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Kids Aren’t “Soft.” They’re Untrained. athletes career exploration college college athletes college planning college readiness emotional regulation executive functioning skills high school high school athletes life skills mental performance mindset resilience stress and anxiety students teen mental health Mar 27, 2026

I keep hearing the same thing:
“Kids these days are soft.”
“They need to toughen up.”

But here’s the problem -

we’re expecting kids to have skills that are never actually taught.

Let’s Make This Make Sense

If you handed me a calculus exam right now, I wouldn’t suddenly “toughen up” and figure...

What to Do When Your Teen Gets Rejected From a College college admissions college planning college rejection handling disappointment parent mental health parent stress parent's college stress series parenting teens resilience Mar 25, 2026

Part 4 of 4: Handling Rejection - This article is part of The Parent’s College Stress Series - a 4-part series designed to help you stay steady, supportive, and strategic during the college process.

Rejection hurts

If your teen receives a denial or waitlist decision, your reaction matters more ...

FutureU Blog

I keep hearing the same thing: “Kids these days are soft.” “They need to toughen up.”

Let’s Make This Make Sense

Rejection hurts

Not sure where to start? That's exactly what we're here for.

I keep hearing the same thing:
“Kids these days are soft.”
“They need to toughen up.”