April 24, 2025

Helping out with the school yearbook this year? One of the most exciting parts of the process is choosing the perfect superlatives for students. Along with senior quotes, superlatives are one of the most anticipated sections of the yearbook. Whether you’re a parent volunteer or supporting your child behind the scenes, this list of over 100 yearbook superlatives will spark ideas and celebrate your school community. From the funny to the heartfelt, we’ve got categories that fit every personality and classroom vibe.

What are Yearbook Superlatives?

Yearbook superlatives (sometimes known as senior superlatives) are fun awards given to students highlighting unique qualities, talents, or characteristics they’re known for by their peers and teachers at school. Traditionally found in middle school and high school yearbooks, they’re a playful way to recognize student’s strengths and quirks. In some schools, the superlatives are chosen and then the students must vote on who they think that award should go to. Think of them as friendly recognitions like “Most Likely to Brighten Your Day” or “Future President” with the intention of adding personality and laughter to the year’s closing pages.

Classic Yearbook Superlatives

These are timeless favorites that show up in nearly every yearbook. You really can’t go wrong with any of these yearbook superlatives.

1. Best Smile
2. Most Likely to Succeed
3. Best Dressed
4. Most Athletic
5. Class Clown
6. Most Artistic
7. Most Musical
8. Best Hair
9. Best Laugh
10. Most School Spirit
11. Most Likely to Brighten Your Day
12. Best Eyes
13. Most Talkative
14. Most Likely to be Late
15. Most Likely to Travel the World

Funny Senior Superlatives

Perfect for getting a laugh and showing off each student’s quirks. If your school has a good sense of humor, consider choosing some of these funny yearbook superlatives.

16. Most Likely to Trip at Graduation
17. Future Reality TV Star
18. Most Likely to Sleep Through Class
19. Best Excuses for Missing Homework
20. Most Likely to Start a TikTok Trend
21. Most Likely to Bring a Pet to School
22. Most Likely to Text During Class
23. Most Likely to Laugh at Their Own Jokes
24. Most Likely to Have Their Own Meme
25. Most Likely to Get Lost in the Hallway
26. Most Likely to Break Their Phone

Heartfelt Yearbook Superlatives

These emphasize kindness, leadership, and personal growth.

27. Kindest Heart
28. Best Listener
29. Most Encouraging
30. Most Improved
31. Best Teammate
32. Most Resilient
33. Most Likely to Make a Difference
34. Future Teacher
35. Friendliest Smile
36. Best Role Model
37. Most Compassionate
38. Most Inspiring
39. Most Likely to Stand Up for Others
40. Most Dependable
41. Most Likely to Make the World Better

Academic Superlatives

Yearbook superlatives aren’t just for the most athletic or best liked students, you can also showcase academic excellence! Celebrate intellectual strengths and classroom leadership.

42. Most Likely to Become a Scientist
43. Future Author
44. Best at Math
45. Most Likely to Cure a Disease
46. Most Likely to Win a Nobel Prize
47. Most Likely to Write a Bestseller
48. Future Professor
49. Best Problem Solver
50. Most Inquisitive
51. Most Organized
52. Most Likely to Correct the Teacher
53. Fastest Reader
54. Most Likely to Finish the Assignment First
55. Future Engineer

Senior Superlatives About Creativity

Ideal for kids who shine through imagination and self-expression. These are great for showcasing those students who have an artistic side to them.

56. Most Likely to Design a Video Game
57. Most Creative Thinker
58. Best Doodler
59. Most Likely to Be on Broadway
60. Future Fashion Designer
61. Most Likely to Be an Inventor
62. Best Costume at Spirit Week
63. Future YouTuber
64. Most Likely to go Viral
65. Most Likely to Build a Robot
66. Most Dramatic (in Theater!)
67. Best Dance Moves
68. Future Animator
69. Most Likely to Direct a Movie

Yearbook Superlatives About Future Careers

Lighthearted predictions about what students might do one day.

70. Future CEO
71. Future Mayor
72. Future Olympian
73. Future Vet
74. Future Chef
75. Future Tech Genius
76. Future Lawyer
77. Future News Anchor
78. Future Marine Biologist
79. Future Pilot
80. Future Entrepreneur
81. Future Game Show Host
82. Future Architect
83. Future Photographer
84. Future Stand-Up Comedian

Most Likely To… (Wildcard Superlatives)

Some of the best senior superlatives are formatted as a “most likely to” question. If you like that superlative format, check out the options below!

85. Most Likely to Bring Their Own Snacks
86. Most Likely to Save the Planet
87. Most Likely to Be on Shark Tank
88. Most Likely to Win a Dance-Off
89. Most Likely to Live on a Houseboat
90. Most Likely to Be on the Cover of a Magazine
91. Most Likely to Have a Pet Llama
92. Most Likely to Win a Game Show
93. Most Likely to Discover a New Planet
94. Most Likely to Text Back Instantly
95. Most Likely to Start a Band

Friendship & Social Superlatives

Celebrate connections and community. Yearbook superlatives oftentimes highlight a duo of friends, or someone who is generally well liked by their classmates.

96. Dynamic Duo (Best Friends)
97. Best Shoulder to Cry On
98. Best Group Chat Creator
99. Most Likely to Organize a Hangout
100. Most Trustworthy
101. Most Likely to Cheer You Up
102. Best Secret Keeper
103. Most Likely to Remember Everyone’s Birthday
104. Most Likely to Say “Hi” in the Hallway
105. Most Social Butterfly
106. Best BFFs Since Day One

Final Tips for Implementing Yearbook Superlatives

When choosing superlatives, ensure positivity, inclusiveness, of course avoiding options that have the potential to be embarrassing for students. It’s best to let students vote on superlatives and provide a write-in option so everyone feels involved. And remember, every superlative is a celebration of what makes each student one-of-a-kind.

Is your teen delaying his or her homework to the last minute? You’re not alone. Many parents find it hard to cope with the typical habit of teenagers who like to push tasks away. Today, as many as 75% of high school students find it impossible to overcome procrastination.

This is a common challenge that can result in bad grades, missed opportunities and heightened anxiety. The good news? For teens, learning how not to procrastinate does not need to be complex.

Small shifts in routine can be significant. But with the right tools and support, teens can overcome procrastination and develop better habits. Learning to manage time and self-discipline are skills for life.

Parents can be a big help in guiding their teens past this barrier. With the right combination of guidance, understanding, and practical steps, you can help even a procrastinating teenager become a productive one.

Are you ready to help your teen take control of their time?

Key Takeaways

• At least 75% of high school students face procrastination which causes low grades and increased stress.
• Combating fear of failure, being distracted by social media and feeling overwhelmed are the top reasons teens procrastinate. It’s similar to taking big tasks and just breaking them down into smaller chunks, which makes them less scary.
• Parents can assist with this process by creating a peaceful study environment and utilizing things like the Forest app or Google calendar. The “25-minute work, 5-minute break” method helps teens focus.
• Rooted in proven strategies, HYTN offers expert help through Jillian Bates and her traceable network to tackle the world of procrastination. Their programs partner with insurance companies to minimize out-of-pocket expenses for families.
• Teens develop lasting productive habits by doing some goal setting preferably by setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals. Regular check-ins from parents offer support without micromanaging.

Understanding Teen Procrastination

Teens often put off tasks due to anxiety, social media distractions, and feeling overwhelmed by their workload. A mix of brain development and outside pressures can make teens more likely to delay their work, leading to stress and lower self-esteem.

Common Causes of Procrastination in Adolescents

Fear is a huge reason students procrastinate. Some teens have anxiety about not performing well or meeting expectations. It can stop them in their tracks, transforming mundane tasks into monumental challenges.

Low self-esteem makes even student doubt their ability to perform well on their tasks. Not interested in some subjects, including maths and other complicated subjects which make students procrastinate their work.

Some students struggle from ADHD or hyperactivity, which makes focusing much more challenging.

Next, students procrastinate because they work for so long that they become overwhelmed. The pressure to take International Baccalaureate programs or advanced classes can create avoidance behaviors.

Most children are struggling with problem-solving and time management skills. Constant distractions like social media and prime video streaming pull focus away from important tasks. Creating the to-do list is a way to decompose large projects into smaller, less terrifying chunks.

Professional assistance with cognitive behavioral therapy or psychotherapy can provide students with superior coping mechanisms. Sleep problems and shifting moods also play a role in the effort students put into keeping up with their work.

The Impact of Procrastination on Academic and Personal Life

Teenagers are hit with procrastination both at school and home. People who procrastinate on their work usually find their grades drop quickly. It leads to low test scores and incomplete assignments.

