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