Even if you don’t have kids yourself, you probably have heard children wonder why they must go to school or study various subjects that seem useless to them. You may even remember these questions from your own childhood. You don’t have to be a parent to influence a child’s life by promoting a love of learning or helping an older teen get ready for college. Whether you’re a mentor, an aunt or uncle, or you spend a lot of time with friends’ children, there is plenty you can do to support education in their lives.
Co-sign on a Student Loan
This is a big one, but practically speaking, it can also be one of the biggest ways you can help. If you know a college-bound older teen whose parent can’t co-sign a student loan, you can step into this role. When it comes to private loans for school, students may struggle to get approved because they lack a credit history. However, federal aid, scholarships and savings are often not enough to cover all the costs of a college education. Private loans can make the difference between going and not going. As an Earnest student loan cosigner, you may help someone get the money they need to attend college.
Help with Preparing for College
Co-signing on a student loan is a big step. There are plenty of other ways to help and encourage college-bound teens, including helping them research schools and better understand the application process. They may also need help finding other funding sources, such as scholarships. You can advise them on what to look for when choosing a college, such as a strong program in an area that interests them or the overall campus culture.
Talk to Them About Education
For younger children, discussing education in a positive way and talking about their schoolwork can be important, especially if no other adults in their life do this. Ask them what classes they like and don’t like, and why. As they get older, you can start talking more about the specifics of education, what interests them, and what they want out of it. For example, if they want to move to a different school, help them know what to look for in an educational establishment. For example, look at charter school accreditation, curricula, success rates, and more. Talk about college as a natural progression after graduating from high school.
Answer Questions
You can also let the young person in your life know that you’re available to answer questions. Sometimes, it helps kids have someone who isn’t a parent or teacher to talk to about struggles at school or the career path they might eventually follow. Even if you aren’t in a formal mentoring position, you can act as one by sharing your perspective from when you faced similar issues. Of course, you should speak to parents, teachers, or other responsible adults if the child is having any serious issues, but as long as this not the case, simply offering your own perspective can be valuable in many situations.
