To a teen, entering high school can be both exhilarating and terrifying. There are people to meet, electives to choose and clubs to join.

Parents can help ease the transition into high school by making sure to keep the lines of communication open and taking advantage of opportunities to become involved at school.

"If the parents are involved, the children are successful," said Department of Education specialist Dennis Kajikawa.

One area where parents can help is discussing their teen's plans for the future and helping them map out a path for achieving their goals. For example, college-bound teens might want to take certain courses to maximize their chances of getting into the school of their choice.

Students who do not plan to continue schooling after graduation should be encouraged to look into what courses would help prepare them for a job right out of high school.

A guidance counselor can help you help your child plan. Kajikawa recommends approaching a counselor to find out what services are available. He said, "They should have a meeting with the counselor and ask, 'What can you do for my child?' "