Many teens find themselves overwhelmed with their growing workload, which leads to a cycle of stress and further procrastination. Everyday the pressure accumulates, causing you to lose sight of your studies or finish your home work within the time frame.

This trend also stymies their education and shatters their self-esteem.

Procrastination has repercussions well beyond the classroom. Teenagers who procrastinate tend to have sleep problems and unhealthy eating habits. Their relationships with parents and friends get strained from missed deadlines and broken promises.

Teens suffer from emotional trauma from the stress that comes from feeling like they have a million things to do all at once. They lose motivation, and begin to avoid past enjoyable activities. Simple tasks seem insurmountable, and solving problems becomes more difficult.

The overall negative mod of this cycle takes a toll on their well-being and career trajectory in the long run.

Strategies to Overcome Procrastination

Breaking the cycle of procrastination needs more than just willpower from your teen. Parents can step in as coaches to guide their teens through proven methods like rational emotive behavior therapy and mindfulness practices that create lasting change.

Encouraging Effective Time Management

To improve their time management, teens need explicit instructions. Help them break down large tasks into bite-sized pieces. A physical planner/daily planner or even a digital calendar is great for keeping track of assignments and activities.

The Kindle app provides great ways for you to schedule study time and track your progress in reading. Very successful for many teens is the “25-minute work, 5-minute break” method.

It takes practice and praise to build good habits. While parents set up regular check-in times, they shouldn’t micromanage their teen’s schedule, instructions or academics. Establish quiet study time in a place away from devices like phones or television.

Mindfulness exercises can help keep teens focused on their tasks. Simple rewards, such as bonus Amazon Prime streaming time, can inspire teens to adhere to their schedules. The challenge is finding the balance that will work best for each teen between chores and relaxation.

Setting Realistic Goals

Setting clear goals helps teens conquer procrastination. Parents can help create goals in collaboration with teens, catering to their interests and abilities. Splitting up the larger projects makes them less intimidating and more manageable.

For example, rather than “study for finals,” consider “review chapter 4 each day.” Since it is so simple, it gives teens confidence and keeps them motivated.

For goals to be effective, they have to have specific due dates and detailed steps. A psychologist can help develop a good plan that accommodates your teen’s needs. The SMART way works well as well Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound goals.

Goal-setting could include doing homework before dinner for short-term goals, or improving grades by a letter over the course of a semester for longer-term goals. Those small wins compound and build lasting productive habits.

Building a Supportive Environment

Creating a clean, organized work environment is the first step to creating a supportive environment. Parents should assist teens in creating a quiet study space free from TVs, phones and other distractions. This area should be bright, have comfortable seating, and all of your supplies should be easily accessible.

As artists require a studio in which to produce their masterpieces (think The Starry Night), so, too, do teens need their own special place to bubble up under the pressure of a task.

A key in teaching productive habits is for parents to model this through action. Regular check-ins allow you to keep your teen on track without hovering. Mom and Dad can share their own time management tricks, such as using to-do lists or breaking big projects into smaller chunks.

Some families have found success with apps that prevent social media from being accessed during study hours. The main thing is to make sure they feel safe, not guilty. Over time, this collaboration between parents and teens creates confidence and fosters better work habits.

Tools and Resources Versus Procrastination

Smart apps and digital tools can track your teen’s study time and reward them for staying focused. A good psychotherapist will teach your teen proven methods to break free from procrastination while building healthy self-talk patterns.

Recommended Apps and Technologies to Overcome Procrastination

Several apps can help teens beat procrastination. Forest app turns focus time into a game by planting virtual trees that grow while teens study. If they leave the app to check social media, their tree dies.

Google Calendar helps teens block time for homework and activities. The free Todoist app breaks big tasks into smaller, less scary pieces.

Digital planners like MyStudyLife track school assignments and test dates. Teens can set phone reminders for due dates through these tools. HYTN’s website offers extra resources to boost productivity.

Their directory points families to schools that teach good study habits. Parents can also book expert help through HYTN’s consultation services to guide their teens toward better time management.

Professional Help

Having some professional guidance can help teens overcome procrastination in a very positive way. HYTN’s team of specialists, led by Jillian Bates (20+ years in the field), helps teens strengthen healthy routines.

Our nationwide network of therapeutic programs provides students with evidence-based tools to get back on track to meeting their goals. Typical changes kids experience after working with our specialists are:

Getting the help you need shouldn’t give you money anxiety. HYTN contracts with a wide variety of insurance companies to keep costs low for families. Our experts understand teens’ challenges and create practical solutions; we match teens with them.

Our counselors help teens learn to break down big work into smaller pieces, set specific deadlines and stay on work. That hands-on support allows teens to form good habits that carry far beyond their school years.

Breaking bad habits takes time and patience. Parents play a vital role in helping teens beat procrastination through steady support and clear guidance. Your teen needs tools, structure, and understanding to build better habits that last.

Simple steps like setting small goals, using productivity apps, and creating study schedules can make a big difference. Working together with your teen to overcome procrastination will help them succeed now and develop skills for life.

Contact Help Your Teen Now to take the first steps towards helping your troubled teen overcome procrastination today!

3

This Post: Teen Angst or Something More? A Parent’s Guide to Spotting Social Anxiety

Written By: The Raising Teens Today Community

Emma (whose name has been changed for privacy) is a 14-year-old high school freshman who’s been a special part of my life since she was little. Growing up, she was always a good student who was quiet and mainly kept to herself. When COVID hit, she became more of a homebody, and over the months that followed, her parents started noticing even more concerning changes in her behavior.  

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She began to complain about stomachaches and headaches on school mornings and became more and more reluctant to go to school. 

It wasn’t just her parents who noticed a change in her. Emma’s high school counselor reached out to her parents with alarming news that her teachers observed she was becoming increasingly anxious when called on in class, often getting extremely embarrassed and stumbling over her words. She stopped participating in class discussions and even avoided taking part in a group project that was assigned in her favorite class.

Her mom also shared with me that Emma was skipping lunch to avoid the crowded cafeteria and was turning down invitations to social events, preferring to stay at home, alone in her bedroom. Following any kind of social interaction at school, Emma would come home and talk obsessively about her interactions with classmates and teachers, often criticizing herself for making “stupid mistakes​” in front of them, and calling herself a “loser.” Her days absent from school were adding up, and her parents were feeling more and more helpless with each passing day. 

Looking for answers, her mom reached out to a behavioral therapist and began to realize that Emma’s behavior had moved beyond the normal worries teens feel about fitting in and feeling socially awkward. In fact, Emma was exhibiting the early signs of social anxiety disorder, where her extreme fear of any kind of negative judgment had started to impact her daily life.

It’s a harsh reality, but experiences like Emma’s are often overlooked by parents or simply chalked up to normal teen angst – being shy around others, fearful of putting themselves out there, and/or being overly concerned with what others think of them. In a lot of cases, it is normal teen behavior, but sometimes the behaviors and avoidances indicate something more serious – social anxiety disorder.

Normal Teen Angst or Social Anxiety: How Parents Can Tell the Difference

According to Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and co-author of the book, Social Anxiety: Hidden Fears and Shame in Teens and Adults, “Social anxiety involves excessive worry about how others might be thinking of you – thoughts that are more intense and persistent than is warranted for a situation. For instance, if you hear your teen repeatedly saying things like ‘What would my friends think of me if they ever found out I’m terrified of walking into school alone?’ or ‘If kids at school really knew how awkward (or dumb or uncoordinated) I am, no one would ever talk to me again.’ These types of excessive worries can lead to fear and avoidance of social situations and trigger physical symptoms when forced to be in social situations, such as sweating, shaking, stomach aches, or a rapid heartbeat.”

The National Social Anxiety Center says that one out of three teenagers between 13 and 18 years old meets the criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), which is currently the third most common mental health disorder in the U.S. The prevalence among teens may not seem that high, but if it’s your teen who’s suffering, it can be life-altering for them and a tremendous amount of stress and worry for you.

Interestingly, the average age for the onset of social anxiety is 13 years, with 75% of affected people experiencing onset between the ages of 8 and 15 years. Some evidence suggests that, as with other anxiety disorders, it occurs more frequently in children and adults with ADHD. It’s also been reported that teenagers with social anxiety will often show symptoms of depression or chronic fatigue, as well.

The truth is, only about half of the teens struggling with social anxiety ever reach out for help, and many don’t until they’ve been carrying the weight of it for 15 years or more. Left untreated, it can quietly chip away at their confidence, affect their success in school, and even increase the chances of them dropping out. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s also why early intervention and support matter so much.

Can a Parent Unintentionally Trigger or Worsen Social Anxiety in Their Teen?

