would love may not feel like the right fit once they arrive.

The school they agreed to visit only because you suggested it may become their favorite.

And somewhere between the campus tours, roadside lunches, and conversations in the car, you may discover something else.

You’re getting to know your child in an entirely new way.

Don’t underestimate the value of that time together.

4. Begin Thinking About Recommendation Letters

As junior year comes to a close, encourage your student to identify teachers, counselors, or mentors who know them well and can speak meaningfully about their character, abilities, and accomplishments.

April and May can be an excellent time to ask teachers whether they would be willing to write a recommendation for the upcoming application season.

Have your student prepare a current résumé or brag sheet that includes academic accomplishments, activities, leadership, work experience, volunteer service, and personal interests.

A thoughtful recommendation tells a story about the student beyond the transcript.

And please, encourage your student to write a handwritten thank-you note.

It’s a small gesture that communicates genuine appreciation.

Follow each college’s instructions for submitting recommendations. Many colleges receive letters directly from teachers or counselors through their application systems rather than through copies provided to students.

5. Begin the Scholarship Search Before Senior Year

This is where I want families to pay particular attention.

Please don’t wait until your student has been accepted to college to begin thinking about how you’re going to pay for it.

Start the conversations now.

Explore the actual cost of attendance at colleges your student is considering.

Learn the difference between scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study.

Investigate local scholarships, employer tuition benefits, community foundations, and institutional merit aid.

Look for scholarships that accept applications from high school juniors.

And perhaps most importantly, begin talking openly about what your family can realistically afford.

These conversations don’t have to be frightening or uncomfortable.

They can be empowering.

When students understand the financial picture early, they can make more informed decisions about where to apply, which scholarships to pursue, and what kind of education will help them reach their goals without unnecessary financial strain.

A beautiful college acceptance is even sweeter when it comes with a financial plan your family can live with.

6. Remember That You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone

There is an extraordinary amount of information available to families preparing for college.

And sometimes, that’s part of the problem.

One person tells you to focus on test scores. Another says test scores don’t matter.

One article recommends applying to twenty colleges. Another recommends five.

Everyone seems to have an opinion, and somehow you’re expected to become an expert in admissions, scholarships, financial aid, and career planning while continuing to be a parent.

It’s a lot.

That’s why I created Imagine Scholarships.

I wanted families to have access to the information, tools, and encouragement they need to navigate this process with greater confidence.

Whether you need guidance through our videos, courses, scholarship resources, and planning tools or would benefit from personalized college coaching, we’re here to help.

You don’t have to know everything.

You just need to know where to turn when you have questions.

And One Last Thing, Mom…

Please don’t spend this entire year preparing for the day your child leaves.

I know there are applications to complete, scholarships to find, colleges to visit, and decisions to make.

Those things matter.

But so does tonight.

So does the ordinary conversation in the kitchen.

The unexpected invitation to grab lunch.

The music playing in the car.

The way they laugh with their friends.

The moments when they still curl up beside you on the couch, even though their feet hang over the edge.

Enjoy this remarkable teenager you’ve been given the privilege of raising.

Take the pictures.

Ask the questions.

Listen to the stories, even when you’ve heard them before.

Say yes to the little moments.

And when you catch yourself looking at your child and wondering where the years have gone, remember that growing up is exactly what you have been preparing them to do.

You have spent years teaching them how to walk, how to speak, how to think, how to love, and how to find their way.

Now comes the beautiful privilege of watching them use what you’ve taught them.

They may not always need your hand.

But they will always need your love.

And one day, when you watch them walk across that graduation stage, I hope you remember that you didn’t simply raise a high school graduate.

You helped raise a person who is ready to begin writing a story of their own.

What a privilege it has been to help them write the first chapters.

With love and encouragement,

Sherri Ross

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