Creator of Pathways

I was listening to a podcast this morning where the speaker was sharing a download he had from the Universe. And in another state of mind, I would have found it lovely and I would have listened closely, to see what I had to learn and grow from. But not today.⁣⁣

Today, a sense of spiritual fatigue overtook me. I was tired of listening to the experiences of 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴, taking in perspectives that were from another's lens. Isn't it infinitely more exciting/satisfying to ask your own question and wait for your own answer, getting that customized guidance straight from the Source, and be so quietly inspired by that raw, stream of Consciousness download!?⁣⁣ So in that state of mind, which was both weary as well as startlingly clear, I must have asked a question about my role as a writing coach to my college essay students.

𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦?⁣⁣

...because ultimately, they were the creators of their experiences which they were writing about in their essays. The answer came faster than the question was even formed. ⁣⁣That I was a 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 for my students to take as they considered their next traverse. ⁣⁣

"𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴⁣"⁣

How singularly cool is that job description? ⁣

My students come to me often confused, and with a set of standard definitions for their profile. I have this much GPA, and have taken this many APs and am part of these clubs and this is what I wanna do in college and this is my list. All of these act as the set points, the unchangeables. And then we begin talking, the cornerstone of the coaching process. ⁣

I help them unearth who they are. I help them unpack some of the most impactful experiences they've had, often nestled within innocuous moments. I help them see the magic within that. And in the spectrum of their writing, I show them that it can lead them to this, this and that. 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 of possibilities suddenly open up and lightbulbs go off in their heads, as they start to see that they have a rich tapestry of weaved experiences that make them so unabashedly who they are. They fall back in love with their lives. They feel good about their choices. They feel empowered for the next ones. They ask questions.⁣⁣

They start off the process sitting in the backseat of the car, deferring to me for guidance. As we talk and connect, they come sit in the passenger seat upfront and we look at their dreams and aspirations and the road ahead. They find meaning in what has led them here and they are excited for what's up ahead. And then, the magic happens. They want to take the wheel. ⁣⁣We switch places, the shift seamless and unobtrusive. I watch on in awe from the passenger seat, admiring the confidence, the clarity, the poise. My job is done.⁣⁣

Creator of Pathways ✔️⁣

Teen Empowerer ✔️⁣

Unique Voice Locator ✔️

Magic Moment Finder ✔️

Word-stringing Coordinator ✔️⁣

Clarity Provider ✔️⁣

All these and more, I celebrate in my beautifully organic, creative role in working with my students, an eclectic bunch of souls who are on the cusp of adulthood, but still very much a child at heart. Is there a time more precious than that to witness?⁣ ⁣

There perhaps is, but for me, this is it. This is when I've arrived. ⁣