Author: Stephanie Siete, Executive Director (3PC)
As another school year begins, let it begin with the most valuable thing you can give your teen: a belief in their future. Start the school year by having conversations about dreams instead of just grades. Ask your teen what they hope to accomplish this year. What are they excited about? What challenges do they expect? Whether they dream of playing sports, performing in the school musical, attending college, learning a trade, or simply making new friends… help them see how today’s choices influence tomorrow’s opportunities. Want to add more value? Turn those dreams into written goals for the year and review them at the end of each grading period. (It is important to keep in mind these are their goals, not yours.)
Encourage your teen to surround themselves with positive friends who support their goals instead of distracting them from them. Remind teens that real confidence comes from making decisions they can be proud of—not from following the crowd. Celebrate effort, resilience, kindness, and responsibility just as much as academic success.
Most importantly, take advantage of available times to connect. Family dinners, rides to school, walks with the dog, or even a few uninterrupted minutes before bed create opportunities for meaningful conversations. Teens may not always show it, but they are listening. They notice your support, your consistency, and your belief in them.
Parents and grandparents play an incredibly powerful role in that journey. Research consistently shows that teens who feel connected to caring adults, have clear family expectations, and believe they have a bright future are more likely to make healthy choices and avoid risky behaviors like alcohol, vaping, marijuana, and other drugs. Goal setting is a great way to make that connection!
This school year, let’s challenge our teens to dream big, stay focused, and make choices that move them closer to the future they want. Every positive decision builds confidence, character, and resilience. Together, families and communities can empower young people to succeed in school, achieve their goals, and build healthy, substance-free lives.
The Peoria Primary Prevention Coalition (3PC) is a group of prevention leaders that provides free presentations to businesses, schools, parents, and community groups. We create awareness and understanding on current teen drug trends, vaping, opioids, fentanyl, and more—email stephanie.siete@3PCoalition.org to book a free presentation.