High School Hamster Wheel

Today I am joined by Marcia Wall. Marcia is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator and a Certified Career Services Provider through the National Career Development Association. She is also certified to coach people who cope with mental illness and/or substance abuse issues. In today's episode. Marcia and I will be discussing two words you may or may not be familiar with: Happenstance and Coddiwampling. Both two very fun words to say. But more importantly, two words that can have a big impact on our lives both personally and professionally. During our conversation, we talk about the importance of learning to be curious, flexible, and optimistic. We live in an unpredictable world and Marcia provides valuable insight and advice about how to navigate the uncertainty and indecision. She also shares why a growth mindset is fundamental for our kids' success and why they need to learn to have faith in themselves. Be sure to stay tuned for Marcia's actionable tips for parents of teens. Now let's get started. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I am joined by Nicole Precourt. Nicole is a Career and Educational Counselor and the owner of Waves of Change Careers. Nicole and I met in an online group for career coaches and counselors and immediately connected. We share a passion for helping teens and young adults explore and prepare for future careers. It's become unfortunately clear to both of us that many students are graduating college without the career readiness skills that they need. During our conversation, Nicole and I talk about what students can be doing to develop the skills and strategies they need to be prepared for post-college employment and how they can stand out against all of the other recent graduates applying to the same jobs. This episode is packed full of valuable tips for networking, skills-building, and career exploration, so invite your college students and recent grads to listen along with you. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Counseling Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I am super excited to welcome Erin Lewber to the podcast. I met Erin recently on LinkedIn. I had been following Erin for a while and knew I had to reach out to her. Erin brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the show gained through her years of experience in staffing, recruiting, leadership and career coaching. During our conversation, we discuss today's job search trends and the future of work. Erin shares valuable advice on knowing how to tell your story, how to ask good questions and why it's important to learn to embrace the discomfort of being wrong. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Counseling Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, I am thrilled to welcome Leah Jewell back to the podcast. You might remember Leah from episode 30 when we talked about the future of work for teens and young adults. It's hard to believe that our conversation was THREE years ago. The future of work has changed dramatically in that short time and I'm delighted that Leah agreed to come back to talk more about this important topic. Since we last spoke, Leah has co-founded an amazing new company called Work Simplr that you will want to share with your teens and young adults. The company's mission is to connect students to paid work and from what I've seen, they are succeeding. Leah shares all the details about Work Simplr and how students can get started. And you'll want to stay tuned till the end when Leah and I talk about AI and how it will likely impact the future of work for teens, young adults, and well, all of us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, I am thrilled to welcome Deepali Vyas to the podcast. After spending a good part of her career in executive recruiting, Deepali has her finger on the pulse of the career landscape and what employers are looking for, and she has made it her mission to bring valuable advice and an amazing digital platform to help young people on their journey.  During our discussion, Deepali shares how and when she got her first taste of entrepreneurship and how it actually helped prepare her for her future career. We talk about helping teens and young adults focus on what they are good at and why it's more important to follow your strengths rather than your passion. You won't want to miss learning about Fearless+, the positive online experience that Deepali and her team built to inspire and motivate teens. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, I am thrilled to welcome Devon Turcotte to the podcast. Devon is a career advisor and the owner of Careerified. She has worked with thousands of teens, parents, and educators throughout her career and she is a wealth of information and insight related to helping young people build meaningful careers. During our conversation, Devon and I discuss the importance of career exploration in high school and how it can be a valuable tool when choosing a post-high school path. We also talk about the harm that social media is having on our kids' mental health. You won't want to miss Devon's advice regarding the value of gap year experiences for teens that are feeling stuck about what to do after high school. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Counseling Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I am thrilled to welcome Beth Probst to the show. Beth is the founder and CEO of At The Core. She has inspired parents of college-bound students to think strategically about how to select the best-fit college, major, and career so they don't end up wasting precious time, energy, and money. In today's episode, we're focused on middle schoolers and why it's not too early to be talking to them about careers. No, we're not talking about helping them choose a career in middle school and stick with it. What we are talking about is starting to plant the seeds and open up the window to exploration and awareness. Students in middle school and even younger are exposed to careers every day, whether it's through television, on the internet, or in real life. They see people working in education, medicine, retail, and other fields. And that's helpful but what's even more helpful is helping them learn more about themselves - what they enjoy, what they are good at, what they don't enjoy, and what they can't see themselves doing. During our conversation, Beth shares lots of helpful tips for parents to help get teenagers talking about careers. She also believes, as do I, that self-assessment is a huge part of the process. What about passion? Do teens need to have a passion in order to find a successful career? Stay tuned to hear Beth's perspective on that. