Even at an early age, students begin to ask the legitimate question, “Why are we learning this?” By the time a student reaches high school, they have likely perfected asking this question.

[Editor's Note: This blog post is an adapted excerpt from the Navigating Your Child's Education Podcast episode "What makes a good coach?" featuring a candid conversation with Coach Hartings. Make sure to check it out here.]

With over half of high school students across the U.S. competing in interscholastic sports, it’s safe to say that coaches have a strong influence on our young people. In my own journey as an athlete, parent, and coach, I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of coaching. Coaches can have a tremendous impact on their players—both positive and negative. It’s important for parents to carefully consider who is influencing their children when it comes to athletics and coaching.

The landscape of college admissions has changed significantly since 2020. Perhaps the biggest change to college admissions policy has been that many colleges and universities have made standardized tests (the ACT and SAT) optional rather than a requirement. Long hailed as the chief benchmark of college admissions, optional test score submission deeply affects the entire process.