How can I get my son to focus?

Flyonthewall

Potternerd wrote: »

I'm not so worried about him not knowing what he wants to do, I think that's fine at his age. My real concern is that he won't do well in his GCSEs and will start closing off his options because he isn't bothered or mature enough to see them as gateway to other things. Xbox is downstairs it in his room

Well from what you said he does have a bit of an idea and if you look at options now he might feel more motivated to do well if he can see something to aim towards.

It doesn't have to be a specific course or route, but if he has a few options that interest him then at least he can see what results he is likely to need to go down one of them routes (or something similar).

You never know, when you start looking into it more he may see the perfect option and realise exactly what he wants to do and try much harder.

I think you're worrying too much for a couple of reasons.

One, your main concern is (as above) something you can try to do something about.

Two, he can always redo any of his GCSEs if he needs to. It's not really a big deal, he could do one or two while doing another course or working.

Also, you seem to be assuming he's not thinking ahead. He thought about doing something with media. Do you know for sure he's not already thought more about his future?

He's still young and school work may not always be that interesting, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care about his GCSEs.

missbiggles1

Potternerd wrote: »

I'm not so worried about him not knowing what he wants to do, I think that's fine at his age. My real concern is that he won't do well in his GCSEs and will start closing off his options because he isn't bothered or mature enough to see them as gateway to other things. Xbox is downstairs it in his room

He doesn't need to know what he wants to do ultimately but he really ought to have at least some idea what he wants to do next, or else how can he apply for courses and/or apprenticeships in the next few months?

Apart from anything else, knowing he needs certain grades may well be just the motivation he needs.

pollypenny

Potternerd wrote: »

He really has no idea, but says vaguely " something in the media". He is quite immature

I don't want to sound harsh, but 'something in the media' is the unrealistic dream of so many .

missbiggles1

pollypenny wrote: »

I don't want to sound harsh, but 'something in the media' is the unrealistic dream of so many .

Thank heavens somebody was honest enough to say that rather than to just encourage him in it - I was biting my keyboard!

Flyonthewall

pollypenny wrote: »

I don't want to sound harsh, but 'something in the media' is the unrealistic dream of so many .

What do you call "in the media"?

I know people who have done media courses. Some have done work on commission, others have media jobs.

Media is a massive industry, covering many jobs and many which are very realistic.

In a previous post I listed just a few of the options.

Anyone could start up a blog online. That is media.

Anyone can learn how to code a website. That is media.

Anyone who can draw could sell their graphics/art work in a range of ways. That is media.

Media is no longer getting on TV, working for a newspaper or getting on the radio.

Even gaming isn't as hard to get into now. You don't have to ty to get into a major (often US) company. We have apps and indie games.

A media job is far from unrealistic.

pollypenny

Flyonthewall wrote: »

What do you call "in the media"?

I know people who have done media courses. Some have done work on commission, others have media jobs.

Media is a massive industry, covering many jobs and many which are very realistic.

In a previous post I listed just a few of the options.

Anyone could start up a blog online. That is media.

Anyone can learn how to code a website. That is media.

Anyone who can draw could sell their graphics/art work in a range of ways. That is media.

Media is no longer getting on TV, working for a newspaper or getting on the radio.

Even gaming isn't as hard to get into now. You don't have to ty to get into a major (often US) company. We have apps and indie games.

A media job is far from unrealistic.

'Media' has always been TV, radio , newspapers etc. it's the plural for
'medium', method of passing information between two sources.

All the options you list are extremely competitive. I have a number of ex-pupils who are successful in various media. I also know many more who have not.

Flyonthewall

pollypenny wrote: »

'Media' has always been TV, radio , newspapers etc. it's the plural for
'medium', method of passing information between two sources.

All the options you list are extremely competitive. I have a number of ex-pupils who are successful in various media. I also know many more who have not.

Competition for ALL jobs is high right now. Media is really no worse than any other.

There are plenty of reasons why they may not have ended up in media/been successful in media. Lack of trying, lack of skills, lack of any work experience, changed their minds, personal reasons and so on. The same can be said for any student not following the path they studied, regardless of subject/industry.

Plus to go freelance/self employed has more options than most other industries. As I said before you have blogs, websites, games, apps etc. All can all be done self employed.

If you're creative and especially if you can think outside the box, there are many many options.

Then the chances are if you've done media then you're good at IT, possibly good at maths (if you do coding or something) and possibly good at English (as many forms of media involve writing/communications). So nothing to stop you, say, going for a low level IT job in a company and working your way up through the company to the media job you wish to do.

You could also go for something different and work in your own time on a media project (which could one day lead to something big, or at the very least a media job you want).

There's more than one way to get the job you want. However, you need the motivation and the positive thinking. It is realistic, but he will need to work for it and figure out exactly what he wants to do. Same for any job.

Lunar_Eclipse

Potternerd wrote: »

He really has no idea, but says vaguely " something in the media". He is quite immature

I think the most important thing to do is talk to him about the importance of GCSEs in terms of his future options.

Explain that he needs to be in education until he is 18, and that when he leaves education he is expected to be financially independent.

Look at his desires/options post Y11 and what the minimum entry requirements are. If he doesn't get five GCSEs A*-C including Maths & English, his options are very limited. Paint a picture for him about what that means in reality and what you can do now to maximise his future success.

My eldest is also about to go into Y11. She has her mocks at the beginning of November, the week after half term. So once she's back at school, she's about six weeks away from mock GCSEs, which will be used for sixth form choices. We have already talked about any revision tools she wants to get in place for September. You're doing the right thing in thinking about this now and I know from experience that most teenagers don't fully understand the importance of the grades at this age, even if they are mature, academic and extremely able. It's difficult!

pandamonium

You could be talking about my son too. He's now nearly 18 and having completely screwed up in yr 11, he had to take a one year college course just so he could progress to an A level equivalent course. He's now halfway through a BTEC Business course and has been hassled far more by his college tutors than he ever was at school (big bone of contention there - with the school not the college!). He has grown up a lot over the last year and now wants money. He has realised that he will have to work for it. He is so much more focussed now, he's like a different lad.
It's not all over if he messes up his GCSE year, but my lad will tell you that it makes things a lot harder. My son is having to retake CGSE English this year as he has realised there are few opportunities without it.

Is your son a summer birthday by any chance? That seems to make a huge difference for boys.

I hope he sees the light and decides to focus himself, he'll find next year a lot easier if he does.

pollypenny

Flyonthewall wrote: »

Competition for ALL jobs is high right now. Media is really no worse than any other job.


There's more than one way to get the job you want. However, you need the motivation and the positive thinking. It is realistic, but he will need to work for it and figure out exactly what he wants to do. Same for any job.

Don't you believe it!

The media, along with acting, is a very nepotistic area. Look at the names on both BBC and ITV: old familiar ones again and again.

Print journalism is similar. Who you know, not what.

Furthermore, the trend of unpaid internships over the lady decade has really put the kibosh on things for young people unless their parents can afford to support them even in their twenties.

To return to my students: them ones who made it, in various media, are indeed the talented and committed ones.