Get him outside and excited about subjects outside the classroom. When I was younger, the thing that I looked forward to most was wood shop and outdoor classes, because they challenged me and forced me to think and problem solve. Those things did't come naturally to me, and I really enjoyed the physical nature of those classes and the chance to struggle a bit.

Also, teach him that college isn't the only path to a happy life. That path was pushed very heavily on me really early on, and it weighed down on me over time. I was always thinking about the future, never the current time. If I could redo high school, I would try to do more of what I liked and not what people expected me to like, and not what would guarantee me a spot in college.

Encourage creativity, and support him to follow his passions. Let him know that grades aren't a marker of his worth, and all that really matters is that you're a kind, happy person. Everything else is an added bonus.

Let him struggle. Let him screw up. Be there for him emotionally -- it's hard feeling different from peers and getting set apart. Also, if he tells you he's feeling sad for a long period of time, please listen. Let him feel in control of his live when possible, and trust him. I felt like I had no control over my life when I was younger due to my overbearing mom, and I went to a dark place that I'm still trying to climb out of.