Life as we have always known it is no longer - for various reasons, but specifically I am talking about Higher Education: University, College, Undergraduate, and even Graduate school.
I have been thinking about this a LOT lately. How will things stay the same? How will it be different? How can I, as a Life Coach, provide support to promote sound decision making in the young adults entering into higher education, and not just during a Pandemic - but for all time? I really took the time to evaluate my own path through college - one that was definitely NOT the traditional structure: graduate high school, immediately start school at a four year college, live in college dorms, spend four years exploring myself and earning my education, and finally enter the "real world" at the ripe old age of 22 years old.
Instead, I graduated high school, moved out, got a job, went to trade school, started new job, found new passion, attended a junior college for seven years while working full time, transferred to a four year college, held back by fear and earned my degree, and re-entered the "real world" in debt and without a clear path. And I had all resources available to me. I wasn't hindered by the fact that I couldn't have an in-person meeting with my advisor or professor...I just didn't do it.
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."
Benjamin Franklin
I had failed to be prepared. I didn't know what I didn't know. I didn't have someone that was advising me along the way - I was drifting through life without a rudder - being blown where ever the wind wanted to take me.
One of the main reasons that I chose Young Adults to work with is becasue of this lack of direction that I had in my own life. I wanted to be able to provide sound information and expand my client's world view.
So I took action and did something that I've never done before.
I wrote a book.
I sat down and thought about all the things that I knew I had done "wrong" and the things I know I did "right." Obviously, this list is not all inclusive - I didn't want to bore everyone during their summer break!
Now, I want to share it with all of you. For Free. Why? Because I whole heartedly believe in the access to information regardless of your socioeconomic status. Period. It's also why I take the time to write this blog.
Let's support each other during this unprecedented time in history. We don't know what it will be like for students entering college for the first time in 2020. This is going to be a wait and see kind of situation.
I do know, however, that even though my path was different, we are all just people trying to do our best.
Perhaps by supporting one other in the best way we can, we all might come out of this a little stronger, more flexible, and more adaptable.