Hi Reader, Can a palm tree grow in the Rocky Mountains? Most people would say no. Palm trees need warmth, humidity, and the right climate to grow. But technically… a palm tree could grow in the Rocky Mountains. If it were in a greenhouse. That idea stuck with me this month while I was thinking about young adults and post-secondary planning. Because what most teens and young adults are really trying to figure out is: What environment will help me thrive? Not just: • What job should I pick?•...

Hi Reader, After 25 years in a school counselor’s office, I’ve sat across from hundreds of "stuck" teenagers. Usually, they’re staring at a college application or a list of majors with a look of pure static. When a teen says, “I don’t know what I want to do,” adults tend to translate that as laziness, fear, or a lack of ambition. But here is what I’ve realized: They aren't avoiding the choice. They just don't have the data to make it. I remember a student—let’s call her Maya—who cycled...

Hi Reader, A student once told me, “I think I want to take a gap year.” His parents immediately assumed he was avoiding responsibility. But when we slowed down, something else surfaced. He was exhausted.He had never managed his own schedule.He had never handled money.He had never made a decision without external structure. He didn’t want to escape. He felt unprepared. That’s a very different conversation. Because sometimes “not ready” isn’t resistance. It’s awareness. That conversation...