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Counseling Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm super excited to bring you this episode. It is timely and relevant and provides amazing tips and advice for anyone who is interested in learning more about how to optimize their career search journey. My guest today is Jeremy Schifeling. Jeremy has devoted his career to helping others succeed in theirs. From teaching kindergarten in Brooklyn to recruiting top students at Teach For America to leading education marketing at LinkedIn, he's touched the lives of millions of people at every stage of their journeys. Along the way, he's published the best-selling LinkedIn book on Amazon, served as a career coach for military veterans at Shift.org and MBA students at the University of Michigan, and produced the most-viewed video in LinkedIn's history. He currently leads marketing at Khan Academy and shares his thoughts on Break into Tech, a site for anyone who wants to launch a tech career. If you are interested in learning about AI chat models like ChatGPT and how they can help you in your job search, or if you have no idea what ChatGPT is and you are now sort of curious, you are definitely going to want to listen to my conversation with Jeremy. And if you want to learn how to start using or improve your skills using LinkedIn, again, you definitely want to listen to this conversation. Our world continues to evolve and like it or not, technology continues to play an important role in just about everything we do. The job market is becoming more competitive than ever. Wouldn't it be great if we knew how to tap into tools and tech that would give us an advantage when seeking a new job or career? I'm happy to report that my conversation with Jeremy will provide just that. In the next 30 or so minutes you'll hear it straight from an expert regarding the power of LinkedIn and how to use AI to simplify and improve your career search process. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Counseling Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am joined today by Jean Eddy. Jean is the President and CEO of American Student Assistance (ASA), where she develops and drives the overall strategic direction of the organization. During Jean's tenure, ASA has pivoted to a new focus on helping students discover potential career paths earlier in their education journey. As you'll hear during this episode, Jean is someone who has unlimited passion and commitment to helping kids, as early as middle school to know themselves, know their options, and make informed choices about their education and career goals.  During our conversation, we discuss why middle school (or earlier) is the right time for students to “test and try” and why relevance is so important to students when learning subjects in school. Jean discusses several tools that ASA has brilliantly developed for cell phones - meet them where they are, right? - that make exploration fun. Jean shares a number of amazing resources and websites that you'll want to check out too, so be sure to check out the show notes where all links will be included. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Counseling Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you know or you are a current college student or a student preparing for college, this is a conversation you will not want to miss. And if you are a parent who has helped your teen through the college application process then today's guest likely needs no introduction. I am beyond thrilled to welcome Jeff Selingo to the podcast. For those who may not know, Jeff is a well-known journalist and respected thought leader in the areas of higher education and the future of work. Through his newsletter, best-selling books, including his recent “Who Gets In and Why”, and his weekly podcast, Jeff continues to share important insights and experiences with his audience. And today that includes my audience, too. During our conversation, Jeff and I discuss the future of education and work and where change needs to occur. He also shares why skills are so important in addition to a college degree. And be sure to stick around to hear Jeff's advice for finding career-based active learning opportunities as great alternatives to internships. This interview is chock-full of valuable advice and many actionable tips for current and soon-to-be college students. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Counseling Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I am thrilled to welcome Jacki Ducci back to the podcast. You might remember Jackie from my conversation with her early on in the podcast, episode 18. When Jackie first joined me just about three years ago, she was running her own business, a talent acquisition agency with an astounding 90 percent success rate placing candidates in long-term positions. By all accounts, Jackie was crushing it in her career. But despite all of her success, Jackie felt pulled in another direction. So last year, she left her career in recruiting and founded the Human-Animal Alliance, whose mission is to transform lives nationwide through the power and value of the human-animal bond. During our conversation, Jackie and I talk about helping young people find a career that matters, how one adult's words can shatter a teenager's dreams, and why it's never too late to pivot in a career. Jackie's passion for animals is evident in the work that she does. If you know a teen or young adult who wants to work with animals but doesn't want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, this is a conversation you will want to hear. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is relevant to anyone who drives a car, flips on a light switch, or flushes their toilet. That's pretty much every single one of us, isn't it? Today's conversation is all about the trades. And no matter what you think about blue-collar careers, they are critically important for the future of our society. My guest today is Aaron Witt, self-proclaimed "Chief Dirt Nerd" and CEO of BuildWitt, a marketing and software business focused on helping the Dirt World (infrastructure and natural resources) solve its workforce challenge. During our conversation, Aaron shares his journey from high school, through college, to starting his own very successful business. We talk about the continuing need for trade workers and how parents can help their kids explore and pursue a lucrative career in the trades. Be sure to stay tuned to learn more about how a college degree might be helpful in the trade industry and why the “dirt world” is a cool place to work. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's conversation is one that really resonated with me. As a teenager, I had no idea what I wanted for my life. I didn't know where I was going and more importantly, I don't think I really knew what mattered to me. Today I am joined by Mike Marriner of Roadtrip Nation. If you aren't familiar with Mike or his mission, this is your lucky day. Mike is the founder and president of Roadtrip Nation, a mission-driven nonprofit in storytelling and education. Right after college, Mike and his friends hit the road in their bright green RV to capture empowering stories that would provide young people with the confidence and tools to find a career that matters to them. During our conversation, Mike talks about the origin of Roadtrip Nation and he shares some of the stories they collected along the way. After listening to our conversation, I highly recommend checking out the RoadTrip Nation YouTube channel and sharing it with the young people in your life. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is one that is near and dear to my heart. It's all about career exploration and planning in the K-12 years. My guest today is Karin Smith. Karin is an Educational Consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction specializing in Academic and Career Planning, Dual Enrollment, and Career Pathways. I wish every school district in America had a Karin leading their career planning efforts. The work that Karin and her team are doing is making an enormous difference in the lives of students, giving meaning and relevance to their learning. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or administrator, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have been listening for a while, you might remember Michael Horn from episode 15 of the podcast. Last time we talked about his book, Choosing College, and how students and parents go about selecting a college. If you haven't listened to that episode or read that book, I highly recommend it! Today, we're talking about Michael's newest book, Reopen to Reinvent: (Re)Creating School for Every Child. If you are like me, frustrated with the broken system of public education, this is a conversation you will want to hear. Michael has issued a call to action for educators to reinvent and reimagine education as we know it. We all need to be asking one very important question: “What do we want kids to be able to do when they leave high school?” and then deliver that in our schools. There's a lot to unpack here, including how parents can play an active role and be part of the solution. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am thrilled to welcome Lisa Sosnowski to the podcast. Lisa is one of the most passionate, dedicated, big-hearted people I've met in my life. Her mission is to create a better world for people with autism through high-quality training and community. When Lisa's young son was diagnosed with autism, she left her career in accounting to care for her son and to make sure that he was getting the best education and care possible. What she found over the years was that there were a lot of gaps in the services offered and that the services they did encounter weren't providing what her son needed. Rather than sit back and complain about it, Lisa took matters into her own hands and spent years educating herself and connecting with people and resources who could make a difference. The result of all of her time and dedication led Lisa to her vision: creating a world in which people with autism can live and learn and become more independent. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is very special to me. My firstborn son graduated from high school this week and it's been a rollercoaster of emotion as we prepare to send him off to college in the fall. In addition to that big adjustment, my family is making a huge move from Florida to New Jersey this summer. Needless to say that I am up to my elbows in packing material and tissues as I burst into spontaneous tears more frequently as the days go on. Twelve years ago, we moved to our Florida home, and almost immediately, our boys made friends in the neighborhood. Little did we know back then that these would be friendships that would last a lifetime. It started out as six boys (who I lovingly refer to as the “six-pack”) and then over the past twelve years, the group grew to include several more. I've watched these kids grow up together through elementary school, then middle school, and finally high school. Some will be headed in the same direction this fall (Go Knights! Charge On!) and others will take a different path. As a gift to me, I asked this gang of high school grads to join me for this episode. We talk about their high school experience, what they wish was different about the past four years, and the stress they endured. Be sure to listen to the end as they offer their advice to incoming freshman and their parents. Just a quick note for my listeners… this will be my last podcast episode until Fall. I will be packing up my microphone along with the contents of our home and moving it all to NJ this summer and I will return in September. I'll be on social media here and there but not much. I am actually looking forward to a bit of a disconnect for a while. Please know I will still be available by email. It might just take me a little bit to reply. So feel free to reach out. I'd love to hear how things are going with you and your teens. All that said, please enjoy this conversation with my favorite high school graduates. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, I am joined by Jill and Dave Henry, authors of “The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed.” Not only are they published authors, but they are also parents and high school athletic coaches. In researching their book, Jill and Dave talked to hundreds of students as they developed this amazing “how-to manual” about how to manage food, booze, stress, sex, sleep, and exercise on campus. During our conversation, Dave and Jill explain why students struggle so much after high school and how parents can best support their children during the college years. They also share valuable tips for parents when talking to teens about alcohol and why it's so important that our kids know their limits. Some of the topics that we discuss might make some listeners uncomfortable, but I truly believe that it is important that we have these conversations with our teens now, to prepare them for what lies ahead. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I am joined by Stephanie Haynes. Stephanie is an Education Coach and Consultant providing custom educational consulting and coaching for high school students, educators, and schools that equips all stakeholders to build a pathway to a successful future that teens are excited to pursue. She is also the author of “College Is Not Mandatory: A Parent's Guide to Navigating All the Options Available to Our Kids After High School”. During our conversation, Stephanie provides insight as to why teens seem to be lacking in motivation right now and why parents need to abandon their fear of missing out (FOMO) mindset. You won't want to miss Stephanie's valuable advice on how to get your teens talking about their life after high school. This episode is packed full of helpful tips and actionable steps for parents of teens. