Wind Beneath My Wings

WRITTEN BY FATHIMA SHAHEEDA CASSIM CLASS OF 2025   

This article emphasizes the importance of the role of parents. How parental involvement can help boost academic growth and it also explores ways parents can help their child persevere through university and its challenges.   

INTRODUCTION   

Every individual has their own strength and capabilities. However, majority of us have a support system, who aid us to develop such qualities, and they take the backstage when we shine. It's no one but our parents. Parental support and encouragement do not end even though a child has started to pursue higher education, this is depicted by many studies. These studies claim that parental support helps to boost academic growth and aids the student to develop many beneficial personality traits. It influences the student’s ability to grow critical thinking patterns which is very helpful in academics, especially for aspiring medical professionals.  

HOW DOES PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT OCCUR AT A UNIVERSITY LEVEL?.  

Parental involvement usually starts as the child is about to graduate from high school. Talking about their aspirations for their children in a positive setting helps the child to cultivate self-belief. It helps them think that they are in fact capable of achieving those goals.   

Some parents actively involve themselves in the planning as they prepare their child for the transition from high school to university. They may help by choosing the ideal university that provides the necessary facilites and education that their child deserves in order to be successful in life. This transition can both be exciting and challenging to students. They learn about the raised academic expectations at university compared to high school and the pressures of various social settings. Unlike highschool, students have to learn to self- regulate their behavior and focus on their own learning. A parent’s relationship with their child can be very significant during these tribulations that he/she may face. 

PARENTAL SUPORT IN ACADEMICS.

A variety of factors play a major role in the academic performance of a student such as the classroom environment, a teacher's skill level, peer to peer relationships and of course the home environment which includes parental support. Parents who have good relationships with their children spend time socializing with each other and academic socialization is the usual mode of involvement.

They talk to their child about schedules, interests, extracurricular activities and social life which in a way encourages them to persist through college. The relationship that a parent has with their child helps to develop lifelong resourceful skills like self-efficacy and critical thinking.

 PARENTAL SOCIAL SUPPORT

This form of support plays a role in the basic needs of a child to feel loved, accepted, it gives them a safe space and a sense of belonging. Family values directly influence the student’s effort to succeed and gives them a sense of responsibility and develops dependability.

PARENT EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

Children face major changes after going to university especially moving out of their homes, trying to make new friends and thriving in a foreign environment. They feel more connected to their families as they learn to appreciate the constant support given to them by their parents. They start interacting more positively after being separated which increases the ability of the student to adjust better to their university life. Parents could call often and ask about their day-to-day activities just to show that no matter what, the child always has a safe space to turn to and talk about their stress whether it be academic or nonacademic.

PARENTS FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Parents who assist the student in paying the tuition, school supplies, food, accommodation and other miscellaneous spendings take a huge load off the student’s mind. It gives them much less to think about. The student can only focus on building their skills in the university and becoming successful individuals rather than worrying about how to pay bills.

HOW CAN PARENTS HELP WITH BUILDING PERSEVERANCE IN CHILD?

Family expectations: A study conducted by Tan 2020 showed that students who had high levels of parental expectations tended to show greater persistence in their studies as this would've served as a driving force in all their academic endeavors.

Educational priority: When parents prioritize education and state its importance within the household, students are more likely to internalize these values and grow a strong obligation to their academic pursuits.

Parenting styles: Parenting styles that holds a lot of warmth and encouragement tend to build resilience and strength in a child to go after their goals. Whereas, controlling parent styles may hinder their perseverance by instilling fear, building anxiety in the child which may break their confidence.

Autonomy: When parents motivate their child to take control of their own academic decisions and independent choices, it develops a sense of self determination in the child. The students feel a sense of control over their leaming experiences. and they develop intrinsic motivation. Over time, they can independently practice resilience without relying on external influences.

HOW TO MEASURE PERSEVERANCE 

HOW CAN WE IMOROVE GRIT?.

Learning strategies such as “RESET-P-GOALS” aid the medical institute teachers to incorporate useful skills such as reflective writing, time management skills, growth mindset exercises, and mentoring programs in their curriculum. Parents can help with sharing their life experiences for motivation, encouragement on effort, enrolling their child into simulation programs to increase their interest.

CONCLUSION

Parental involvement and encouragement can shape = the mind of a child. It builds strength and perseverance. It could be the driving force that makes the child get through all the challenges that he/she may face at university. Parents should build a relationship of trust with their children during their childhood in order to be the pillar of strength that they can turn to during hardships and when they need someone to talk to about their adversities during university life. All the above stated ways are the foundation of building a successful, responsible, and independent individual that would contribute to the community as a whole