Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!

College might be something that gets you exactly where you need to be in a career that fits you perfectly. It might be just a stepping stone to allow you to realize that you want to pursue something else that doesn’t require college. Or you might even find that college isn’t in the equation at all.  Carsten McCarter, an LCDC-II, co-founder of Lean In Recovery and founder of Fireseed Adventure Ther...

The expectation to have everything figured out way before high school graduation is beyond unrealistic for a young person. What if instead of going down a path because it seems ‘right’ or ‘successful’, you allowed yourself to explore life and allowed that exploration to naturally guide you? Sometimes the most reward lies in doing the things that are looked at as risky and leaning into all that the...

It can be hard enough going into college at a young age wondering what you’re going to do for the rest of your life. With that comes many opinions being thrown out from every direction while also being surrounded by many other young adults, each on their own unique journey. It can be hard to not compare or question your own journey and passions. Though just because there might be doubt or question...

It can be so easy to take on everyone’s ideas and opinions. Do this, do that, work here, don’t go there...It can be good to hear different ideas and backgrounds but at the end of the day it’s your life to live and not theirs. Their definition of success and fulfillment might not be what works for you. Ethan Knight, Founder and Executive Director of the Gap Year Association, grew up thinking he nee...

As much as you might think you can do anything and everything on your own. That’s just not the truth. At some point we all fall short because we aren’t meant to be everything.  Eliot Andre, Recreational Therapist and owner of Connected Roots Therapy, grew up with academics not coming easy. From dealing with Dyslexia and the heavy pressure from his parents, he found himself hitting a wall where he...

Growing up, we develop these dreams that we can easily become attached to, forgetting that life doesn’t always play by our rules. Learning to become open minded to what life has in store can potentially allow those dreams to become even better than you would ever expect. Nikki Bruno, an Academic Performance Coach and a sailor, always dreamed that she would become a Marine Biologist and travel the...

There’s the saying by Mark Twain, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” That statement can sadly be hard for many to believe. Is it truly possible to make a living doing what you thoroughly enjoy?  John Cohen has built up quite a bit of experience in his life. From volunteering at a psychiatric hospital, to working at the first mental health unit serving...

Usually what’s going on the outside is a mirror with what’s going on the inside. Whether it’s not performing well in school, work, etc, those outcomes usually are because of something else going on. How do you expect yourself to give A+ work if you feel like a D-? Ryan Potter, Clinical Director at Voyage Recovery, found himself struggling with school and drugs while in college and it only worsened...

What do you want to do with your life? Do YOU want to do that or is that what your parents want, your friends are doing, or because you were handed an offer that looks like it’d save you money? Is there an external motivator pushing you to do something or do you truly want it for yourself? Angie Shockley, a successful entrepreneur with several businesses for young adults, had an idea on what she w...

Have you ever felt a strong pull towards something? Yet, you’re still unsure whether you’re just thinking things or if the feeling is something worth listening to? In this fast paced world, always going, going, going, it’s easy for all the noise to quickly cloud those gut feelings, in return, losing a lot of time and money.  Ty Maves, co-founder and Executive Director of True North Wilderness, kne...

There is no set timeline that you are supposed to be on in the grand scheme of things. Maybe from your parent’s point of view, or your peers, or your teachers but in reality, there isn’t one linear path you should be on. So what’s the rush? Academics will always be there. Though, your mind and body won’t last forever. Nick Slovak, Executive Director of Green Hill Recovery, has a position that come...

The things you feel. The things you have experienced. What seems to overwhelm you and weigh you down. All of that isn’t you. The anxiety, the depression, the trauma. It doesn’t define you. Shahara Crist, founder of STRiV Forward, grew up with a heavy pressure to gain a good education and do well in life. That plan seemed to be right on track when she received a full ride scholarship to college, un...