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If I asked you to walk into your kitchen pantry and tell me what was on your shelves, what would be the first three items you would list? I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that we have way too many carbs on our pantry shelves and more processed food than we should. Most of the time, I can walk on by and avoid eating those unhealthy foods but my teenagers are another story. Chips, cookies, and the "can't live without it" mac and cheese are probably our biggest culprits. I try to limit those snacks within our home but if I'm being honest, I could definitely do better. But even if I do clean up our pantry, how do I encourage my teens to eat better outside the home? And when they head off to college or career or wherever they go, then what? My guest today is here to help! I'm thrilled to welcome Renata Cambria to the podcast. Renata is a board-certified health coach and the founder of Create Health Coaching. During our conversation, Renata shares the benefits of healthy eating starting at a young age. She also explains the importance of the gut-brain connection and why some hormonal imbalances may be nutrition-related. Be sure to stick around till the end when Renata offers actionable tips and strategies for parents to guide their children to become healthy eaters. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready for a conversation that will make you rethink the traditional ways of post-high school education. My guest today is Abby Brody. Abby is a mother on a mission to bring education to meet the needs of the modern student and the knowledge-based economy. She is also a co-founder of The MYX, a personalized outcome-based approach to higher education that puts purpose and experience first. During our conversation, Abby explains why The MYX was created and how it works. We also discuss the importance of creating flexible learning ecosystems and why we need to give the power back to students. Abby shares why meaning in learning is critical for success and how to ensure that learning is “sticky”. There's a lot to unpack here so be sure to listen all the way to the end. One more special note about today's episode - I am joined in this episode by my new friend and podcast apprentice, Carson Greenberg. Carson reached out to me recently to ask if I would consider having him as an apprentice for the podcast. Of course, I said yes! Carson has been involved in the researching, planning, producing, and editing of this episode, and spoiler alert - he also participates in the interview! Carson is one of the sharpest (and funniest!) teenagers I've had the pleasure to work with and I'm grateful for his expertise and perspective. I wouldn't be surprised if Carson ends up with his own podcast one day soon. So without further ado, please enjoy our conversation with Abby Brody. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a special one and it's personal for me. I had the pleasure of being a guest on the Your Teen podcast a few weeks ago. Susan Borison and Stephanie Silverman have become two of my favorite podcasters and also my new BFFs. The three of us thought it would be fun if I turned the mic around and interviewed them about what it's like to send your firstborn off to college. My son will be starting college this fall and will be living far from home. I'm starting to prepare myself for all of the change and worry that is coming my way and I could definitely use some reassurance. Sue and Steph to the rescue! I pummeled them with questions and they gave me helpful honest answers that I hope will help you too. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you are a loyal listener, then you are well aware that I am passionate about today's topic. In this episode, I am joined by Tom Pike. Tom is the founder of Jump Education, an educational consulting service that helps families and teens understand the benefits of Early College and how to access that path. I am all about helping young people find the path that is best for them and the early college path is one that is definitely worth exploring. During our conversation, Tom explains what early college is and the types of students that will do well with early college. He also outlines the many benefits of early college related to mental health, finances, engagement, customization, and educational outcomes. It's no secret that our public school systems are struggling due to a lack of teacher retention and outdated standards that just don't fit today's learners. If your teen is fed up with high school and has lost their passion for learning, sit down next to them and hit the play button. You won't regret it. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is one of my favorite topics as it is related to helping young people plan for the world of work. My guest today is Mark Herschberg, author of The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You. Mark has spent his career launching and developing new ventures at startups and Fortune 500s as well as in academia. During our conversation, Mark shares lots of helpful tips for young people embarking on a new career but his advice is valuable for job seekers of any age. We talk a lot about mentors - why they are important and how to find the right one. And be sure to listen to the end when Mark talks about the FREE career toolkit app that he created. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we are talking about aptitudes and why they are important. But what exactly are aptitudes and how are they different from abilities? I'm glad you asked! My guest today is Betsy Wills. Betsy is the founder of YouScience, the career assessment tool that I use in my coaching practice. If you are a data nerd like I am, you are in for a treat. During our conversation, Betsy shares the origin of YouScience, why it's so different from other assessment tools, and how to identify career opportunities that are a good fit for your aptitudes, abilities, interests, and values. Stick around to hear Betsy walk through a portion of my own personal YouScience results and how I can apply them in my life. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I am welcoming Jane and Jason Sarouhan back to the podcast. They are the owners of J2Guides, a gap year counseling service. You might remember them from episodes 16, 26, and 55. Yes, they are my most-frequent guests here on the pod, and there's a reason for that. There has never been a better time for a gap year and there is no one better to inform and educate on this topic than Jason and Jane. In this episode, we are focusing on gap year experiences for neurodiverse and non-traditional learners. There are a plethora of amazing gap experiences available for all types of individuals, and if families just spend some time and do their research, they will be able to find the perfect fit for their teen or young adult. During our conversation, Jane and Jason dispel some of the myths about gap years and they share some data related to college student success rates following gap years. Spoiler alert: just about every college-bound student who pauses to take a gap year not only attends college but ends up finishing faster than the average student. Don't believe me? Check out the link to supporting data in the show notes. Jane and Jason also provide helpful information about gap experiences that will not only support neurodiverse learners but will help them build valuable life skills and develop more independence. As always, Jane and Jason bring tons of information, insight, and advice to our conversation and I'm grateful for the work that they do. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, I am delighted to welcome a great friend and someone I've admired for a long time. Ann Imig is a positive psychology certified life coach at listenlifecoaching.com. Ann and I met when our firstborn kiddos were in preschool (over a decade ago). We moved away shortly thereafter but Ann and I have stayed connected over the years. Ann has traveled a very interesting and successful journey and she shares more about that in this episode. During our conversation, Ann explains what positive psychology is, how we can apply it in our lives and how we can use it to help our teens thrive. Ann shares some tips about helping our teens conquer the college application process - she and I are both watching our kids go through that right now and it is no picnic. Be sure to stick around to hear Ann's valuable advice for parents of teens. Our conversation is fun and informative and filled with lots of helpful tips from Ann. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is one that you won't want to miss. It's no secret that I am passionate about education, especially when it comes to our teens. And while it doesn't make me popular with some people, I tend to speak up about the critical need for education reform in our schools. For me, it's not so much about education but about learning and how we can fix a broken system so that the young people of today will be equipped for the future. This isn't just about college prep or career planning. Don't get me wrong, those are important too. But I am talking about the impact that our current education system has on our kids' ability to learn, to build skills, to explore, be curious and gain confidence and self-worth. I'm beyond thrilled to welcome Dr. Sonn Sam to the podcast today. Dr. Sam is the Regional Director with Big Picture Learning, a national and international network of schools committed to activating the potential of schools, systems, and education through student-driven, real-world learning. He has been an innovative educator for over 18 years. During our conversation, Dr. Sam talks about his own journey through high school and how it impacted the work he does today. He also shares how we can provide students with authentic opportunities to solve real-world problems. You won't want to miss Dr. Sam's perspective on what needs to change and how that change is already underway. It's conversations like this that remind me why I pivoted in this direction in the first place. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'm excited to bring you not one but two amazing guests. Cynthia C. Muchnick, M.A. & Jenn Curtis, M.S.W. are the co-authors of The Parent Compass: Navigating Your Teen's Wellness and Academic Journey in Today's Competitive World. You might be wondering right now... just what is the Parent Compass? Well, I'm glad you asked! During our conversation, Jenn and Cindy share how and why they wrote their book. They will also provide their expert advice for helping our teens learn how to develop grit and resilience and why nothing matters more than our relationship with our teens. Be sure to stick around until the end when they talk about our number one job as parents. Along with advice and insight, after listening to our conversation, you'll walk away with actionable steps that you can put in place today. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, I am delighted to welcome Dr. Thomas Welch to the podcast. Dr. Welch is a child and family clinical psychologist and leading expert in working with neurodiverse young people and their families. He specializes in working with those on the autism spectrum, and those identified as Twice Exceptional (2e). Dr. Welch is also the author of “The Breakaway: A Parent's Guide to Transitioning the Autistic and Twice Exceptional Adolescent Into Young Adulthood.” During our conversation, Dr. Welch offers valuable insights about the best ways to help neurodiverse teens transition through and beyond adolescence. He also explains the five stages of change as well as the biggest mistake that parents make. You won't want to miss Dr. Welch's expert advice on equipping teens with the most important skills needed to succeed in the world. Whether you have a neurodivergent teen or not, this is a must-listen for parents. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest brings a ton of value to the show. Today I'm thrilled to introduce you to Jennifer Cook-DeRosa. Jennifer is the founder and executive director of Homeschooling for College Credit. If you aren't familiar with it, Homeschooling for College Credit is an online support community that is free to join and run entirely by volunteers. Each year, this social organization helps thousands of homeschooling families learn how to inject college credit into their homeschool programs. If your family is not homeschooling and/or doesn't have teenagers, stick around anyway because Jennifer shares lots of helpful tips and suggestions for ANYONE who wants to earn college credits through alternative methods. During our conversation we talk about dual enrollment, earning credits through testing, and why transferability is so important. Jennifer also shares her journey through earning her own four-year college degree in just 18 months. Be sure to share this one with every parent of a high schooler that you know. It's a game-changer for parents of teens. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is Dr. Adam Price. Dr. Price is a clinical psychologist with more than 20 years of experience working with children and teens. He is also the author of “He's Not Lazy: Empowering Your Son to Believe in Himself.” During our conversation, Dr. Price explains what he means when he says that teenagers aren't lazy. We also discuss the true underlying issue that causes our teens to opt out, and why Dr. Price believes that we must encourage our teens to do things that make them feel proud. