Almost everyone has had an “aha” moment. Everything suddenly clicks and you experience a higher level of clarity, allowing you to move forward with excitement and purpose. For longtime Flower Mound resident Christine Clark, her crisis came not long after she was laid off from a marketing role she had held for more than 20 years.
Clark knew something had happened that day because he kept smiling all the way home. Granted, letting go wasn’t ideal. But she hated the job, the role of vice president, which she held for at least six years.
Even her husband Steve said he was quitting his wife’s job when he heard the news.
The trick was finding her next step. Luckily, that worked out quickly too.
“One day when I was networking, someone asked me if I had ever taken the CliftonStrengths assessment,” Clark said. “We’ve all heard about these different assessments and personality profiles, and they’re all great. But this gives me the words to describe the activities that I do naturally. I realized that I didn’t like the role of vice president because I thought I needed to be a strategic mastermind, but I’m not in the CliftonStrengths report. , this is clearly stated. My genius is moving people together in the right direction and having fun doing it. My strength was my strategic ability. I was always exhausted because I was working on my weaknesses instead of my strengths.”
She goes on to say, “I was trying to be something I wasn’t, and I couldn’t help but think, ‘If only I had understood this about myself when I was younger.'” I loved it, but this may have helped me choose a career instead of just taking the first role I was offered. ”
At the same time, her two sons were starting to plan for college, which was surprising. Clark quickly learned that children are being taught to plan for college backwards. Parents, teachers, and even career guidance counselors are quick to tell you that college is the logical next step after high school. So students begin the rote process of taking the ACT and SAT, writing essays, filling out applications, choosing a college, and choosing a major. . This approach may work well for the few students entering college who already know their interests, what they’re good at, and what they want to be when they grow up. But for others, they’re just checking the boxes they’re told to check.
Not surprisingly, most children fall into the latter category. They don’t know enough about themselves, their strengths and weaknesses, and what they’re good at. Most people don’t know where to start, worry about making mistakes, and feel overwhelmed. Maybe they aren’t even sure if they want to go to college.
Three national statistics that most parents are unaware of support Clark’s claim.
First, 30% of college-bound students do not return for their sophomore year. Second, it takes students an average of five and a half years to complete a four-year degree. Finally, 50% of kids who attend college regret their degree choice.
“They do all the tactical things like taking the SAT and filling out essays and applications, but they wonder why they go to college and what they can study that will make them happy when they go to college. , I don’t really understand,” Clark said. “You can make a career out of what you enjoy most. You just have to find it first.”
Fast forward to today, and Clark helps young people ages 16 to 26 understand themselves and their natural talents, help them have that “aha” moment sooner, and start pursuing a career they love. I tried my best to make it happen.
She accomplished this through elements of her coaching business, aptly titled Untangling College Planning.
At College Planning Untangled, Clark gets to know students on a personal level and helps them choose a career path that will make them happy. Once you have that vision and are excited about it, choosing a major or college suddenly becomes easier.
Of course, students can also follow the popular “think-as-you-go” scheme. But statistics show that this plan costs families a lot of extra time and can increase college costs by more than $25,000.
“I always ask parents, ‘When was the last time you agreed to a four-year commitment without knowing the end goal?'” Clark said. “These kids have good ideas, and what they’re interested in has merit, and they can turn it into a career they enjoy. Be honest and decide on a career that will make your child happy.” Only your child can.”
College Planning Untangled can be summarized into three phases.
The first is Career Exploration, where students take a Career Assessment and a CliftonStrengths Assessment. They then sit down with Clark to discuss and understand who they are, their interests, skills, preferences, natural talents, and future careers.
Phase 2 aligns career ideas with each student’s life goals and expectations. This includes discussing everything from job growth and income expectations to job descriptions and education requirements. Students are challenged to identify their future career path, speak with experts, and gain a firmer grasp on whether it is truly the career path they want to pursue.
In the third stage, students feel confident that they have chosen the right major or alternative educational path, such as trade school, apprenticeship, community college, or even hiring a business coach. Moreover, they understand their talents and future contributions and can express this in job interviews, reviews, resumes, etc.
Clark implements these stages in six weeks of small group coaching sessions. She also offers eight weeks of one-on-one coaching, a fast-track program for students who are further along in their goals but need additional support to fill in the remaining details in their plans, and Involving and Promoting the Whole Family We also offer family strength sessions for. In the same direction.
“It’s a process, and it may take some students longer than others. But the data-driven process I teach helps kids make better decisions for themselves.” ,” Clark said. “They are confident in the path they are on and really enjoy what they are doing.”
For more information about Kristin Clark’s coaching and College Planning Untangled, please visit www.kristinclark.com.
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