The power in asking for help is often overlooked or pushed to the side when you’re in the midst of something. Will I look weak? What’s wrong with me? Is there anyone who can actually help me? Do I deserve help? Or it might simply just feel embarrassing to reach out and admit your struggles. Though, every human struggles which is why there are numerous people who have a career in helping people. Th...

Most people come out of their childhood with some type of trauma or unfortunate experience. That can cause a lot of baggage going into the early adult years, possibly leading to more hardships. Through every experience it can be so difficult to understand why you’re there and to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Though, each situation, whether good or bad, leads you to the next thing. The ne...

Growing up, family life plays a huge role in one’s emotional health and life steps as a young adult enters the real world. Whether it’s growing up being a child of an alcoholic, dealing with taking care of a sick relative, divorced parents, etc. Is it possible to not follow those footsteps and that path that feels like all you know? Chase Sewell and Jessica Martindale both come from childhoods whe...

No one wants to hear that the most difficult storm they are going through will bring the biggest rainbow. Though, for many that may be the case. Whether that rainbow looks like simply just added growth to your bring or an entire transformation for the better, each and every challenge has something to add to your life.  Carson Pitts, an Outreach and Admissions Specialist at Momentum Recovery, would...

Life is not a race. College is not a race. The amount of accomplishments you have in life is not a race. The only race there is, is the growth within yourself. College isn’t going anywhere and life is long. Lean into the process. Enjoy every day. Take a break if you need to. It’s perfectly okay to take your time. In fact, it’s better to. Learn to sit with yourself and to be authentic and honest. T...

At the end of the day, this life is yours. Not anyone else’s. What is YOUR purpose? What is it that YOU want to do? Not what your parents want you to do. Not what Johnny down the block thinks you should do. Not even what people think you can or cannot do. Where do you want to take YOUR life? Lana Sackwild is a lucid dreaming and lucid living transpersonal life coach, research scientist and founder...

Some of the best things in life come about after multiple tries. It takes one step forward to get started with anything, but it takes continuous tries to excel at something. Giving up after the first try won’t get you anywhere. Chris Blankenship, a clinical therapist at Open Sky Wilderness Therapy, could have easily given up after a college suspension, though he instead chose nothing but resilienc...

No one can prepare you for what all life will bring. Each journey is different. The path can be as windy and bumpy as it gets, or it might be easier than most. Many things are learned through first hand experience and whatever the journey brings, it’s best to learn to take whatever comes your way as it comes and learn to work with it, while also working hard to get where you desire to be.  Angela...

Whether you're a high school dropout, in addiction recovery, a single dad...whatever it may be. The past doesn’t take away the value and potential of your life. Don’t count yourself out just because you might’ve slipped up. Be open to a different path. From high school dropout, to doing really well in school. That’s something that anybody can do. Whatever your past is, is not a barrier to be...

The mind is like a GPS. If you lose sight of your passions, any type of vision —of something truly meaningful in your life, you’ll end up lost.  Growing up Patrick Balsley’s life looked a lot like basketball with a side of drugs and a dash of academics. As he grew older, Patricks passions started to drift and his life became mainly about drugs. He started experimenting with alcohol in middle schoo...

Flunking out, suspension, dropping out, getting kicked out. All are very scary situations to be in for both parents and students. Though, they don’t have to be everything and high school and college doesn’t have to be everything. They can be used as launching pads to make the rest of life easier but they don’t have to be put out to be as crucial as they are usually expected to be. One bad thing or...

Mental health struggles and addiction can cause a thick haze to be put over the film of life. In the journey of recovery and healing, it can be difficult to get away from that lonely place. Is it possible to completely get rid of that version of life? To be able to cut out the things that are weighing you down, instead of pushing it all away? To live a life worth living instead of a life in misery...

1,000’s of students paired with one type of schooling system doesn’t always mesh well. Many students go through their entire education feeling less than and not smart ‘enough’. They end up getting left feeling discouraged, struggling to find passion and inspiration in life. John Tobias, founder of Red Cedar Transitions, never quite felt ‘good enough’ for school until he was 32. As a young adult, J...