Social anxiety is more common in teens than we often realize. And while there’s no single cause, environmental factors – including parenting styles – can play a role in how it develops and how intense it might become.

In short, yes… a parent can unintentionally trigger (or worsen) social anxiety in their teen. Not because they’re doing everything wrong, but because certain patterns and dynamics can shape how safe or fearful a teen feels in the social world. Here are a few factors that might trigger or intensify social anxiety in a teenager:

• High Pressure or Overly Critical Parenting: Constantly correcting, criticizing, or setting unrealistically high expectations can make a teen fear judgment or failure, which are key ingredients in social anxiety.

• Modeling Anxious Behavior: If a parent often avoids social situations, expresses fear of being judged, or is overly worried about what others think, it’s not uncommon for teens to absorb those patterns.

• Lack of Emotional Support or Validation: When teens don’t feel heard, seen, or emotionally safe at home, they may start to feel unsure of themselves around others, too.

• Overprotection: Overly protective parents may limit their teens’ opportunities to socialize or take risks, which can hinder the development of confidence in social settings.

That said, parents aren’t always the cause – social anxiety can stem from a mix of temperament, life experiences (like bullying), environmental factors like home dynamics, and genetics. In fact, social anxiety often runs in families, with a two to six times increased risk if a first-degree relative has it. The good news? Parents can also be a powerful protective factor by offering support, modeling healthy social behavior, and helping their teen build confidence.

Remember, parents, while it can be helpful to look to the past for clues about your teen’s current issues, don’t waste time ruminating on the what-ifs. It’s more important to focus on the now and what you can do to support your teenager moving forward if you suspect they may have social anxiety disorder.

Treating Teens’ Social Anxiety Disorder

Research shows that a combination of the following types of treatments has the best outcomes for social anxiety disorder in teenagers:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This is the most commonly used approach for treating social anxiety disorder. CBT is an evidence-based treatment and is typically short-term, with a therapist setting realistic and concrete goals with a patient to achieve measurable results. For teens with social anxiety, CBT focuses on specific negative thoughts (like “I’m stupid and everyone knows it”) and unhealthy behaviors like avoiding friends or classmates that negatively affect their mood. This type of therapy helps teens understand the deeper connections between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and it can be extremely empowering for them.

2. Exposure Therapy

This component of behavioral therapy involves exposure to feared or triggering situations. The process helps teens create a gradual exposure experience so that they can confront their social anxiety head-on. Research shows that the more someone avoids anxiety-provoking situations, the more their anxiety is reinforced. This is called the avoidance cycle. So, teens with social anxiety are encouraged to “feel their fear” while understanding that it’s not life-threatening and is usually a false alarm going off in the emotional center of their brains. The goal of exposure therapy isn’t to eliminate all anxiety, but to learn how to deal with it. Eventually, as teens become more confident with this concept, their anxiety tends to decrease.

3. Medication

It can be a little scary to think about starting your teen on a mind-altering medication, but in cases where social anxiety is more severe and significantly impacts a teenager’s daily life, medication can be a helpful addition to cognitive and behavioral therapy. It tends to “take the edge off,” making it easier for them to engage in therapy and benefit from it more effectively. The most common medications prescribed for social anxiety include Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Benzodiazepines. These medications help regulate anxiety and promote a calmer and positive mood.

The National Social Anxiety Center offers this excellent advice for parents who are looking to find a therapist for their teens with social anxiety disorder: 

“Adolescents, who initially don’t want to be in therapy because they’re stuck in an avoidance cycle and have a difficult time meeting new people and maintaining connection out of fear of scrutiny, need a clinician to be warm, engaging, accepting, and transparent. Therefore, when you are looking for a therapist, keep in mind how that person makes you feel during the intake appointment. Does the clinician normalize anxiety? Are they able to make you and your teen feel at ease in the room? Are they able to laugh at themselves and/or connect with your teen in relatable ways? If the clinician feels stiff, unrelatable, or even anxious themselves, chances are the teen will have a difficult time trusting that person and taking social risks in therapy. This is very important because the therapeutic relationship is where the social anxiety exposures begin. Additionally, this relationship has been shown time and time again in research to directly impact the overall success of treatment.”

If you suspect your teen may have social anxiety disorder, remember that early recognition, intervention, and support can significantly improve outcomes for teenagers who struggle.

And remind your teen (and yourself) that seeking help for any kind of personal challenge is a sign of strength. With the right support, managing social anxiety becomes more attainable, and a good therapist will help your family feel less alone on your journey.

Helpful Resources: 

Free Social Anxiety Screening Test for Teens

Find a Licensed Therapist through the NSAC

Find a Licensed Therapist for Teens through Talkspace

If you enjoyed reading “Normal Teen Angst or Something More? A Parent’s Guide to Spotting Social Anxiety,” here are a few other posts you might like:

5 Major Reasons Why Your Teen’s Life is More Stressful Than You Think

Healthy Coping Skills for Teenagers: 10 Ways to Relieve Stress & Anxiety

7 Best Apps for Stressed and Anxious Teens

Following three weeks of practice, the first track meet would run until 8 p.m. That morning, my fourteen-year-old son went to school bleary-eyed after a rough night’s sleep. He texted me toward the end of the school day.

I hate track
It’s raining
I’m tired
Is it too late to quit

I frowned at the cold drizzle tapping at my window. I wouldn’t want to be out in that, either. But my son signed up for the team, so that was that. I responded to his text.

Yes too late

Wasn’t it? 

Mom. The uniform is way too short. I’m so embarrassed. I feel like crying. Do I have to do this

Should I let my teen quit his sport?

Oh, yikes. I nibbled on a cuticle. He’s told me he’s self-conscious about the hair growing on his legs, scoffing at my assurance that changes in his body are normal and healthy. And I still remember the angst of teenage embarrassment; your peers’ laughter is its circle of hell. I felt a flush in my cheeks as I hovered over my keyboard, struggling to parent on the fly. 

Everyone’s wearing the same thing. Hang in there. 

I knew my words were little more than a wishy-washy attempt to see what kind of pushback I’d get if I held firm. I understood that he was the child, and I was the parent, and I could end the discussion. I thought, though, maybe there was some nuance to explore here.

So, as I waited for his reply, I debated what lessons were on the table. Was he old enough to make this decision? Should I let him? Where is the line between quitting and stopping? 

Where is the line between quitting and stopping and who gets to decide?

To me, “quitting” is a negative word, conjuring failure and defeat. “Quitters never win, winners never quit,” right? I want to raise a son who doesn’t let distress keep him from tackling a challenge. Who sets goals — personal, academic, professional — and meets them. Who recognizes that he can overcome hardship.

On the one hand, this kid surely knows that pushing through discomfort can reap the rewards. Last March, I said he could either get a job or go camping for the summer. He immediately chose work. That is, he did until the time came to submit applications when he balked.

I was irritated at his backpedaling; he hadn’t even walked into a shop to ask if they were hiring. He said he was nervous about talking to managers. I said I’d teach him what to say and insisted he sticks to his original plan. He was angry but headed off to the shops near our house.

Not only did he land a job at a local restaurant, but he enjoyed bussing tables so much that he kept the job on weekends after the summer. He has never missed a shift and has kept his grades up.

My son has demonstrated that he can stick with things

He says that the pressures of a busy night have taught him to prioritize tasks and manage his time. He’s learning responsibility, respect for service workers, patience with grumpy customers, and a deep appreciation for what it takes to earn a living. He even thanked me for demanding he follows through on applying.

On the other hand, I remember when my daughter lost interest in the sport a year after earning a black belt in Taekwondo. I urged her to finish what she’d started; sure she’d be proud of herself when she made that belt. She said she never promised to go for a black belt. 

She was right. She hadn’t said that. I guess that, after years of lessons, I assumed that was her goal. Yet, wasn’t she allowed changing her mind even if it had been? I mean, if she started piano lessons, must she continue until she reached Carnegie Hall? 

I texted my daughter, who is now a successful software engineer. She reported zero regrets about ending Taekwondo.

Did she quit, or did she stop? To me, “stopping” conveys agency and choice. Maybe leaving the track team was a low-stakes chance for my son to grapple with the consequences. 

What were the repercussions of my son quitting his team?

I thought about it. If he left the team, he’d lose the PE credit and have to replace it before graduating. His coaches, who are also his teachers, might look dimly at what could seem a lack of stick-to-it-iveness. Although it was a no-cut team, his peers might think he let them down. I wasn’t sure what other dominoes stopping would knock over, but he’d have to deal with them. 

And isn’t childhood a chance to try out new activities? He hadn’t known what track entailed. Was insisting he continues teaching him to tamp down his feelings? Was I denying him the opportunity to both admit and embrace a mistake? And whose decision was it, anyway?

