“Education is sometimes wasted on the young, because we don’t know what we’re interested in.” - Pink
The right question or questions can make or break us. Sometimes we need to be asked the
right question at the right time.
The right question at the wrong time can be damaging
…or at least set us back a few steps. Maybe a few extra steps if that wrong-timed question is asked of a young person. I think it’s one of society’s setups we’ve bought into. What happens when we ask a high school youth; “What are your plans after you graduate?” Even if we don’t go as far to say, ‘plans for college’ - for many it’s implied and they feel they have to have or come up with a legit answer for us.
How about a college student, “What are your plans after you graduate?” They stress to find the right answer so they can fit into the societal norms we’ve created. Graduate find the perfect job and begin paying off student loans and build your life in the ‘real world.’
What if we ask those questions, at the wrong time? Could it set someone on the wrong path, or the right path at the wrong time? What if a high schooler isn’t ready to head off to a four-year college, or instead should be going to a Technical School? Or maybe a gap year would be helpful to some.
Let's not forget our college student. What if they’re not sure on the career they’ve been studying for, or their next step at all? Asking the right question at the right time can help them find the ‘what’s next’ beyond their formal education. So, let’s focus on the questions and the timing.
What if we changed the way we asked the questions?
Instead asking:
What are your values?
What are your life experiences?
How are you wired?
When we ask these three questions and look at the answers together, where they intersect we can help them paint a better picture of maybe what they should do when. Asking the right question at the right time helps insure education and time are not wasted in the wrong area. When we are equipped with more answers we’re better prepared to identify and take our next steps during transitions. Let’s begin with these questions so we can move to the what’s next question and they can be equipped with the answers they need.
If you’re a parent of, or know a youth or young adult, one of the best investments you can make in their future is helping them be equipped to answer the right questions at the right time. One way we’re helping is our Crew Club - providing Coaching to youth & young adults during some of the most important times to get the questions right. If we can add value you to you or someone you know we’re here to help!