For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is for high school students. This is when older students begin to explore career options and thing more about the future. At the same time, they often ‘live in the moment’ and experiment in ways that can concern the adults around them.

The following slides will share some basic facts about the physical, mental, emotional, and social growth of this age group.

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

• Growth for almost all older teens has tapered off.

• In most ways they have adult bodies, although are not always prepared for adulthood.

Physical Growth

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

Considering future plans and opportunities, youth are exploring career plans, college visits, part-time jobs, and ideally conversing with different adults about career paths.

There is often trouble with understanding compromise and they may label inconsistencies as  hypocrisy.

Independence is at an all time high

Mental Growth

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

Emotional Growth

At this stage, students begin to think about and define career goals.

Unsettled emotions may case youth of this age to be stormy or withdrawn. Suicide rates peak at this age. Bullying and harassment are taken very personally.

In general teens pride themselves on their increased ability to be responsible in the eyes of themselves, their peers, and adults.

Young adults feel they have reached full maturity and expect to be treated as such.

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

• Close relationship develop as young people become preoccupied with their need for intimacy and acceptance.

• Although late teens are entering full adulthood, the support and guidance of adults is still needed. Adults often serve as a resource and can stimulate teens’ thinking in new and unexpected ways.

Social Growth

• This age group wants to be accepted fully into the adult world.

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

Sources:

Karns, J., & Myers-Wells, J. (n.d.). Ages and Stages of Child and Youth Development. . Retrieved, from https://extension.arizona.edu/4h/sites/extension.arizona.edu.4h/files/resourcefile/resource/pdenney/AgesAndStages.pdf

Mentoring Through Technology to Promote Student Achievement. (2003, February 1). . Retrieved, from http://ici.umn.edu/ementoring/CTS_Training_Manual.pdf pages: 22-25