My son was already on the bus to the meeting; no phones were allowed. I contemplated the whole time he was there. I wavered, unsure what I’d say when I saw him. 

It was dark when I picked him up. I watched him approach my car with the confident stride he’d developed walking to work. That’s when I knew. Part of parenting is recognizing the context for our decisions. This particular child understands responsibility. His disliking track didn’t mean he was slacking. I’d talk through the difference between quitting and stopping, help him consider the consequences of halting participation, and the choice would be his.

I opened my mouth to tell him what I’d decided, but he spoke first. “That was kind of fun,” he said. “I guess I’ll stick with it.”

What? He’d already made his own decision, and he was sticking with his commitment? I clamped my mouth shut, and mentally tucked away my lesson plan for another day.

More Great Reading:

Six Ways to Get Teen Boys to Open Up and Engage in Deeper Conversations

In middle school, my friends and I studied the prom issue of Seventeen magazine, fantasizing about that seemingly magical night waiting for us in the future. When high school came around, my parents didn’t have the budget for, or interest in, dress shopping. When I would beg for some item I “needed” for the big night, my mom scoffed, “I don’t understand your prom world!” So I usually wore a borrowed gown, and one year my best friend’s mother bought my dress and shoes.

Prom shopping with my daughter

As my own teenager started scrolling through images of dresses in preparation for her first prom, I got a little thrill. Helping a daughter shop for a prom dress felt like one of those parental rights of passage I had long imagined. And because I do enjoy shopping—and we have the privilege of funding a purchase—I envisioned some kind of organza-swathed bonding over the shared love of the perfect dress. But much like prom itself, the reality of the process fell short of the fantasy!

I caught myself saying the wrong things and making all kinds of other rookie mistakes (Suggesting dresses? Fool!). And I was reminded of the poignant scene in Lady Bird when the daughter exits the fitting room in a pink dress she loves. Although she asks for her mother’s opinion, she ultimately expresses what she truly longs for in this moment (and throughout their relationship): “I just wish….I wish that you liked me.”

Leaning into my background in educational psychology and my work as a parent coach, I realized that my ”feedback” about dresses was getting in the way of what really matters.

I’ve learned a lot of things the hard way, and I hope my experience and research can help other families, whether they’re in a fitting room or hunched over a shared computer screen. We can’t guarantee a wonderful prom night, but we can do more to support our girls’ wellbeing during the lead-up to the event.

Our teens have their own ideas about style

Parents
and teenagers rarely share tastes in fashion. It’s natural for us
to want to protect our daughters (and our egos) from something that
“looks tacky” to our eyes. But our kids have their own ideas
about beauty and glamour–and that’s a good thing.

Prom also raises uncomfortable feelings around teenage sexuality, and it’s hard for many of us to see our daughters looking like voluptuous adult women. But that is largely what prom is all about, a night to play dress-up as an adult (or, more accurately, the adolescent idea of adult luxury and sophistication). This is a chance to have an important conversation about sex and sexiness where we really listen and do our best to put aside our own learned shame and fears.

We have to respect our teen’s fashion choices

So
if we truly want to support our daughter’s growing independence, we
have to take a step back. What is best for her is not necessarily a
dress we
think “looks best.” Instead, we have to respect her preferences
even if we don’t like them.

That
doesn’t mean parents can’t have any input at all. The prom
industrial complex would have us spend lavishly, but we can set firm
boundaries around our financial contributions.

It’s also reasonable for parents to set rules around the function of the dress so she can fully experience the event. After posing for photos, she’ll need to be able to sit down and stand up (without major adjustments), eat as much as she wants, hug her friends, and dance to her heart’s content.

Body image concerns may come up

When body image concerns come up, it’s tempting to focus on what flatters her. “Flattering,” however, is almost always synonymous in our culture with “slimming.” Girls and women are bombarded with messages telling us to limit our fashion choices to what will minimize our size and camouflage perceived flaws, inching closer to an impossible beauty ideal.

If
your daughter loves the dress, and it fits the budget and function
parameters, then stop talking, and pull out the credit card!

This support is particularly important because prom season sends many high school girls into a tailspin of body obsession, self-doubt, and disordered behaviors around food and exercise. Some friend groups even “bond” over their restrictive lunchtime rules or punishing fitness routines. If you see signs of trouble, it’s important to talk to her and to seek support if necessary.

This should go without saying, but don’t police her food or encourage her to diet for prom—and remember that a diet by any other name still stinks. Today’s dieting might look like “clean eating,” a “detox/cleanse,” or the “lifestyle changes” and “bio-hacks” marketed as wellness. Even something as seemingly innocuous as “watching it” can be dangerous.

We want our daughters listening to their bodies and tuning in to their intuition, not conforming to pressures that threaten their wellbeing. Dieting is the single biggest risk factor for the development of an eating disorder. And it reinforces the toxic notion that she should be focused on trying to shrink herself. Our daughters deserve more.

Things
get a little tricky if your daughter wants a dress “requiring”
foundation garments (a humorous euphemism if ever there was one).
Certain fabrics do move more easily over a smooth underlayer, and
many underpinnings are designed to hide one’s underwear, not one’s
body. But “slenderizing” products that squeeze/shape your body
into something it’s not send a harmful message–and will likely
become physically uncomfortable (failing the function test as the
night wears on).

If your daughter says a dress “makes her look fat,” the default answer most parents give is, “No, honey, you’re beautiful!” This response conveys the harmful message, however, that fat can’t be beautiful. Instead, you might ask, “What do you mean?” or “Why do you think that/feel that way?” with compassion and curiosity. And reassure her that there is nothing wrong with her body’s appearance–it’s society’s beauty standards that need to change.

So when her face lights up in a dress she loves, it’s our job to be supportive even if we don’t like the “look.” Instead, we can focus on supporting her and how she feels. And when our daughters know they have our love and trust, it’s a beautiful thing.

You May Also Enjoy:

Great Gifts for Your Teen’s Friends

Your Last Child Is Leaving The Nest So What Else Is New?

5

My Teen Doesn’t Fit In and It’s Breaking My Heart

Written By: The Raising Teens Today Community

I sat there watching my daughter scroll through her phone last Friday night, pretending not to care that she wasn’t invited to a party. And my heart broke – because I cared. I cared so much. But no matter how badly I wanted to fix the situation, I couldn’t…

I couldn’t make other kids include her, I couldn’t choose her friends for her, I couldn’t make others see how kind and funny she was, or how good of a friend she was, and I couldn’t control how others perceived her. 

 

Your heart aches when your child feels they don’t belong, doesn’t it, parents? When they tell you that they sat alone on the bus, or they ate lunch alone, or were left off the invite list… again.

The reality is, we love our kids fiercely and we see how incredibly special they are, which can make it so heartbreaking to understand why they get left out and come home tearfully admitting to us that no one seems to like them. 

It’s one of the hardest parts of parenting teens – realizing that we can’t control who includes them, how they’re treated, or whether they feel like they fit in. We can’t shield them from rejection or loneliness. All we can do is be their soft place to land, over and over again.

Parents… It’s important to note that this post isn’t about fixing our kids or encouraging them to blend in – it’s about honoring who they are, even when the world doesn’t quite know what to do with their beautiful, different rhythm.

Why Your Teen Might Feel Like They Don’t Fit In

When our teens don’t quite click with other kids, it can feel incredibly isolating. There are so many reasons they might feel this way. Here are a few reasons:

1. They Have Different Interests

Your teen might be into art, robotics, or cooking, or they might be the brainy type who’s focused on studying and getting good grades, while their classmates might be all about sports, TikTok trends, gaming, or even partying on Friday nights.

It’s also not uncommon for teen friendships to shift – especially in middle school. Maybe they stopped playing a sport they played for years, or they joined a club they love, and it’s taking up all their free time. These choices can take them away from kids they’ve been close to for years. It’s a natural evolution, but it can sometimes result in your teen feeling left out, especially if their new interests are different from the norm.

TIP: Praise your teen for pursuing their own interests, even if it’s not considered popular or the “in” thing to do. That takes courage!

2. They Don’t Relate To (or Want to Cave Into) Social Norms at School

Does your teen despise drama? Do they cringe at the mere thought of mean girls or the attention-seeking kids who will go to great lengths just to be popular? If your teen happens to be someone who challenges the social dynamics in school or feels like they don’t want to have any part in the wider drama that’s so common in middle and high school, and prefers more stable friendships, it’s easy to feel marginalized. 

TIP: It’s easy to think, “Why doesn’t my teen fit in? Is something wrong with them?” when the truth is, they might be the one standing steadfast in who they are and what they believe. 

