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1. Identifying Their Vision
Students often aren’t thinking past this week. Push them to truly start thinking long term. Where do they want to be in five years? Ten years? Twenty years? What type of lifestyle do they want when they retire? I know these might sound like abstract questions to a 14-18 year old, but it’s something they need to start thinking about in detail. As they identify a clear vision for themselves, they need to create a plan on how to get there. Not just any plan, but a realistic plan. If they say they want to retire with one million dollars in their bank account, ask them how they will do it (this is very possible by the way). If they say in five years they want to own a home, ask them how they’ll do it. This vision isn’t aspirational. It is completely possible if they take the right steps. If they don’t know, tell them to type it in Google so they can see the tangible steps to turn their vision into a reality.
2. Identifying Their Strengths
“You don’t realize your own strength” is usually a phrase to describe someone’s physical strength, but it applies to our intellectual and personal traits too. Help your student to become self aware by asking what they think their strengths are. These should be mindsets and skills. If they’re having trouble thinking of some, ask them about the traits and actions that allow them to be successful in overcoming a challenge. Have them think of the last challenge they experienced personally and/or academically and how they overcame it.
3. Identifying Areas of Growth
There are two types of growth - reactive growth (forced) and proactive growth (an intentional choice). In high school, many students aren’t identifying where they want to get better and creating a plan to get there. The adults around them are usually telling them what they did right, what they did wrong, and what they need to do better. It’s time to flip that thinking and put the mental lifting on your student. Have your student choose one academic and one personal area to grow in. Have them start with the end in mind - what are the potential outcomes of growth in these areas? Then have them commit to one habit or routine that will help them get there.
4. Identifying their Talent
I believe every single person on earth has a talent. Something they’re born with that comes really easily to them. I’m a spiritual person and believe God has blessed each of us with talent and it will make room for us when we find it and walk in our purpose. Your student has talent, they just may not know it yet. Is it in the arts? Music? Technology? Sports? Writing? Cooking? If they don’t know, ask them what they love doing and what brings them joy. Ask them about what comes easy or naturally to them. Maybe your student is a natural born leader or has an entrepreneurial spirit. Maybe they're great at helping people solve problems. Whatever their talent is, help them think through ways to develop it. That could be getting involved in clubs or joining a local, regional, or national youth organization that provides unique opportunities and experiences.
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