Hi S.-
I'm a high school teacher - I have 9th and 12th graders this year. From my experience with my 12th graders, I find that everything for them feels like it falls apart for 12th grade. At the beginning of the 12th grade year, it REALLY starts to sink in that LIFE IS CHANGING and it's unstoppable- I think it FREAKS them out. Friends start to pull away from each other (I think they do this unconsciously because they know their time together is limited now), they feel tremendous pressure about getting into the school of their choice, they still want to excel in school but are sick of it and are outgrowing it by the second. It's just HARD stuff. I think Senior year is the worst year of all. Plus, they're going to be leaving home and living on their own soon AND they're supposed to be sooooo happy about that-it's just not cool to be scared about being on your own for the first time. It's big, grown-up stuff for a formerly little girl. I think it's a big adjustment.
I think you're doing the right thing by taking her to a counselor and talking to her guidance counselor and principal. Don't be afraid to reach out to a favorite teacher- just because they're big doesn't mean anything. I love to talk to my kids' parents. The lexapro might be having the opposite effect- there's been a lot of research and articles lately on the effects of anti-depressants in adolescents. I'd be inclined to take her off the medicine and increase her 'talk-therapy'. Check with the school to see if they have a 'student assistance counselor' (SAC). This person is a great resource too. (Our SAC is amazing!!!)
Things will get better for her as the year goes on- the winter's bound to be stinky- but as we get closer to prom and graduation, the kids seem to pull back together because their colleges have accepted them, the stress is off, the end is in sight, the fun stuff is coming up fast, and they seem to realize this and want to be together to celebrate these things.
Feel free to email or even call me if you'd like- I could talk about teenagers forever. I started this as a job that I thought would be pretty cool and soon fell so in love that I can't imagine that other people don't want to talk about kids all day long! Imagine that! ;-)
Take care-
C.
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