The College Admissions Process – The Finish Line or the Starting Point?

Maazel points out that both parents and students often hold deep-seated beliefs that unless kids become doctors, lawyers, or engineers, they won’t thrive. This, combined with the pressure to get into the most highly ranked college they can, can lead students to act through an automated, “check off the box” mentality, when the goal is simply to get into a good college. The process bears no connection to who a student really is or what makes her feel happy, excited, inspired, or connected.

Instead, citing a 2017 McKinsey study, Maazel shows how the skills developed through the arts and humanities may actually give students an edge in our automated, AI-driven future. Skills like creativity, critical thinking, empathy, and communication are all vital and highly desired by employers. Therefore, the opportunities for students to study what they love AND create a financially viable career are much broader than they typically think. Armed with this knowledge, students can then freely discover and develop their talents.

In the video above, Maazel shares her “3 D’s of Talent Development”: Discover, Develop, and Demonstrate. “This Ted Talk was designed to begin shifting the way we think of counseling teens and to provide a roadmap to connect with passion at any age. Portfolios and journaling play a large part in this process, so Cirkled In can become a valuable tool for reflection in the journey to college,” she says.

By using the application process as an opportunity to discover students’ talents and passions, connect them to their communities, and help them give back to others, we can help students develop a sense of purpose and deep connection to their authentic selves, which leads to happy, stable adulthood.