Summer is coming to a quick end, making sure that you and your child are prepared for the school year is important. The end of summer marks the beginning of the back-to-school season. This can mean new classrooms, emotions, teachers or the start of a new chapter. No matter what age your child is, ensuring they have the proper support is a must.
From grade school to college, the transition can feel uneasy and you may feel unsure of what is to come for your student. However, Metropolitan Community College (MCC) (mccneb.edu) focuses on making the transition as smooth as possible for your student and helping them find their interests.
Beyond helping students adjust to campus life, MCC also provides resources that prepare them for future careers, connecting their interests, strengths and academic pursuits. For example, they can get connected with job shadowing, internships and other career opportunities.
“We partner with faculty, industry partners and campus departments to help students see how the knowledge and skills they gain in the classroom translate to meaningful careers,” said Mervin Vasser, MCC Director of Career Experiences. “Our services include career advising, career assessments, resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews and job and internship searches through Handshake, a career platform that connects students with opportunities.”
Vasser also adds that MCC offers employer information sessions, networking events, career fairs and classroom presentations that introduce students to career pathways and industry expectations.
Recognizing the growing role of technology in hiring and career development, MCC is incorporating artificial intelligence into its career services. This helps with career paths, strengthening application materials such as resumes and developing other skills along the way.
“As new academic programs like Biotechnology continue to grow, MCC Career Experiences is working closely with faculty and industry partners to connect students with experiential learning opportunities,” said Vasser. “These initiatives reflect the College’s commitment to integrating emerging technologies with career development; ensuring students are equipped with the knowledge, skills and experiences to succeed in a rapidly changing job market.”
Taking advantage of these services is a great way to get a jump on the future and the endless possible opportunities that come along the way. Having the flexibility to pursue them is important for today’s traditional college students and adult learners
Metropolitan Community College understands that your student will be balancing a lot, this may be including academics, work, family and other responsibilities that your student has. To support students with busy lives, MCC offers options designed to fit a variety of schedules.
“That’s why we offer flexible learning options designed to meet students where they are,” said Vasser. “Whether someone is seeking a degree, a certificate, new workforce skills or simply wants to take a class for personal or professional growth, MCC provides pathways that fit a variety of schedules and goals.”
For more information about Metropolitan Community College visit mccneb.edu.
Back-to-school is a busy time for families. A clean home can make those busy mornings and evening feel less stressful. New Start Cleaning (newstartcleaningllc.com) is a perfect choice to help your family get ready to go back-to-school.
New Start Cleaning’s goal is to help take one thing off your plate and give their clients more time to focus on their families while knowing their home is in good hands. They focus on getting the home clean, fresh, and ready for a new routine by cleaning the areas families use most such as kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and living spaces.
New Start Cleaning is a local, family-owned business that treats every home with care and respect. They take pride in being reliable, paying attention to the little details, and providing consistent service. Whether you are looking for regular house cleaning during the year or a one-time deep clean, their experienced residential house cleaners will transform your space.
For more information on New Start Cleaning visit newstartcleaningllc.com.
If you or your student is looking at universities, Wayne State College (wsc.edu) might be the perfect fit for you.
Wayne State has a wide range of resources that ensure students are healthy, safe, and supported including peer tutoring, academic and career advising, health and wellness facilities, counseling services, and 100+ clubs and organizations.
This fall, Wayne State will be breaking ground the Brandenburg Student Success Center. This center is designed to create a centralized hub for academic support, career development, financial services, and student resources – an all in one accessible, welcoming location.
Wayne State is also here to help you with the more challenging aspects of going to college. If you are worried about managing costs, you should know that 44% of students graduated with no student loan debt. If you are concerned with your career and return on investment, WSC works with you every step of the way to ensure you are career ready.
Wayne State offers one-one one career advising that ensures students will be successful when they graduate. Their Academic and Career success center is excited to help students choose a direction, stay on track, and prepare for what’s next. They also have a marquee Career Scholars program that ensures students are tied directly to their careers during their time in college. The program engages students in an accelerated three-year curriculum with a full year of professional experience by the time they are done.
For more information about WSC visit wsc.edu.
While finding the right school is important and having a clean home can calm those busy back to school mornings, making sure your child is getting the proper care is a priority. School can bring on many different and new emotions for your child so ensuring they have extra support can set them up for success.
Themis Gomes, CEO, at Behaven Kids (behavenkids.com) share more insight on children’s mental health and how you can support your child through the school year.
“Children’s mental health doesn’t always look like sadness or anxiety. It often appears through behavior changes like irritability, frequent meltdowns, withdrawal, trouble sleeping, headaches, stomachaches or difficulty concentrating. These behaviors can be a child’s way of communicating they’re struggling or need more support.
As children return to school, parents should watch for persistent changes such as anxiety about school, physical complaints without a medical cause, changes in sleep or appetite, declining grades, emotional outbursts or loss of interest in activities. If these changes continue or interfere with daily life, it may be time to seek support.
Technology and social media can be both beneficial and challenging. While they help children stay connected, they can also increase exposure to cyberbullying, unrealistic comparisons and inappropriate content. Parents can help by setting healthy screen-time boundaries, encouraging device-free family time, keeping communication open and modeling balanced technology use.
One of the best ways to support your child is through a consistent daily check-in. Spend a few distraction-free minutes asking questions like, “What made you smile today?” or “Was anything difficult?” These conversations help children feel safe sharing their thoughts and emotions.
Most importantly, don’t dismiss your child’s feelings. Comments like “It’s not a big deal” can discourage future communication. Instead, acknowledge their emotions by saying, “I can see this is really hard for you.” Validation doesn’t mean agreeing with every behavior, but it does let your child know they’re heard. Feeling understood builds trust, resilience and encourages children to seek support when they need it!”
For more information about Behaven Kids visit behavenkids.com.
At the end of the day, preparation can help any nerves you and your child may have for the upcoming school year. But there is no reason to go into it alone. Know that there are resources and support all around. Wishing you a stress-free back-to-school season, good luck!