3. They’re Confident in Who They Are

As a parent, you might think your teen lacks the confidence to put themselves out there, make friends and “fit in with the crowd,” but it could be the exact opposite – maybe they’re actually very confident in who they are and they’re not willing to put on an act to fit in. 

TIP: Kudos to kids who aren’t afraid to be their own wonderful selves.

4. Or, They Lack Confidence

Teenagers are hyper-aware of how they’re perceived. If they feel they don’t match the ideal body type, that they don’t dress like everyone else, or that they’re not as pretty, handsome, smart, or athletic as other kids, it can impact their self-worth and sense of belonging.

They might also lack confidence if they have a learning disability that makes grasping class material more challenging for them. Every teen matures at their own pace emotionally, physically, and intellectually, and that gap can create distance.

And, social media doesn’t help. When our teens are constantly bombarded with edited images and friends’ highlight reels, they compare might compare themselves to their classmates, which can intensify their feelings of being an outsider. 

TIP: Nearly every teenager lacks confidence in one area or another. Talk to your teen, get into their head, and find out where they might lack confidence, and then work together to boost their confidence and self-esteem.

5. They’re Introverted or Shy

Not every teen is a social butterfly. Loud cafeterias, crowded hallways, busy classrooms, and social events like school football games might make some kids feel awkward and drained, and that can lead to them feeling like they don’t belong. But the truth is, they may not be anti-social at all; they may just be shy or introverted and more comfortable in small group settings. 

TIP: Don’t try to change who your teen is by pushing them to “put themselves out there.” Instead, encourage them to make one or two friends they can hang out with – science has shown that kids only need one or two close friends to feel included and accepted. 

6. They’re Going Through Emotional/Mental Health Struggles or Questioning Their Identity

Anxiety, depression, ADHD, or other mental health challenges can make even simple social interactions feel overwhelming. If your teen is struggling inside, it might be hard for them to connect or keep up with the demands of socializing. (According to the CDC, 40% of high schoolers report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year.)

Also, if your teen is exploring their sexuality, gender identity, or just trying to figure out who they are in a world full of labels and expectations, it can feel scary and isolating.

TIP: Be that safe space for your teen. Make sure they know they can come to you about anything and always put their mental health as a top priority. 

7. They Haven’t Found “Their People” Yet

Sometimes it just takes time. Your teen might not have met the kids who share their values, humor, or quirks yet. That gap can feel incredibly lonely, but it doesn’t mean those friendships won’t eventually come. Fitting in isn’t about being popular – it’s about being accepted, understood, and seen.

TIP: Here are a few practical tips to help your teen make friends. 

How to Help Your Teen When They Feel Like They Don’t Fit In

This can be a tough stage for teenagers where fitting in feels like everything, and not fitting in can feel like something’s wrong with them, even when there’s not. Here’s how you can help:  

 Listen (and Try to Resist Fixing)

ChatGPT said

Be your teen’s safe place to land. Let them know home is their non-judgmental place to just “be.” After all, it can be hard for them to admit, especially to you, that they’re feeling left out or that other kids don’t really “get them.” And if they’ve experienced any kind of bullying, they might be scared to admit it out of fear that you’ll make matters worse. Instead, start out listening – sometimes, they just want to vent, which can help them feel heard and understood.  

Normalize Their Feelings

Let them know it’s incredibly common to feel like an outsider during this time in their life – they’re definitely not alone, even if it feels that way. 

Praise Their Character Over Popularity

There’s a difference between being popular and being “well-liked.” Encourage them to strive to be well-liked and  remind them of the qualities they possess that make them likable, including their kindness, creativity, humor, or integrity, for instance – all things that matter far more than fitting in with the “in crowd.”

Remind them, too, that being different isn’t something they need to fix. Chances are, the very things that make them feel like they don’t fit in now may become their greatest strengths later.

Help Them Find Their People

Clubs, sports, hobbies, volunteering, online communities, and other shared interests – there are tons of ways teens can connect with and find like-minded kids just like them. They just have to be willing to take that first step.

Maybe there’s nothing at school that they want to try, so help them search for local clubs, classes at community colleges, or community groups that offer events that align with their interests and passions. 

Encourage a Digital Detox

Social media can trigger comparison, which can make teens feel even more alone. Help them take breaks and stay grounded in real-life relationships. 

Encourage a Heaping Dose of Self-Compassion

Remind your teen that everyone, including adults, has times when they feel left out or that they don’t fit in. It’s a normal part of being human. Remind them, too, that their teen years are usually the worst when it comes to these types of feelings. They will eventually find “their people”- they just have to stay true to themselves. 

If They’re Shy or Lack Social Skills… Give Them a Few Pointers

If your teen lacks social skills (they’re not alone, by the way!), help them out by giving them a few pointers – how to start a conversation with someone they don’t know, making sure they make eye contact, offering compliments, and asking open-ended questions to get the conversation rolling. A lot of teens need some guidance with face-to-face interactions since they spend so much of their time online. Try role-playing with your teen – it works!

If You’re Worried About Your Teen, Seek Help

Sometimes, our teens’ isolation or loneliness can persist and lead to significant distress. If you suspect your teen is struggling, reach out to your family doctor and/or a mental health professional for advice and guidance. Don’t let them suffer in silence. Therapists who work with teens can provide strategies to help your teen cope with social challenges and feelings of sadness or isolation. 

No matter how lost or left out your teen may feel, your steady love and support can be the anchor they need. You may not be able to change the world around them, but you can remind them every day that they belong.

 

If you enjoyed reading “My Teen Doesn’t Fit In and It’s Breaking My Heart,” here are a few other posts you might like!

Is Your Teen Lonely? 6 Possible Reasons Your Teen Doesn’t Have Friends

12 Things I Want My Teen Daughter to Know About Friendship

Teen Boys and Friendship Drama: 6 Tips on How to Handle It

Dear Teens: I Know it’s Hard, But Not All Friendships are Meant to Last

Dear Daughters,

Now you are both teenagers, looking at colleges, going to college, and discussing how you plan to decorate your first apartment. I hope I’ve done a good job preparing you for life alone, but I know I’ve missed a lot. This won’t make up for all those misses, but I still want to pass along a few things you need to know. Most of these, I’ve told you before, so look at this as your “what was it mom used to say about. . .” refresher course.

And if all else fails, text me. Feel free to text me even if all else isn’t failing. I like hearing from you.

Advice to my daughters

1. When in doubt, wash clothes in cold water gently.

2. Treat people gently, too.

3. You also want cold water to get out blood and chocolate.

4. The following words are good when buying chocolate: cocoa butter, cacao. The following words are bad: partially hydrogenated. Bad chocolate is sad, whereas good chocolate will improve your life.

5. Dish soap is great for dealing with that grease spot on your favorite t-shirt.

6. Hand sanitizer is great for getting ink and Christmas tree sap off your hands. To say nothing of 99.9% of germs, even though I know that is not good enough for the germophobes among us. Youngest child, I’m looking at you.

7. Ironing is a pain. To de-wrinkle your clothes, just throw them in the dryer on medium with a damp washcloth for a few minutes, then take them out immediately and give them a good shake. You can use the time while you’re waiting to text your mother.

8. If someday you’re trying to decide between buying a house with a clothesline and buying one without (and all other things are equal), pick the one with the clothesline. Sleeping on sheets that have been dried in fresh air and sunshine will automatically improve the quality of your life by about 50 percent.

9. As often as possible, try to “disrupt the world with grace” (Shane Claiborne).

10. Don’t be afraid of being a little nervous before you perform or do something else you don’t do every day. Your nerves are just telling you that you’re getting ready to do something amazing and out-of-the ordinary — which is why you don’t get nervous before you brush your teeth. Remember,

Anxiety is just a glimpse of your own daring. (Maria Shriver)

Dare to be daring.

11. Just because something is good doesn’t mean it’s good to do right now — a season for everything.

12. Pick heavy over light when buying lemons, limes, oranges, or grapefruit. More weight means more juice, which you want.

13. When you are tired, make yourself breathe deeply, drink more water, and get natural light into your eyes.

14. The best gifts show the person you’re giving them to that you’ve paid attention to when that person has mentioned what they like and don’t like. Bonus points if those gifts don’t require maintenance, storage, dusting, or batteries.

15. Right is right though all condemn, and wrong is wrong though all approve.(Charles Spurgeon)

Or, put another way, right is right even if no one else is doing it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone else is doing it.

16. Who you are is not something you have to wait for someone to give you. Who you are right now is already a gift.

17. True friends know a lot about you and like you anyway. Look for this kind of friend. Be this kind of friend.

18. If you’re thinking something nice about someone, tell them. Don’t let the thought stay stuck in your head. The world needs more encouragers.

