High School Hamster Wheel

Today's episode covers a topic that I don't often talk about on the podcast: college admissions. If you are a regular listener, you know that many of my conversations focus on post-high school paths that don't require college. I thought it was important to delve deeper into the college planning process, primarily because I've heard from a lot of parents about the overwhelm they are facing as their teens begin the college application process. And to be completely transparent, this is personal for me. Our high school junior has made the decision to attend college after high school graduation and already I'm feeling the confusion, overwhelm and information overload that so many families experience. If you've begun the online research, you know there is a LOT of information out there, some accurate and helpful, and some not. It takes a lot of time and patience to dig through the myriad of resources and even then, it's hard to know which ones provide correct information and which ones create the "hair on fire" mentality. This week's guest is an expert in her field and a breath of fresh air for parents who want to help their teen find the best fit. Notice I didn't say "best college"? That's right. I said "best fit". Because "best college" is completely subjective and our main focus should be helping our kids find the best fit for them. I'm joined today by Allison Slater Tate. If you live in Florida and have a teen pursuing the college path, you may already be a member of Allison's Facebook group. No matter where you call home, you have likely come across Allison's work on NBC News, TODAY.com, and Your Teen Magazine as well as others. Allison has extensive experience in test prep, essay writing and college counseling, and she has the "inside scoop" on the real truth about college admissions. Our conversation is straight-forward, no-nonsense and drama-free, so sit back and enjoy this pleasant trip down the college admissions path.

Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode.

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I'm going to start out this week's intro with some hard to admit truth. I have spent a good part of my kids' lives over-parenting. And if I'm being totally transparent, I still struggle with it. You too? Well, join the club. Based on the number of interviews I've done (today marks #75!) and the numerous casual conversations I've had with parents, we are a society of over-parenters. Call us helicopters, bulldozers or whatever other name you might have for it. At the end of the day we are micromanaging our kids' lives. And while we might do a bit less of it as our kids become teenagers, and ultimately adults, I for one have spent way too much time trying to steer my kids in one direction or another. This week's guest is an expert on this topic and our conversation is one that is worth a listen no matter how old or young your kids might be. I am joined today by the amazing Julie Lythcott-Haims. Julie is the New York Times bestselling author of the anti-helicopter parenting manifesto How to Raise an Adult. If you have not yet seen her TED Talk, make that a priority in your life. Today. It is packed full of raw truth that you might not want to hear but believe me when I say it is worth a watch. Julie's latest book, available now, is called "Your Turn: How to Be An Adult" and it's written for the young adult audience. During our conversation Julie shares her wisdom and experience as a former dean at Stanford University and as a parent of two now young adults. This episode is longer than most but Julie provided so much valuable advice and actionable tips that I knew I had to share the entire conversation. I am grateful to Julie for making time to speak to me and for being so open and honest about her own experience and that of her family.

Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode.

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This week we’re talking about the topic of leadership. After 20 years in corporate, I had my share of leaders. Some were very good leaders and others, well, not so much. I used to sit back and watch as people who were really good at their job as an individual contributor get promoted to management or leadership simply because they were good at their job. And let’s be honest...just because you are good or even great at your job doesn’t mean you should be a leader. This week’s guest has a lot to say on this subject. I am delighted to welcome Jacob Morgan to the podcast. Jacob is a trained futurist and one of the world’s leading authorities on the future of work, employee experience and leadership. After interviewing over 140 CEOs and over 14,000 employees, Jacob developed what he calls the “Notable Nine”, 4 mindsets and 5 skills that good leaders have in common. If you are a loyal listener, you know that I’ve had multiple conversations about the future of work and what employers are and will be looking for. Whether or not a college degree is required, just about every job in the future will require skills that our kids just aren’t learning in school. This conversation is packed full of valuable advice to prepare our teens for life after high school no matter which path they choose.

Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode.

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This week, I'm joined by my partner-in-crime and expert GenZ Career Guide, Jay DuSold. If you're a regular listener you probably know that Jay has been on the show multiple times in the past. There's a reason for that. Not only is Jay my co-host in our Life After 12th Facebook Group, he's also one of the most passionate and committed people I know when it comes to helping young people find their way to a career they will love. Jay always brings a ton of value to my audience and today's episode is no exception. Our big focus today is helping our teens and young adults "know before they go" because it is critically important when trying to identify a career that fits. Also during our conversation, Jay offers super helpful advice for parents on how to get their kids started, and he shares the difference between two sides of the exploration coin when choosing a career. Be sure to stayed tuned to the end to get the inside scoop about Jay's brand new LA12 Learning Collective: DeepDive career research bootcamp!

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

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In today's episode, I am welcoming back Cindy LaJoy. You might remember Cindy from episode 11 of the podcast. Cindy is the founder and administrator of the Blue Collar Homeschool Facebook group. This group supports and encourages homeschoolers who's kids are headed to work or trade school or another path after high school. Numbering almost ten-thousand members the group offers a wealth of information seldom talked about in homeschooling circles. As a member of this group, I can attest that the conversation within this group is really engaging and I learn something every time I visit the group. During our conversation, Cindy shares her expert tips for parents, whether homeschooling or not. Some of the topics we cover include showing our teens respect, defaulting to "yes" instead of "no" and the importance of exposing teens to a many electives and learning opportunities as possible. Having homeschooled five children of her own, Cindy has an abundance of wisdom and experience to share.

