Favorite Fanmail: Divorced Dad Helps Struggling Teen Daughters Slip Into Harvard

It still thrills me to get email messages from parents and students who have read my book, The New Global Student.  I’m lucky that I get that thrill several times a week, and since it’s August and everyone is refocusing on school, I’ve been getting a lot of mail from parents lately.  Many are taking the ideas in the book and running with them, happily discovering resources that are changing the lives of their kids.

This week, I heard from a single dad whose two teenage daughters had been living with their mother for the last few years and were failing in high school despite being smart and doing well throughout their elementary and middle school years.   (This is a common refrain I hear from single parents whose kids are going through a tough transition in the family while navigating the extra work and social challenges of high school.)

Here’s an excerpt from his message to me:

I just wanted to write a brief note to say THANK YOU for your awesome book. It had such an impact that I bought 5 extra copies to lend/give to other parents and educators AND a Kindle copy for me to take when I travel.

Three months ago, it became necessary to recover custody of my two teenage daughters from my ex.  She had completely neglected them in every way…especially their education. The 16 year old had failed 9th grade twice and the 15 yr old once! They were both A students during the first 5 years that they lived with me…then struggled terribly during the last 5 years with her.

I had no idea how I was going to get them caught up, let alone motivate them to want to continue on to college. Then, in my frantic flurry of research for a “Bold School” method of educating my girls…I found your book!  It was a life saver!

Because of your book, my views on the GED (among countless other things) were re-framed and it became the best option for my daughters. They were both excited to take the test.

Your ideas caused me to continue my research on how to transition them to college and get them start started online… and at an amazing college program… Harvard University Extension School ! Yes! THE REAL HARVARD! They have an open enrollment program… skip the traditional enrollment process and the expense! Undergrad Courses only cost an average of $1000 per course. (about the same as a public university) They offer Associate and Bachelors Degree programs as well as Graduate Degree programs. Anyone can enroll…anyone.

So thanks to you, my daughters’ education and future has been snatched from the pit of failure. Not only will they finish their secondary education, but they are now registered as students and are excited about starting their first class at Harvard next month!

Deeply grateful,

R

Great, huh?  In addition to being thrilled about the Harvard online option this resourceful dad sang the praises of k12 and a great site I often recommend:  Khan Academy Find more distance learning options by cruising through guides to online schools.

Maybe you loved high school, or maybe you just managed to get through it. Either way, your son or daughter may be having a very different experience than you did, and it’s important to listen to their concerns.  The world has changed, and your job as a parent is to help your student thrive in it.

Whether your kids are struggling through the consequences of a divorce or just ready to consider a more personalized and fulfilling path through high school, I invite you to look into the many fantastic alternatives available.

You never know what a little digging might reveal–and how it could change the life of your child forever.

Psst:  You might start by checking out the inspiring student stories in my book.