19. Life is not about perfection. It’s about process and progress.

20. When you’re overwhelmed, do the (one) next right thing.

21 I like you. I love you. And being your mom is one of my life’s greatest joys and privileges.

More Great Reading:

17 Items to Cross Off Your To-Do List Before Your Teen Leaves for College You have done the shopping; here are the things that are much easier to do before they leave.

April 14, 2025

If you like games such as “would you rather” or “never have I ever” then you’ll love these “most likely to” questions! It’s a fun game to play with friends and pass the time if you’re on a road trip, sleepover, or just hanging out. It’s very interesting to see what your friends think about you! You never know if your friends think that you’re “most likely to go skydiving” or “most likely to become president”! Everyone gets to vote, so there are loads of opportunities for laughs and good banter.

What are “Most Likely To” Questions?

“Most likely to” questions are typically asked in a group of friends. One person has to come up with a question, and then everyone else selects who they think is most likely to do it. For example, if someone asks “who is most likely to become a professional athlete” then the participants will point to whoever is best at sports.

This game can also be played with smaller groups, as seen on tiktok trends online. In this variation, participants will have a list of questions, and point to themselves or the other people. Check out the following video to see how this is played with just 2 people.

Best Most Likely To Questions for Friends

1. Most likely to laugh at the wrong moment?
2. Most likely to burst out laughing in a quiet room?
3. Most likely to laugh until they cry?
4. Most likely to snort while laughing?
5. Most likely to do something weird just to make others laugh?
6. Most likely to be remembered for their laugh?
7. Most likely to talk to animals?
8. Most likely to make a dramatic entrance?
9. Most likely to start dancing in public?
10. Most likely to make a weird face in a photo?
11. Most likely to name their pet something ridiculous?
12. Most likely to prank call a pizza place?
13. Most likely to burst into song randomly?
14. Most likely to get into a heated debate over a silly topic?
15. Most likely to get caught talking to themselves?
16. Most likely to say “you too” to a waiter?
17. Most likely to wave back at someone who wasn’t waving at them?
18. Most likely to sing the wrong lyrics with confidence?
19. Most likely to use memes to explain something?
20. Most likely to dance every time their favorite song plays?
21. Most likely to make up their own slang?
22. Most likely to invent a secret handshake?

Embarrassing Most Likely To Questions

23. Most likely to trip over nothing?
24. Most likely to forget why they walked into a room?
25. Most likely to walk into a glass door?
26. Most likely to forget someone’s name immediately after hearing it?
27. Most likely to cry over spilled milk (literally)?
28. Most likely to get locked out of their house?
29. Most likely to fall asleep in class?
30. Most likely to get lost in their own neighborhood?
31. Most likely to forget their own phone number?
32. Most likely to choke while drinking water?
33. Most likely to sleep through their alarm?
34. Most likely to lose their phone twice in one day?
35. Most likely to walk into the wrong bathroom?
36. Most likely to forget their password?

Technology and Social Media

You don’t have to be together in person to ask most likely to questions, you can play in a group chat! Simply start off by asking who everyone in the group chat is the most likely to do something. These questions can be about anything, but if you want to make them about technology and social media, check out the following questions.

37. Most likely to accidentally like an old post while stalking?
38. Most likely to send a text to the wrong person?
39. Most likely to post something by accident?
40. Most likely to reply-all to an email by mistake?
41. Most likely to go viral on TikTok?
42. Most likely to become a famous YouTuber?
43. Most likely to become a meme?
44. Most likely to become a professional influencer?
45. Most likely to have an embarrassing childhood YouTube channel?
46. Most likely to send the funniest meme?
47. Most likely to have a secret identity online?
48. Most likely to forget to mute on a Zoom call?

Fashion Questions

Do you have a fashionable friend group? If so, consider the following list of most likely to questions!

49. Most likely to wear pajamas in public?
50. Most likely to wear clothes backward all day?
51. Most likely to have a cool aesthetic?
52. Most likely to design their own clothes?
53. Most likely to wear something totally unique?
54. Most likely to plan their outfits weeks in advance?
55. Most likely to color-coordinate everything they own?
56. Most likely to start a fashion trend?
57. Most likely to wear socks that don’t match?

Most Likely To Questions About School

Teens spend most of their time in school. That being said, there are a lot of questions to be asked! If you’re playing with classmates, these questions are great!

58. Most likely to become a teacher?
59. Most likely to be a class clown?
60. Most likely to ace a test without studying?
61. Most likely to run for class president?
62. Most likely to forget their homework?
63. Most likely to have the best yearbook quote?
64. Most likely to become valedictorian?
65. Most likely to get caught texting in class?
66. Most likely to doodle all over their notebook?
67. Most likely to start a school club?
68. Most likely to become principal?
69. Most likely to have a messy locker?
70. Most likely to get caught passing notes?
71. Most likely to skip gym class?
72. Most likely to forget their school ID?
73. Most likely to become a substitute teacher?
74. Most likely to ask too many questions in class?
75. Most likely to have a crush on the teacher?
76. Most likely to show up to the wrong class?
77. Most likely to be late to graduation?
78. Most likely to befriend the principal?

Questions About the Future and Success

When you’re young, you spend a lot of time thinking about what the future holds. What types of jobs you’ll have, what you’ll accomplish, and what your family will look like. To figure out what your friends think about each other, ask the following questions!

79. Most likely to become a millionaire?
80. Most likely to invent something important?
81. Most likely to start a business?
82. Most likely to write a bestselling book?
83. Most likely to run for office?
84. Most likely to work an online job?
85. Most likely to become a CEO?
86. Most likely to be on a TED Talk?
87. Most likely to solve a mystery?
88. Most likely to graduate early?
89. Most likely to speak at a conference?
90. Most likely to be on the news?
91. Most likely to start a nonprofit?
92. Most likely to win a science fair?
93. Most likely to become a judge?
94. Most likely to write for a major newspaper?
95. Most likely to go to an Ivy League school?
96. Most likely to be president one day?
97. Most likely to sing the national anthem at a major event?
98. Most likely to be on a billboard someday?

Hobbies

How well do you know your friend’s hobbies, talents, and interests? Ask the following most likely to questions to find out!

99. Most likely to write a hit song?
100. Most likely to become a fashion designer?
101. Most likely to act in a movie?
102. Most likely to direct a film?
103. Most likely to create a comic book?
104. Most likely to learn a new instrument just for fun?
105. Most likely to paint a mural?
106. Most likely to start an etsy shop?
107. Most likely to create a viral meme?
108. Most likely to write fanfiction?
109. Most likely to win an art contest?
110. Most likely to have a sketchbook with them?
111. Most likely to decorate their room like Pinterest?
112. Most likely to create a new dance?
113. Most likely to start their own magazine?
114. Most likely to build a robot?
115. Most likely to start a band?
116. Most likely to win a cosplay contest?
117. Most likely to learn five languages?
118. Most likely to start a podcast?
119. Most likely to open a bookstore?
120. Most likely to binge an entire video game in one weekend?
121. Most likely to run a fan account?
122. Most likely to host a trivia night?
123. Most likely to become a chess champion?
124. Most likely to teach themselves magic tricks?
125. Most likely to collect something unusual?
126. Most likely to be in multiple fandoms?
127. Most likely to win at karaoke night?
128. Most likely to build a Lego city?
129. Most likely to be in a fantasy football league?

Funny and Social Most Likely To Questions for Teens

Every friend group has their own unique social dynamics. For example, when friends want to go on a trip, there are usually some people who go all in on planning, while others just tag along for the ride. See what your friends think about each other from a social perspective by using the following who is most likely to questions!

130. Most likely to make friends everywhere they go?
131. Most likely to throw the best parties?
132. Most likely to talk to a stranger on a plane?
133. Most likely to start a conga line?
134. Most likely to crash a wedding?
135. Most likely to be the loudest in the room?
136. Most likely to remember everyone’s birthday?
137. Most likely to organize a group trip?
138. Most likely to host a game night?
139. Most likely to crash a party and get invited to stay?
140. Most likely to join every group chat?
141. Most likely to have 1,000+ contacts in their phone?
142. Most likely to be voted “most popular”?
143. Most likely to bring snacks to every hangout?
144. Most likely to throw a themed party for no reason?
145. Most likely to stay up all night just talking?

Questions for Introverts

Not everyone is a social butterfly, and that’s totally okay! I personally would rather stay at home with my cat rather than go to a party. We’ve put together a list of questions for more introverted people!

