Teenagers Searching for Purpose and Significance

One of the joys of a Doctoral program is having the opportunity to write a dissertation, which can be defined as an extended research paper that incorporates the practical. One of my passions is working with not only students, but also teachers. Within this passion is my desire to see students discover who they are, what their gifts, skills, and talents are, and what it is that they are passionate about. I long to see students step foot on a college campus knowing not only who they are, but who God has called them to be and with that, what direction He wants them to walk in. This is what the focus of my dissertation will be on.

Research is showing that anywhere between 20%-50% of students end up entering their freshman year of college undecided about their major and future career. With that, between 50% and 70% of all undergraduates will change their major and career plans at least once during college (Lepre, 2007). What does all of this mean for students? Well, students who postpone declaring a major tend to have lower grade point averages, they take fewer courses, and they tend to be less academically motivated (Lepre, 2007).

With all of these statistics, Lepre (2007) goes on to state that many students have a difficult time just knowing where to begin when it comes to the whole college process/declaring a major. And in addition to this, when students feel pressured to make a decision, they in turn, decide on a major/college that does not fit them and many times these students become discouraged due to lack of direction. This breaks my heart because this is such a critical time in a student's life and so many students are not only trying to make some big decisions, but they are searching for purpose and when they feel discouraged, they begin to really question and wonder whether or not God does indeed have a plan for their life.

It is vital that students begin the process of self-discovery by their freshman year of high school. Students need the opportunity to begin exploring who they are: their values, their passions, their skills, talents, gifts, beliefs, fears, etc. Students not only need to explore these areas, but they must also begin to see and realize the relevance behind their current studies. Many students tend to see school as a waste of time. If students can begin exploring who they are and what it is that they want to accomplish in the future, in turn, they will begin to see the relevance behind their current studies.

I recently had some of my high school students write a paper titled, "My plans after graduation". Students had to write about what they wanted to do after they graduate from high school. Many of them expressed that they planned on attending a four-year university. As they spent some time researching the colleges and careers they hope to pursue, their eyes were opened. Many of them had not realized:

* how much college costs

* grade point averages needed in order to be admitted into a college

* SAT and ACT scores needed in order to be admitted into a college

* that the majority of colleges accept students who have taken classes filled with rigor (honors, AP, dual enrollment, etc.)

* that being involved on your school campus along with being involved in the community is something that colleges look highly upon

* that their intended major required specific multiple courses in one academic area and unfortunately, many of these students are failing those courses at the high school level

The students were a little surprised. I say all of this because if you have a child, you need to begin working with them in helping them discover who they are. You need to take some time each day to reassure them that God does have a purpose for them and that He wants to use them in some incredible ways. Here are some ideas that you can take and start using with your kids today:

1) Have your child create a collage by using magazine pictures. Have them answer the following question through pictures-Who am I? This will give you LOTS of insight as to who they think they are.

2) Talk to them about what they like to do in their free time.

3) Talk to them about their favorite subjects in school and have them explain why those are their favorite subjects

4) Talk to them about their hopes and goals for the future

5) Take some time to help them explore colleges and the requirements that those colleges have

6) Take some time to help them explore careers that they have thought about pursuing

7) Set up an appointment where they will have the opportunity to meet and talk with someone who is working within the career they are thinking about pursuing

The goal is to get your child thinking about all of this before their high school graduation day. If you do this, not only will it save you tons of money (no changing majors multiple times thus extending their college years), but you will have a child who will hold their head up high knowing who they are and that they were created with a specific purpose that God wants to work within them!

Feel free to send me any questions, thoughts, or concerns that you may have. This is my calling-working with adults and students as they seek out to discover who God has uniquely created them to be.

Lepre, C. (2007). Getting through to them: Reaching students who need career counseling. The Career Development Quarterly, 56(1), 74-84.