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is number 4 in a 4-part series on skilled trades and blue-collar careers. I hope you have enjoyed hearing the first three interviews as much as I have enjoyed doing them. Prepare to be blown away by this week's guest. I am beyond thrilled to welcome Aaron Valencia to the podcast. Aaron is the Executive Director and Founder of the Lost Angels Children's Project and an extraordinary human. His goal is to provide young people with the tools they need to succeed and help open doors and opportunities that improve their quality of life. He thrives on teaching and empowering youth in the local community to rise above their circumstances. During our conversation, Aaron shares his motivation for starting Lost Angels Children's Project, why he and his team are teaching more than just trade skills and what parents can do to support a teen who is struggling with addiction. You won't want to miss Aaron's advice for young people who are interested in careers in the trades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've been listening to my two most recent episodes, you already know that I'm publishing a four-part series about jobs in the trades and blue-collar careers. It's no secret that tradespeople are in high demand and that there just aren't enough workers to fill jobs that exist today, not to mention in the coming years. My guest today is Ken Rusk. You might remember Ken from episode 62. It's been a while since Ken was here and he is back with some exciting news and a brand new course to help people of any age find their way to a life of comfort, peace, and freedom. For those who aren't familiar with Ken, he has had quite an amazing journey as a blue-collar entrepreneur beginning as a ditch digger while in his teens, and now decades later as a highly successful business owner. During our conversation, Ken shares his wisdom and experience on topics including the power of young money, and why our teens should learn how to visualize their future, much like they would when planning a vacation. And you won't want to miss Ken's advice about turning "IF goals" into "WHEN goals". Register for Ken's course today with this exclusive offer for my listeners! Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode is number two in a series of four highlighting blue-collar careers and careers in the trades. Last week we heard from Steve Turner of Bring Back the Trades. If you missed that episode, be sure to check it out. This week, I am delighted to welcome Andrea Harris to the podcast. Andrea is the CEE, Chief Empowerment Executive, at a non-profit organization called Tools and Tiaras, where she and her co-founder Judaline Cassidy, mentor and teach young people about the trades. Having spent over 20 years as a cement mason in New York City, Andrea has a wealth of experience and wisdom for young people interested in careers in the trades. During our conversation, Andrea talks about her unexpected path into the trades, how to get young people started in the trades and why she draws a diamond and a heart on each of her tools. You won't want to miss Andrea's advice about getting a debt-free education in the trades and her biggest lesson in life. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm super excited to bring you today's episode. It's one of four in a series this month focused on blue-collar careers and the trades. If you are a loyal listener, you know that I have no issue with college but the fact is, that a college path is not the right path for everyone. As a society and as parents, we need to help empower our kids to explore all paths, including those that don't require college. In today's episode, I am joined by Steve Turner. Steve has spent the past 40 years working in the trades, and as a business owner for 30 of those years. He realized pretty quickly that it was becoming increasingly difficult to hire skilled workers in the trades, so he took it upon himself to start a nonprofit called Bring Back the Trades, where he provides scholarships to young people who are pursuing careers in the trades. During our conversation, Steve shares how Bring Back The Trades all started with a hat and how to get teens interested and excited about working in the trades. Steve believes, and I agree, that we need to encourage a shift in mindset to make the trades a popular choice for young people today. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'd like to welcome you to a very special episode of the High School Hamster Wheel podcast. I am beyond thrilled to tell you that this is the 100th episode of the podcast. Even when I say that out loud, it's still hard to believe. I remember recording episode one like it was just yesterday. And coincidentally, today happens to be International Podcast Day, so there's even more reason to celebrate! I am not just a podcaster. I am a parent of teens which means that I am going through this right along with you. Little did I know when I started this podcast that I would gain so much knowledge and insight from every single guest. It's been an unexpected bonus for me in that I can apply this personally in my own life, and that has been invaluable as my family navigates the high school hamster wheel. Every child is different (even those that are raised in the same household as I am finding out!) and there is no one size fits all solution for every teen or young adult. As I cross the threshold of 100 episodes, I can't think of a better time to reflect back on my previous episodes and share some of the takeaways that I have gained along the way. This isn't a complete list. It would take multiple episodes to share everything I have learned. But I encourage you to go back through the list of all 100 episodes, search the topics and listen to the conversations that are relevant to you where your child is right now. Save the rest for later. They will be here whenever you need them. And as always, thanks for listening. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am super excited to bring you a “bonus episode” today. I was recently interviewed by my friend, Joanna Lilley, and our conversation aired on her podcast, Success is Subjective. I thought it would be helpful for me to share our conversation here as well because I think it provides a lot of insight and background into who I am and why I am so passionate about what I do. Joanna and I are extremely liked-minded when it comes to helping young people transition through adolescence and into adulthood. During this episode, I share my journey from my high school years all the way up to today and I provide the reasons why I continue to try to move the needle as it relates to perceptions about college versus alternative paths. As you'll hear during the interview, I believe that it is up to us as parents to get these important conversations going with our teens, as well as with other parents. If we hope to remove the stigmas associated with non-college paths, then we need to start changing that mindset at home. I'd love to hear from you after you listen to this episode. Whether you think or feel differently, I welcome all perspectives and points of view. So please reach out to me via social media or email and let me know what you think. Be sure to tune in next time for my 100th episode of the High School Hamster Wheel podcast! Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I am welcoming back Joanna Lilley to the podcast. If you are a loyal listener, you might remember Joanna from episodes 33 and 69. If you missed those episodes, be sure to check them out because Joanna ALWAYS provides valuable advice for parents of teens and young adults. During our conversation, Joanna and I discuss something called “early alert”. It might have a different name based on the college or university, but basically, it's the point during the first semester of college, about mid-way through, when students are identified as at-risk for failing a class. For parents who have close communication with their kids, this might not be a surprise. But in many cases, parents have no idea their young adult is struggling, and by the time they find out, it's too late to take action. Joanna shares her experience inside higher ed and how schools identify struggling students, the difference between student retention and student success, and why declaring a major can help keep students engaged. Be sure to listen to the end when Joanna provides helpful advice for parents about how to help their young adults when they are struggling. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I am delighted to welcome Dr. Mandy Pacheco to the podcast. Crossing paths with Mandy was a huge stroke of luck, thanks to our mutual friend Michelle. Once we connected, I knew I had to have her on the podcast. Mandy's years of experience in higher education as well as her role as a flex-schooling parent provides her with the perfect blend of insight and expertise from both perspectives. During our conversation, we discuss the importance of experiential learning and why consent in education is critical to the success of our kids. Mandy provides valuable suggestions for parents whose kids aren't in love with learning. And you won't want to miss Mandy's advice for parents of incoming college students. I continue to learn from Mandy every time I speak with her and I'm sure you will learn from her too. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's topic is one that will resonate with every parent, no matter the age of their kids. I'm thrilled to welcome Karen Moon, a psychotherapist specializing in grief and loss to the podcast. Karen has a private practice in Wayne, Pennsylvania and she has worked with teenagers for over fourteen years. During our conversation, Karen shares her expert wisdom and insight to help parents as they guide their teens through grief and loss. Some of the topics we cover include helping our teens gain resilience, learning to be ok with “I don't know” and how to get comfortable with the lack of control. As our kids transition back into in-person school this year, this episode is a resource you won't want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, I am delighted to welcome Dr. Tonya Crombie to the podcast. Tonya is an author, a certified life coach, and a parent of two teenagers. Her experience both professionally and personally has equipped her with valuable insight into helping young people manage anxiety and successfully transition to adulthood. During our conversation, we talk about the emotional rollercoaster that we've all been on during the past 18 months, why being transparent about our own anxiety can be a huge help to our teens, and why we need to put on our own metaphorical oxygen mask first. Be sure to listen through to the end as Tonya shares why it's so important for us to befriend our anxiety. Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their life, so this episode is filled with valuable advice and strategies no matter who you are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Louis Profeta, M.D. Dr. Profeta has decades of experience as an emergency physician at St. Vincent Hospital of Indianapolis, a level one trauma center. He is also an award-winning writer. You may be familiar with some of his work, including his essay titled “A Sunday Talk on Sex, Drugs, Drinking and Dying”, on the topic of drugs, sexual assault, and alcohol abuse on college campuses. Dr. Profeta travels the country talking to college students and his approach is extremely direct and brutally honest. Trigger warning... we talk about drug and alcohol abuse and the experience of losing a child. Please consider that before listening to this episode. My goal in interviewing Dr. Profeta is to help educate parents about how to prepare their teens for college and life after high school in order to keep them safe. During our conversation, Dr. Profeta shares his wisdom and experience on topics including how to get through to your kids during the tough conversations, the danger of sending your kids to college with prescription drugs, and how to tell if your teen is truly ready to go to college. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is a must-listen for parents of college-bound teens. My guest today is Susan Paterno, author of “Game On: Why College Admission is Rigged and How to Beat the System.” As Susan explains during our conversation, college admissions is a game but unfortunately, the rules aren't clear to all participants (especially parents) and colleges have the advantage. But don't despair, thanks to Susan and her valuable advice, we can level the playing field by equipping ourselves with knowledge, information, and strategies before allowing our kids to incur a paralyzing amount of student loan debt. I say “we” because I am a parent right smack in the middle of this journey. Our high school senior is building his college list and we are getting ready to complete our FAFSA. So I can tell you first-hand that my conversation with Susan is incredibly helpful. She shares some background on how we arrived where we are today, how families can get the best return on investment from college and why the US News college rankings are bogus. Be sure to listen all the way to the end where Susan shares her own family's journey through the college admissions process and as she offers her expert advice for parents to get the best college deal. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A few weeks ago I was chatting with a friend whose first-born will be starting freshman year of high school next week. She had some questions about what to expect and how to help her teen navigate high school. It reminded me of when my oldest started high school and how overwhelmed I felt. So, I decided to reach out to friends and the High School Hamster Wheel community to crowd-source some advice from parents of teens. I am certainly not the expert but I am surrounded by high school moms and dads who have “been there, done that” and who have wisdom and experience to share. I couldn't think of anyone better to join me in this episode than my favorite podcast moms, Susan Borison and Stephanie Silverman from Your Teen for Parents. As I've said before more than once, the best advice and support I have received has been from parents of teens who are a few years ahead of mine. We thought it would be fun to share the “what to do” advice on the Your Teen podcast and the “what not to do” here on the High School Hamster Wheel podcast. So be sure to tune in to Your Teen when you finish this episode. While this conversation is geared toward parents of freshmen, there's a lot here for parents of high schoolers no matter what grade they are in. