Teens, Become Who You Are!

 by Katherine O'Brien, Foundress, Celtic College Consultants

The holidays are approaching! The dreaded, "So what are your plans for when you finish high school?" question will be heard by teens everywhere.

What do you want to do when you grow up?

How am I supposed to know?

For over 20 years, I've helped teens explore options, come to know themselves, set goals, and take steps toward accomplishing those goals. Sometimes, however, a teen genuinely doesn't know. Then, there's a shift...

Knowing one's skill set and interests is enough to get started. This year, for example, I am working with a gifted story teller/writer/strategist. That skill set can be used in a number of fields and endeavors. At this point in her life, she really has no idea what direction to focus her skills. In her case, then, her initial college goals are a program where she can hone her skills and continue to develop as a young woman in an environment that shares her values and offers her numerous and varied beneficial growth opportunities.

Late blooming is okay!!!

 Today is my 60th birthday. As I write this blog, I am ensconced in a study room at a university library. I will spend most of my day researching and writing my doctoral dissertation. In some very real ways, I am only now beginning to bloom as a person. The experiences I have had so far have, in a very real sense, been a practicum composed of periods of various on the job training of sorts. All those experiences are being drawn upon in my doctoral work and the ministry that is beginning to be formed based on my thesis.

Some would call me a late bloomer. Those familiar with the work I'm doing recognize that a long period of preparation is necessary to handle the topic I'm working in, both to provide necessary insights as well as to allow healing and maturity to inform those insights and the delivery of them in my talks and writing. There simply is no substitute, in some cases, for life experience.

BE WHO YOU ARE!

You were created on purpose, for a purpose. Be not afraid to be yourself, and bloom, just be you!!!

Katherine can be reached by email: KOB@CelticCollegeConsultants.com

What do College Prep, Taylor Swift, and Aristotle have in Common?

 by Katherine O'Brien, ThD Candidate & Certified College Planning Specialist

 

An Irish philosophy professor recently wrote an article comparing Taylor Swift and Aristotle. When I read it, I recognized the work that I do with teens, too. (Not that I am on par with Aristotle!)

 

Like Aristotle, Taylor Swift regularly deals with core identity questions. In her lyrics, she addresses various aspects of this. In Mirrorball, she reveals the idea that you can strategically shift your sense of self. In Happiness, she sings about the me of now not being the same as the me of the past, and that she has not yet met the me of the future. Repeatedly, she approaches various aspects of the questions we all, but especially during the teen years, wrestle with- Who am I? What sort of friend am I? What sort of artist am I?

 

Inviting young people to examine who their true selves are, develop the good habits they need to be excellent (Aristotle would call that virtuous), and encouraging them to live in accord with who they truly are, these are the core tasks of my work with college bound teens. As they learn to be themselves, they need time and encouragement to explore who they are. They need coaching to identify the skills, the habits they need to develop so they can become excellent at being who they are. In order to develop good habits, accountability and encouragement is needed. These are the key elements of my work, particularly during the 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th grade years. As Aristotle said, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of wisdom” and “We are what we repeatedly do.”

 

Selecting majors and colleges come after that work is done and is completely directed by that work. Skipping the foundational work done during the first two years of high school is like building a building directly on the ground. It has no foundation and will slide or sink or collapse when the rains and the winds come. Building a foundation is even more important in our children than in our houses.

 

If you have a college bound (or potentially college bound) 8th grader, or high school freshman or sophomore, it is time for us to meet. Every month that goes by, opportunities for growth, affirmation, direction, and healthy “coming into their own as a person” are missed. NOW is the time to start investing in the next phase your children’s futures. Email me today to schedule a consultation. I’m offering 40% off consultations this month, in honour of my birthday. (Discount offer ends 11/30/2024) KOB@CelticCollegeConsultants.com

 

To read Susan Andrews’ article: https://philosophynow.org/issues/164/Taylor_Swift_A_Philosopher_For_Our_Times