146. Most likely to read instead of party?
147. Most likely to ghost a group chat?
148. Most likely to cancel plans last minute?
149. Most likely to have deep thoughts but not say them?
150. Most likely to binge-watch a whole season alone?
151. Most likely to quietly become famous?
152. Most likely to avoid phone calls?
153. Most likely to bring snacks but not share them?
154. Most likely to spend hours on one perfect playlist?
155. Most likely to fall in love with a fictional character?
156. Most likely to have the weirdest search history?
157. Most likely to survive without internet the longest?
158. Most likely to have a playlist for every mood?
159. Most likely to own 20+ water bottles?
160. Most likely to pull an all-nighter for no reason?

Who Most Likely To Questions About Relationships and Romance

Most likely to questions about relationships and romance are a fun way to get some juicy gossip from your friends. These questions show what friends thing about each other’s love life. Whether you’re playing with friends, or asking questions to your boyfriend, these questions are very revealing!

161. Most likely to go on a dating show?
162. Most likely to plan their dream wedding at age 15?
163. Most likely to write love letters?
164. Most likely to have a secret crush?
165. Most likely to get married first?
166. Most likely to cry at a romantic movie?
167. Most likely to date someone totally opposite from them?
168. Most likely to have a long-distance relationship?
169. Most likely to post couple goals on Instagram?
170. Most likely to have a crush they never tell anyone about?
171. Most likely to write poetry about someone?
172. Most likely to go all out for Valentine’s Day?
173. Most likely to fall in love fast?
174. Most likely to be in a love triangle?
175. Most likely to get friend-zoned?
176. Most likely to propose with a flash mob?
177. Most likely to get caught daydreaming about their crush?
178. Most likely to have the best pickup lines?
179. Most likely to stay friends with all their exes?
180. Most likely to write a song about their crush?

Travel Questions

If you’re playing most likely to with travelers, consider asking question about travel habits! See how well you know each other with these travel questions!

181. Most likely to move to another country?
182. Most likely to hike a mountain for fun?
183. Most likely to get lost in a foreign city?
184. Most likely to road trip with no plan?
185. Most likely to live in a van?
186. Most likely to try exotic foods?
187. Most likely to become a travel blogger?
188. Most likely to go skydiving?
189. Most likely to backpack through Europe?
190. Most likely to miss their flight?
191. Most likely to forget to pack their toothpaste?
192. Most likely to learn how to surf?
193. Most likely to go camping without a tent?
194. Most likely to go on a cruise?
195. Most likely to get a tattoo while abroad?
196. Most likely to end up on a reality travel show?
197. Most likely to travel with just a backpack?
198. Most likely to get homesick after one day?
199. Most likely to go to space one day?

Unique Interests & Skills

200. Most likely to become a pro gamer?
201. Most likely to win a cooking competition?
202. Most likely to own 100 plants?
203. Most likely to get into extreme sports?
204. Most likely to own a pet that’s not a cat or dog?
205. Most likely to plan a trip just to try new food?
206. Most likely to teach themselves magic tricks?
207. Most likely to believe every horoscope?
208. Most likely to spend an hour in a bookstore?
209. Most likely to know every word of a movie?

Random Most Likely To Questions

210. Most likely to accidentally start a trend?
211. Most likely to believe in a crazy conspiracy theory?
212. Most likely to be the reason the group gets kicked out?
213. Most likely to own a llama farm?
214. Most likely to name their kid something totally unique?
215. Most likely to still use a flip phone?
216. Most likely to remember every useless fact?
217. Most likely to never stop talking?
218. Most likely to be late because of coffee?
219. Most likely to text “on my way” while still at home?
220. Most likely to start a group chat and mute it immediately?
221. Most likely to laugh at their own joke?
222. Most likely to forget what day it is?
223. Most likely to tell everyone about their dream last night?
224. Most likely to remember a random detail from years ago?
225. Most likely to cry during a commercial?
226. Most likely to cry happy tears?
227. Most likely to cry at the end of a book?

Personality Traits

228. Most likely to be famous but pretend they’re not?
229. Most likely to bring snacks for everyone?
230. Most likely to be everyone’s emergency contact?
231. Most likely to befriend a teacher?
232. Most likely to show up with a homemade gift?
233. Most likely to befriend someone just because of their playlist?
234. Most likely to start a weird hobby and master it?
235. Most likely to break a world record?
236. Most likely to win a reality TV show?
237. Most likely to plan their dream house at age 10?
238. Most likely to make a bucket list and actually do everything on it?
239. Most likely to journal every day?
240. Most likely to be mistaken for a celebrity?
241. Most likely to invent a new holiday?
242. Most likely to live in a tiny house?
243. Most likely to buy something just because it’s cute?
244. Most likely to have a themed birthday party every year?
245. Most likely to have a messy room but know where everything is?
246. Most likely to fall asleep at a party?
247. Most likely to narrate their day like a movie?
248. Most likely to pet every dog they see?
249. Most likely to have a crush they never tell anyone about?
250. Most likely to build a treehouse as an adult?

How to Play Who’s Most Likely To:

Start by gathering a group of friends and sit in a circle. One person reads a question out loud, like “Who’s most likely to sing in the shower?” Then, everyone points to the person they think fits the question best. You can count to three so everyone points at the same time. Leave some time to let people explain why they voted who they voted for, and have a good laugh. After that, the next person reads a new question. There is no score in this game, and there are no winners or losers. It’s simply a fun and casual game to pass the time.

Here is the best-kept secret about the college school year. It is about 15 minutes long. No sooner do kids return to college from spring break than they are ready to move back home for the summer. 

Moving into the college dorm or apartment was fun. The sheets and towels were new, the mattress topper was tightly packaged in its original box, and your college student was full of enthusiasm.  Moving out is not nearly so exciting.

This move back home has a distinctly different flavor. Now the dorm room is filthy with a layer of dust bunnies so thick you could scoop them with a spoon. Every article of clothing is dirty and strewn across every available surface. Moving out is the guerrilla move, the one that involves planning and hand-to-hand combat.

 Some might argue that kids should do this on their own, that this is their move, not ours, their parents.  But if you are like us, you have missed your college kids and are happy to have this small chance to help out. This is also a great opportunity to teach our teens and young adults about how to organize themselves for a move, and who wants to pass up a teachable moment?

So, Moms, Dads, deep breath, we are going in. Here are 11 steps to take to successfully move your kids from the college dorm back home for the summer or forever!

Moving out of the college dorm: 11 Step Plan

1. Coffee

If you show up in the morning with coffee, bagels or donuts, you will be a far more welcome presence. The night before was the last night of the school year and there is every chance that it was a late one. You child, his or her roommates, and any other parents around will be your new best friends when you come bearing Dunkin’ Donuts or the geographic equivalent.

2. Three piles

Before you arrive, ask your college student to think about three piles. Things they will need to use over the summer, items that will not be touched until next fall and those impulse buys that they never touched, didn’t really need, and should never have bought. If they separate their belongings into these piles before you arrive the whole move will go a lot smoother. However, if your kids are like mine, they will ignore you and have made no attempt at organization, and you will begin at square one after the Dunkin’ Donuts.

3. Discard

• Even if they have not made the requisite piles, ask them to do this before you get there:
• Separate their belongings from roommates (after a year this can be harder than it sounds)
• Throw out trash, wrappers, old papers, bottle and cans and that includes the moldy contents of the tiny refrigerator
• Return anything to the University that belongs to them and is not to be left in the room (sporting equipment or uniforms, library books…)
• Collect any belongings they may have lent to other students or left in lockers or elsewhere
• Arrange to have any rented items, small fridges, water coolers, etc picked up
• Make a trip to the campus bookstore with textbooks to sell back.

 

4. Dress for (moving) success

Dress for the part. It’s spring, it’s gorgeous you are visiting a college town. Resist all temptation to put on a pair of white jeans or sandals.  By the end of today you will be covered in sweat, dust and a layer of dorm filth that is beyond identification. Think Dirty Jobs meets Extreme Makeover and dress accordingly. If the day is searingly hot and sticky and you are considering dinner at a restaurant at any point before heading home, you might want a second set of clothing.

5. Packing genius

Big blue packing bags will save your life for this move out since they are both incredibly lightweight and incredibly durable. Trust on this – buy a multi pack and you will thank us every time your kid moves.

6. Need, Box for Next Fall, Never Used 

Make the piles – Need, Box for Next Fall, Never Used. If your student didn’t use an item consider throwing it out or leaving it. Moving things to and from school that they never touch is wasted energy. It is tempting for your kid to just blindly put it all in the car. It’s tempting for us to do that.