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I welcome Josh Burnette to the show. Josh is a business owner and the co-author of two Adulting 101 books. We hear that term being thrown around a lot lately. Adulting. It's defined as “the practice of behaving in a way characteristic of a responsible adult, especially the accomplishment of mundane but necessary tasks.” As Josh describes it, adulting does include the tactical aspects and the hard skills, but it's also very much about cultivating healthy adulthood and living your best life. During our conversation, Josh shares the benefits of having a job at a young age and some dos and don'ts for teen job seekers. He has a lot of experience working with young people, as he is the owner and operator of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Virginia. You won't want to miss the four core principles for success that Josh instills in his team. No matter what your actual age, this episode has something for everyone who wants to become better at adulting! Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm joined today by my partner-in-career-coaching Jay DuSold. This episode will sound a bit different from others I've published. I'm sharing the audio from a recent live event that Jay and I held in our Life After 12th Facebook group, so the format is different. Unfortunately, the audio quality isn't as good as I hoped but please don't let that deter you from listening all the way to the end. This topic is one of the most important I've covered on this podcast. It's all about helping young people see and understand their SHAPE. You may be wondering what I mean by SHAPE. Well, it's an acronym for the five facets of a person's inner wiring that directly relates to career direction. Listen in as we explain each facet and why they are so important for finding career direction. And after listening to our conversation, if you still have questions or need more clarification, please reach out to me or to Jay. We'd love to connect with you. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Life After 12th Facebook Group Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a long one but please stay with me until the end. Trust me when I say it's worth every minute of your time. I'm joined today by Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc. Dr. LeBlanc has spent more than 17 years as President of Southern New Hampshire University. If you haven't heard of SNHU until now, you're not alone. I hadn't heard of it either until a mutual connection introduced me to Dr. LeBlanc. It's definitely worth mentioning that SNHU was #12 on Fast Company magazine's “World's Fifty Most Innovative Companies” list and was the only university included. Forbes Magazine has listed Dr. LeBlanc as one of its 15 “Classroom Revolutionaries” and one of the “most influential people in higher education.” After listening to today's episode, you will understand why. During our conversation, Dr. LeBlanc talks about the key to building resiliency in young people, why finding the right college fit is not as simple as it sounds, and why the choice of college major is far more important than the choice of school. Dr. LeBlanc discusses the three goals he sets every day and the reasons we need more flexibility in higher education. If you are like me, you will be amazed when you hear about the innovative competency-based education model happening at SNHU's College for America. Be sure to stay tuned until the end when Dr. LeBlanc shares the one most important question that parents should be asking when helping their teen choose a college. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Life After 12th Facebook Group Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is one that I believe will benefit parents of teens going off to college or on to any next step after high school. It's all about taking proactive steps to help ensure your teen or young adult is equipped and empowered to succeed in their next chapter. I connected with my guest, Carol Ben-Davies, through her post in a parenting Facebook group where we are both members and knew I had to have her on the show. As a society, we are so focused on making sure our kids get into college and figuring out how we will pay for it, that we spend very little time thinking about what happens after our kids get there. Are they set up for success? Are they prepared for what lies ahead? Do they have a plan in place if things go off the rails? Carol shares wisdom and insight from her time on the inside in both college admissions and student life. Carol's actionable advice for parents can mean the difference between staying in school and dropping out. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Life After 12th Facebook Group Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I'm welcoming back a familiar face (and voice), my friend and partner in crime, Jay DuSold. For those who may not know much about Jay, he is the founder of MapInMe Career Coaching for Teens, and as of a few months ago, I began working with him in his coaching business. Last week, Jay and I delivered our first-ever Find Your Fits Career Exploration Workshop for teens and young adults. We offered it in person, in my hometown in central Florida. The workshop was based upon Jay's program and methodology and we tailored it to fit within three evening sessions. Needless to say, it was a jam-packed three evenings but in the end, based on the feedback from our attendees, it was a huge success. At the end of the workshop, we asked participants to provide us with some feedback and we included one important question in particular because we knew that parents would want to know the answer. During our conversation, we are sharing the feedback (anonymously) in the hope that it will help parents and other adults as they guide their teens to life after 12th.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I am delighted to welcome Dr. Michele Borba to the podcast. Dr. Borba is an internationally recognized educator who has spoken to over one million parents and educators. She is recognized for her solution-based strategies on raising resilient kids, and has appeared over 150 times on the TODAY show, and has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Time, and Dateline. I am a firm believer that her most recent book, “Thrivers, The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine” should be on the bookshelf in every parent's home. When I am asked what I hope for my boys as they grow up and go out into the world, I often say I want them to be happy and I want them to thrive. But what does it really mean to thrive? Dr. Borba provides that answer along with the 7 teachable skills that set happy, healthy, high-performing kids apart. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Life After 12th Facebook Group Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices