How I Started
I was newly married, working in college admissions, coaching division III college volleyball, and making barely enough money to afford rent. I was learning though. I was learning how to be a husband, and what I liked and didn’t like in a work environment. At work, I noticed how certain responsibilities came naturally to me and some felt like swimming upstream. I found that I enjoyed speaking with students and families about our college but trying to sell people on attending felt uncomfortable. I thought it would be fun to be a high school counselor because then I wouldn’t need to sell students on anything. Instead, I could simply help them discover their gifts and guide them as they make their college and career plans. I began looking for jobs. Then something happened that I still can’t explain to this day.
The college I worked at was in Pennsylvania, so everyone on the admissions team was curious when we heard that a group of 25 high school students would be visiting from California. The group said their high school counselors were taking them on an “East Coast college tour,” visiting something like seven schools in three days. For whatever reason, I was the one chosen to give the admissions talk to the group. So I stood up and gave my “why you should attend our college” spiel to the group of jet-lagged and slumped-back 16 and 17-year-olds.
Crickets.
The group was not rude, just clearly tired and more interested in the other schools on their list. Then, as people began to mingle, snack, and say goodbye, the head counselor from the California high school approached me and said:
“Would you be interested in working as a college and career counselor at our high school?”
I’m still not sure why she asked me that question. We had no previous conversations and she had no idea that this was exactly the kind of job I was looking for. All I know is that within a few months, my wife Katie and I were packing our bags and moving to California.
Since then I have:
- Helped over 500 students navigate the college admissions process and choose a career path
- Developed a comprehensive college and career curriculum with career assessments and personalized feedback
- Visited 60 colleges in less than four years
- Spoken at numerous college and career events and webinars
- Researched and gathered the top career assessment tools to help individuals do the work they were made to do
I have been blessed to work with students who have found purpose and success in their work through a variety of paths. Some of my students have been accepted to the most selective colleges in the country (Upenn, Princeton, MIT, etc.) and went on to find meaningful work. I have also worked with students who have found well-paying and fulfilling jobs right out of high school or began their journey at a gap year program or community college. I enjoy seeing all the different paths to successful and meaningful work.
What’s Next?
One way that I will be continuing this work, will be writing a weekly newsletter centered on answering the question, “What are you doing next?” The audience I have in mind is working professionals looking to change jobs or find purpose in their work, students trying to discern their college, career, or major, and parents looking for resources to help their children navigate their postsecondary plans. I’ll be providing practical resources, interviewing experts in the field, and sharing stories to encourage and inspire. If you want the weekly subplot newsletter sent right to your email each week, you can sign up below.