One of my sons and I moved a heavy blanket back and forth for four years, yet never opened the package. There were lots of people who could have used the blanket had we only donated it after freshman year. If your student has furnishings that have seen their full use and do not have a place back home, call GoodWill or Salvation Army to see if there is a day for campus pick up and make sure your kid gets them ready for that day. Quell all packrat tendencies and be ruthless in culling.

7. Pack, seal, store until fall

Pack according to need. Pack boxes of things that will not be touched all summer. They can be sealed, labeled and moved from the college dorm room to your basement and back again without being opened once and brought right back to school in the fall untouched. Bring a big marker to write on boxes. Our kids spend so much time online that they have few writing implements at hand.

8. Black garbage bags

Black garbage bags are another key to making this move happen with the least amount of stress and strain. Bring the whole box, your child’s roommates (and their parents) will thank you. Large black trash bags will do double duty as the function for which they were intended (there will be garbage, mountains of garbage) and as suitcases which fit, snugly and perfectly, into your car.

9. White garbage bags

For clothing items that you do not want to throw into black garbage bags, this solution is utter genius.   As the photo shows, some white tall kitchen trash bags for clothes on hangers is an easy way to move.  Just bring along a box of kitchen trash bags and masking tape, grab the whole lot, and off you go.

10. Ship

Your student’s belongings may not fit neatly into your car or the boxes they once used. Be prepared with the address, and hours of operation, of the closest UPS or FedEx before you leave home and bring along some shipping-ready boxes. You may have to shuttle a few loads to ship back before you pack up the car for the ride home.

11. Store

Research on-campus or local storage options before you plan the big move. Moves don’t come cheap and, in a mere three months, you are going to reverse this process. In some cases it might be less expensive to just store the stuff locally. Or does your student have a friend who lives in town whose parents would not mind storing a box or two in their basement?

The good news? You are going to get out far quicker than you got in. The bad news, it won’t be pretty. Yet we have found along with the chaos, the filth and the logistics, these are wonderful days spent alongside our near adults and we wouldn’t trade that for anything.

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College Graduation Gifts for 2025 Grads

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I’m trying to remember how we marked the occasion of my high school graduation, and I can’t. Maybe it’s because there wasn’t a big, overblown celebration, but more realistically, it was over 30 years ago. Either way, I’m drawing a blank.

Because I’m not talking about the adorable little low-key inexpensive graduation party with family and close friends in the backyard with grilled hamburgers, a cooler of iced-down beverages, a few balloons, and a sheet cake from Kroger.

I’m talking about The Grad Party: months of pre-planning via Pinterest, a color theme, invitations from Shutterfly or Minted, guest lists including (but not limited to) an entire friend list on Facebook, posters with artfully placed photos of the grad from childhood through high school, rented tents, tables, and chairs, landscaping and home décor updates, signature beverages (bubble tea, anyone?), and extensive, creative catering (I’ve been to one where they had a mobile wood-burning pizza oven).

The first time I went to one of these outrageous parties and saw the multiple, elaborate photo displays propped around the room on easels and watched the digital slideshow playing on a loop while enjoying a catered lunch from the local country club, I honestly felt like I was at a memorial service (and yes, of course, I felt terrible about having that thought). But still, the similarities were eerie. 

When my older daughter was a senior, she chose not to have The Grad Party. The thought of being the center of attention in a room full of people who were more acquaintances than true friends made her panic.

And although I spent about an hour mourning the loss of creating cute, crafty centerpieces and putting my cabinet full of unused scrapbooking supplies to use on kick-ass photo collage posters, I was relieved.

I had enough stress in my life just trying to make sense of the complicated tangle of feelings I was grappling with as graduation loomed closer. 

Perhaps it’s regional, but in Arizona (where I graduated) in the late 80s, the big, extravagant Grad Party wasn’t a thing, and other than all the obligatory cash from the guests that certainly would’ve come in handy when purchasing my green and pink floral Laura Ashley comforter set for my dorm room, I don’t feel like I missed out.

Going bonkers with these parties still feels a bit weird to me and like something that is often done more for the parent and the appearance they feel they need to present than for the actual graduate. 

Listen, if you’re Team Grad Party, I get where you’re coming from. I honestly do. I know that for many (many, many) of you, throwing a balls-out bash to celebrate not only your grad’s accomplishments but also your pride and triumph at this moment is fun and essential and is something you’ve probably been looking forward to, and planning for years (but really, I know people who have been planning this party for years).

For whatever reason, it’s meaningful for you to go big or home. And I’ll happily come to your rented tent and sip a freshly squeezed mimosa (that a hired bartender made for me) from a whimsically striped paper straw while eating an Artisan cupcake out of a mason jar and perusing your child’s scrapbooks, jerseys, and dance costumes from years past. And then I’ll just as happily go home to a house I don’t have to clean. 

This year my younger daughter has also opted out of a big, outlandish fête, a decision that, once again, my cholesterol, REM sleep, and checkbook are big fans of. Will we still make her graduation a big deal in a different way? Certainly! We’re just choosing to keep it simple, which I know many of you favor doing, too. 

So if, like my family, you also don’t need the stress of The Grad Party in your life, here are a few other ways to commemorate the big occasion…without clearing space in your backyard for a bounce house. 

Six inexpensive alternatives to a big graduation party

1. Throw them a grad party (lowercase)

I know, I know. It sounds like I’m contradicting myself, but hear me out.  A party is still a perfect way to celebrate, but you don’t have to go to “photo booth in the garage” extremes to do it.

When my older daughter graduated, we had a small brunch at home and invited our close family friends, people she’d known and who’d known her well for years. Later in the summer, we had a going away BBQ with her closest friends and their families, which was more intimate and meaningful than a gigantic party anyway.

The point is, it’s possible to have an inexpensive party — or even joint one with other families — and it still is unique and memorable, even without a Ben & Jerry’s truck parked in your driveway. 

Another inexpensive party idea? Move the celebration to a restaurant for a lovely brunch or a special dinner with a handful of guests close to your graduation. Many have small rooms you can rent for the occasion, so you can still bring some festive decorations…and display a few of the photo boards you know you’re dying to make. 

2. Take them on a trip

Many people I know have used the money they’d have spent on a big grad party to take a summer graduation trip instead. (And the fact that one person I talked to told me their entire family of five went to Europe for two weeks told me all I needed to know about how big her Grad Party would’ve been.)

A memorable trip can look many different ways, from a weekend getaway with a close friend or two at a local hotel to jetting off to a place your grad has always wanted to go. The memories made will matter far more than the location. 

3. Tickets to a concert, play, spa day, etc.

Spending quality time at a fun event with family &/or high school friends who will soon possibly be hundreds of miles away is a great way to celebrate your graduate without having to clean your carpets.

4. Give time and/or money to a cause that’s important to them

Whether your grad is an activist or just someone with a big heart, giving the money — or a portion — you’d spend on a party to an organization they care about is a terrific way to honor their graduation.

And if money is an issue (see: college tuition), simply making the time to volunteer with your grad isn’t just a unique way to recognize what’s important to them but a meaningful way to spend some of the fleeting days together before they go to college.

5. Get them a special gift

A new laptop for college, an updated phone, a keepsake piece of jewelry: gifting your grad with something a bit outrageous instead of blowing the hard-earned money on party guests might be a more practical way for some folks to spend it and actually might be more helpful or unique to your grad (who is the person all this is for, remember?).

6. Give them the party money and let them decide what to do it

Having a bit of a “nest egg” — no matter the amount — for them to use on the many extras that college brings (sorority or fraternity expenses, a spring break trip, study abroad, a sassy new pair of boots, etc.) is an option many grads are willing to trade a big party for. 

Since the alleviation of The Grad Party stress HAD NO PRICETAG — we gave my daughter the money we’d have spent on one. Wait, let me clarify that: we gave her a very, very small portion of what we’d have spent on it, which she saved and used toward travel expenses when she studied abroad in Australia during her junior year of college, something that was infinitely more memorable for her than having catered tacos at a party in the stressful month after high school graduation.

Don’t do anything 

Honestly, it’s okay. Maybe college tuition and all the accompanying expenses must be enough. Maybe there are extenuating circumstances in your family that prevent it. Perhaps some of you can’t swing a separate celebration of any kind. Or maybe you don’t have the energy to. It doesn’t mean you aren’t as proud of your grad as the neighbors, no matter how much their social media posts attempt to make you feel otherwise. 

However you decide to honor and celebrate your graduate — a big party, a small, inexpensive party, a big trip, a short trip, brunch, spa day, concert, unique gift, or a simple gesture — make sure the meaning of this critical time in your lives doesn’t get lost in the details or in what you feel the expectations are. But even more importantly? Make sure your graduate doesn’t.  

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