How the 4 C’s Can Help in the Transition from High School to College

Graduating from high school is a major life milestone. Receiving that diploma alongside friends who you’ve grown up with marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. But as each class of students makes the transition from high school to college, there are many who find the move to be a challenge that tests who they are at their very core. 

Transition from high school to college

As students transition from high school to college, they leave the comfort of their familiar homes, hallways, classrooms, classmates, and teachers. They enrol in courses that have increased standards of success and professors who expect them to deliver.

They’re faced with new social situations that may cause them to question their beliefs or introduce them to new ideas. And they’re separated from their friends and family who they’ve known for their whole lives and forced to forge connections with strangers. 

But all these new conditions of life that are introduced by the transition from high school to college can make for a very positive and transformative period for a young person. The challenges of this time may test who the person is, but they will also help build who the person is to become.

Ultimately, this transition from high school to college is much less daunting, and a lot more fun, for students who possess certain life skills, or who are willing to learn them and grow into stronger versions of themselves. 

A successful transition from high school to college is aided by what Leaders of Evolution call the 4 C’s, which stands for confidence, competence, character, and connectedness. Our Future Skills of the Workforce course can help your students learn the 4 C’s for their high school to college leap and beyond. Here’s a breakdown of the concepts that make the transition from high school to college a good one. 

Building confidence in yourself

It’s natural to feel uncomfortable whenever you enter new situations, and the transition from high school to college presents students with lots of them. But that discomfort loses its power when a student has confidence.

Leaders of Evolution defines confidence as the development of positive self-worth and the recognition that the learner can use the knowledge they gain to influence themselves and others. 

As students transition from high school to college, they’ll navigate new situations such as living in dorms and learning in large lecture halls. With confidence, these students will be empowered to improve themselves and those around them, rather than shrink and back down in the face of the unknown. 

With confidence, they’ll be able to knock on the doors of their neighbours’ rooms to make new friends, join student clubs to explore their interests, and exceed in the classroom.

Applying competence in the classroom

When students enrol in college courses, they may find that greater outcomes are expected of them compared to when they were in high school. Essays get longer, exams become more challenging, and readings take more time. 

What’s more, this transition from high school to college is often the first time in a student’s life that they have to face all their challenges on their own. They’ll find that they have to build a structure for themselves in order to maintain discipline as they attempt to balance their new-found freedom with their new-found responsibilities. 

But if a student has competence, they are well-positioned to grow and adapt to these new expectations. Leaders of Evolution defines competence as the skills the learner is developing, whether they be technical or tactical.

Competence is intrinsically linked to performance outcomes, so the more competent a student is, the better they will do in their new learning environment. 

Strengthening character in a new social environment

When students make the transition from high school to college, they do so at an age when they are all still trying to figure out who they are. The students with a strong sense of character end up being those that stand out and attract positivity. 

Leaders of Evolution defines character as to how the learner develops a sense of self-awareness and behaviours such as empathy, integrity, and responsibility within the communities where they apply their learning.

Self-awareness is the ability to have a strong understanding of who you are as a leader and as a person. It’s what motivates you, your strengths, and your goals. It’s how you manage your emotions and your impact on others.

Developing self-awareness is a lifelong pursuit. We never stop learning about ourselves. As we gain new experiences, we often move into new fields of learning or get motivated in an off-shoot of another passion.

The good news is, college is the perfect time to explore as many new fields and passions as we like. And as students move through their campuses with empathy, integrity, and responsibility, they’ll find like-minded people who share their interests and behaviours. Those commonalities will help students find a sense of connectedness in their transition from high school to college.

Finding connectedness on campus

The transition from high school to college can be a lonely and isolating time. Students might end up feeling disconnected from their families and friends back home. But with a future-forward mindset, they can focus on forging new connections that will be just as important to their development in the long run.

Leaders of Evolution defines connectedness as how the learner is able to establish and foster positive working relationships within the environments they apply their learning. 

Making friends at college and finding mentors in professors can be the most enriching parts of the college experience. The relationships a student forms in college are often powerful enough to give them a sense of connectedness that lasts a lifetime. And as a student develops a stronger sense of character and self-awareness, they may find that their college connections are their most sincere yet.

Meeting new people will give them a sense of connectedness and belonging in their community and help make the transition from high school to college as transformative as possible. 

How Leaders of Evolution can help

With our Future Skills of the Workforce course, you’ll be empowered to help your students prepare for a successful transition from high school to college.

Click here to learn more about how your students can learn to apply the 4 C’s in the next stage of their lives.