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

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This week, I’m delighted to welcome Ann Louden to the podcast. Ann is a New York City based consultant for nonprofit leaders. Her emphasis is teaching the skills of how to be an expert connector. Anyone who knows me is well aware that I am wired to be a connector. People to people. People to resources. It brings me so much fulfillment. Not sure what a true connector is or does? Don’t worry, Ann does a fabulous job of explaining it. Also during our conversation, Ann shares the attributes of connectors, how connecting is different from networking and how we can model these skills for our teens and young adults. Stay tuned for Ann’s valuable advice on how parents can help their teens become socially courageous which will ultimately serve them as they develop their connection skills. This is a topic that is helpful to both teens and adults alike.

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

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In this episode, I am joined by Rachel Sumner. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, one of the biggest benefits of doing this podcast is that I get to cross paths with those who I call “my people” and Rachel is absolutely in that group. Her energy, enthusiasm and commitment to helping young people prepare for the future is evident in our conversation and I am thrilled for you to hear it. During this episode, we talk about why we need to change the way we think about the future of work, how ambiguity gets in the way of decision making, why employers need to be responsible for playing a role in career exploration and the exciting new initiative that Rachel is launching to help our teens become future ready.

Connect with me on the High School Hamster Wheel Facebook page or on my website. Join me and my co-host, Jay DuSold, in our Life After 12th Facebook group where we help and encourage parents of career-confused teens and young adults!

SPECIAL OFFER FOR MY LISTENERS!

Your Teen for Parents is offering a comprehensive 8-week course for navigating the college process. Beginning Tuesday, March 9th for 8 consecutive Tuesdays, experts in the field will share up to date knowledge about the ins and outs of the college process, from figuring out where to apply to paying for college and making sure our teens are prepared to launch. Your Teen has a fantastic list of experts lined up, including Jeff Selingo who you might remember from episode 25 of this podcast. Whether you are like me, with a high school junior ready to move forward or if your teen is just starting to think about what’s next after high school, this summit offers something for everyone. The course is called Destination College and the cost is just $49 for the entire 8-week series. And because you are a listener of the High School Hamster Wheel podcast, you will receive $10 off at checkout when you use the link below and enter the discount code HAMSTER at checkout. The summit starts in just ten days so register soon. Click HERE to register and enter your discount code.

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In this episode, I am welcoming Joanna Lilley back to the show. If you are a loyal listener you might remember Joanna from episode 33, titled Transitioning from Parent to Partner. If you missed that episode, I highly recommend checking it out as it is packed full of great information to help parents to transition to a new dynamic as teens and young adults move on after high school. Today, Joanna and I talk about what to do when your college student returns home, and I’m not talking about after graduation. They might be leaving college for academic reasons, mental health reasons or something else, but no matter the reason, there are important steps that parents can take to help their kids get back on track. During our conversation Joanna provides helpful tips on how to set healthy boundaries with your young adult children, why a plan and a timeline are critical for success and where to find alternatives to college that are the right fit for your young adult. As always, Joanna is a wealth of information and resources.

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In this week’s episode, I welcome John Geiling to the show. John is the President of his hugely successful company, JPG Plumbing & Mechanical Services, Inc. Whether your teen is interested in the plumbing business or another one of the trades, this episode is packed full of useful information and resources. After years of employment in the trades working for other people, John made the decision to go out on his own. As you’ll hear in our conversation, that decision has certainly paid off. John is not afraid of hard work and while he likes the money, he really loves the work. John believes that in order to be successful you must do the hardest job that nobody else wants to do. Be sure to listen to the end when John shares helpful tips for teens who are considering a career in the trades and don’t miss John’s valuable advice to those who are interested in starting their own business.

Episode Highlights

Resources

JPG Plumbing & Mechanical Services, Inc.

Mechanical Contractors Association of America

Plumbing Contractors of America

Map In Me Teen Career Coaching with Jay DuSold

Learn more and apply for a free consultation

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High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page

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Joining me this week on the podcast is Johnny Tock. Johnny is the Director of Admissions at ReSTART, a program that specializes in technology addiction. The subject matter of this episode is a huge concern for many families, including my own. A survey from Parents Together found that of 3,000 parents surveyed, 85 percent were worried about the length of time their children spend online. If you’ve been a listener here, you know that I am a mom to two teenage boys. My boys are gamers. They enjoy gaming. A lot. And so do many of their friends. And when they aren’t gaming they are probably watching a YouTube video, or on Snapchat or . Yes, our kids are stuck at home and bored to tears right now and that is certainly making it harder to limit online activity. But tech abuse and addiction have been happening long before the pandemic. Do I think my boys have an addiction? No. But I’m also not naive enough to think that it isn’t possible. So when I learned about the ReSTART program through a friend, it was clear to me that I needed to publish an episode about the subject of technology and gaming addiction. One more thing worth mentioning...after I interviewed Johnny for this episode, our family sat down together one night and had an honest and not-so-easy conversation about our technology use. We agreed (some more reluctantly than others) that it was time for a change. So we drafted a contract and set some healthy technology use boundaries with very clear consequences that would be enforced without question if/when those boundaries get broken. We’re only in week one of the contract but so far so good. I’ll keep you posted on my social media if you are interested in following me for updates. And if you want to learn more about implementing a contract for your own family, feel free to reach out to me via the High School Hamster Wheel website or Facebook page. I'd be glad to help.

Connect with me on the High School Hamster Wheel Facebook page or on my website. Join me and my co-host, Jay DuSold, in our Life After 12th Facebook group where we help and encourage parents of career-confused teens!

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