High School Hamster Wheel

This episode is the audio from a recent Facebook Live event that I co-hosted with Debbie Schwartz of Road2College. Debbie and I spoke with Jane and Jason Sarouhan of J2Guides. You might remember them from episode 16 on my podcast. During our conversation, we talk about the reasons why it might make sense to consider a gap year for the fall of 2020. With all of the uncertainty on college campuses right now and the possibility that students may be starting the fall semester online, a gap year, or even a gap semester, might be a great option. While a gap year experience might seem unlikely right now due to travel restrictions and social distancing, there are actually quite a few gap year opportunities available right in our own back yards and virtually. Jane and Jason do a great job of answering our questions about budgeting for a gap year, how to choose the right gap experiences and how we can help our teens transition back into college after completing a gap year or a gap semester. Even if your teen hasn't been considering a gap experience, it's worth your time to learn more about it.

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In this week's episode, I am sharing the audio recording from a recent Facebook Live event that I co-hosted with Debbie Schwartz of Road2College.com. During this live event, we interviewed Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo and heard their take on what's next in the world of higher education. Some of the topics we discussed include how college admissions will change in the coming months, the continuously updating status of test-optional colleges, the rescheduling of the SAT, ACT and AP exams and what that means for high school juniors and seniors, as well as the status of financial aid and how college costs may be affected. Michael and Jeff shared their insight and wisdom regarding what lies ahead for online learning as well as trends they see coming in the world of careers and employment. Be sure to listen all the way to the end where Michael and Jeff offer advice to high school students as they prepare for college over the next few years.

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Kellyann Rohr is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and School Counselor working for Florida Virtual School.  As we all navigate our "new normal" including moving our kids to distance learning, Kellyann offers helpful advice to parents of kids of all ages. During our conversation, you will hear about why it's important for you, as a parent, to get your panic in check and to learn to trust the process. She also provides helpful tips for helping motivate students who don't enjoy or thrive in an online learning environment. And you won't want to miss Kellyann's suggestions for trying to gain some control in a situation that we have no control over.

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In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Karla Quintanilla. To say that Karla is something special would be the understatement of the year. Karla is one of the wisest, most mature 20-somethings I've met in a long time. Just wait until you hear her story about the big aha moment she had in high school that led her to take a gap year. I'm sure you will be inspired by Karla when you hear all about her journey halfway around the world and back again, and how she eventually ended up at the happiest place on earth.

Karla continues to navigate some unexpected twists and turns but she remains optimistic about her future. While now may not seem like the best time to think about traveling during a gap year, I believe that my conversation with Karla will provide parents and teens with some much-needed hope about the future opportunities our world has to offer.

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Dr. Marcia Morris is a psychiatrist who has worked with college students for over 20 years at the University of Florida providing psychiatric care. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and she is also a Program Director for Student Health Care Center Psychiatry. In this episode, we talk about the ways we can help our kids with mental health challenges including depression, suicide, and substance abuse. Dr. Morris shares her "four Ts" of mental health and wellness, what parents need to know and do before their kids begin college, what colleges are doing to increase mental health support services. Dr. Morris also offers advice for parents to help their kids navigate the loneliness, uncertainty, and unanticipated changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether your child is a college student or not, this conversation is a must-listen.

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After 20 episodes of the High School Hamster Wheel podcast, I am making a slight pivot. In the coming weeks, I will start bringing on parents and teens and young adults so we can have honest and vulnerable conversations about the trials, tribulations, joys, and celebrations of the teenage years. My hope is that if we start those honest conversations here, it will help spark the important and necessary conversations “in real life”, too. During these conversations, we will talk about “all the things” our teens face as they navigate high school and beyond. We will hear from parents, like you and me, who are right in the thick of it, just trying to take it one day at a time. And we will hear from parents with older teens and young adults who have “been there, done that” and who have lots of wisdom to share. So tune in to hear more about where I’m headed on the parenting teens journey!

Email me at [email protected].

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In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Diane Tavenner. Diane is the co-founder and CEO of Summit Public Schools, a nationally recognized non-profit that operates fifteen middle and high schools located in California and Washington State. Diane is also the author of Prepared: What Kids Need for a Fulfilled Life.

As a parent of teens, I had a lot of questions for Diane and let me tell you, she had a lot of really great answers. During our conversation, we talked about the importance of helping our kids find a good fit both in school and in life, including choosing the RIGHT college rather than focusing on getting into the BEST college. Diane offers lots of great advice and strategies for parents including her "I-N-G" questions and her three-step process: Expose, Explore and Pursue, both of which will help our kids figure out what really makes them happy.

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In this week's episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Gina Riley, an educational psychologist and Clinical Professor of Adolescent Special Education at Hunter College. While talking with Gina, I learned a lot about positive psychology, self-determination theory, and cognitive evaluation theory. I know what you’re thinking. Those are some fancy words. Believe me, I didn’t know what any of that meant. But have no fear! Gina did an amazing job of breaking it all down into straightforward, easy to understand information, along with actionable advice for parents. If you are looking to help the teen in your life increase their motivation, recognize their strengths, develop competence, find their autonomy and become a better decision-maker, this is a conversation you'll want to hear.

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Have you ever interviewed for a job and wondered why you weren’t hired? Are you curious about what employers really look for in a job candidate? My guest today is Jackie Ducci, of Ducci & Associates, and she will answer those questions and more. 

Jackie is a hiring expert with over 15 years of experience in talent acquisition. During this episode, she shares the “inside scoop” about how hiring decisions are really made.

Did you know that captaining a sports team is of interest to potential employers? And are you aware that your attitude and how you dress for an interview is more important than where you went to school?

If your teen or young adult is seeking employment, whether right after high school or later in life, this conversation is a must-listen.

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In this episode, I reconnected with my dear friend, Cynthia Hsiung. Cynthia and I met a LONG time ago when we were both working for Warner Bros. Online in California. Since that time, Cynthia has gone on to enjoy a long and successful career in the entertainment industry and during our conversation she offers advice, insights and her "secret sauce" for making it in Hollywood. She also shares some fun stories about the "real" people in show business, including Bono of U2 and the incredibly talented Ryan Gosling.

In addition to teaching at UCLA, Cynthia recently launched a new YouTube channel called...you guessed it... Your Hollywood Dream. If your teen or someone you know is thinking about a career in the entertainment industry or if you just want to be entertained, this episode is not to be missed!

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