College, Career, and Student Well-Being Blog

FutureU Blog

Teen learning stress management and resilience skills for school and life

Kids Aren’t “Soft.” They’re Untrained. college athletes college readiness emotional regulation executive functioning skills high school athletes life skills mental performance mindset parents resilience stress and anxiety stress management 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...

Teen processing disappointment after a college rejection

What to Do When Your Teen Gets Rejected From a College college admissions college rejection handling disappointment 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.”