I sometimes wonder if w/in our culture there can sometimes be a sense of “things will work out” w/o always doing the diligent work to move feet so a path can unfold.

Mary B- That is a great idea. I may adopt that with my kids… You raise a good point, a problem I often see, too much indecision early on ends up limited options later on and for me grad school was where the fun was really at!

M&M – yes revelation and flexibility are key. We can’t always see what’s up ahead but the Lord can.

I also think it is critical that young people understand the process of seeking and getting personal revelation, because even the best laid plans can and do change…and for some, like Annie said, life does unfold more a step at a time.

That was how it happened w/ me. I could not have planned specifically what I ended up doing, no matter how much training or guidance I would have gotten. But I worked hard in school and college all along the way, got involved in different things,…and the Lord helped my path unfold as I went. It ended up being more than I could have dreamed or planned myself.

I also think Michelle’s post on the need for women to be flexible and adaptable in their plans and educational pursuits is important to balance with the focus on planning. Again, I think revelation becomes a key in the process.

Once they are in post-secondary education, she makes that conversation a prerequisite to their receiving her financial assistance with tuition each year. Once again, they can change mid-stream, she just needs to know what their charted course is, that they have seriously looked at what it entails, and that they are on track with it.

It seems to have made a difference in their sense of purpose and focus in their education and caused them to study out a number of different professions as they determine which one they will ultimately choose.

I wish my parents had done something similar. I spent way to much time drifting along with what looked interesting in the course catalog each semester and failed to prepare myself for some good post-graduate options as a result.

I spent summers on archaeology crews (ages 14-20) and that eventually worked into digitizing maps and doing archival work for the Forest Service as well.

I coached youth soccer my senior year (age 16). I took dance, and captained the dance team at school.

Had I been told, over and over, I had to wait until I was out of high school to do this stuff, I’d have withered.

Both DH and I have a bit of an entrepreneurial bent. Our kids have inherited it. They range from 13 down to 2, and we actually spend a lot of fun family time talking about possible jobs and businesses and adventures. We do work it through–from what we imagine a typical day would be like, to talking with those who do similar things, to discussing how the venture would need to be financed and marketed, where we’d find suppliers… kids as young as our 10.5yo are quite capable of working out a business plan. Even if that plan never happens, it’s excellent practice, and fun.

My oldest two could give you detailed options on a half-dozen future life paths each, right down to the college classes or training they’d want to get to support those goals. Since the oldest is still in Beehives, the time for full implementation is a ways off in most things, but that doesn’t stop them being passionate about the possibilities!

Coming back from my Mom’s this summer, we spent nearly two hours of driving time discussing how we, as a family, could go about buying, renovating, and marketing a mid-20th century hot springs “family resort” in my Mom’s county. My oldest often talks about growing and marketing her own herbal items (culinary oils, soaps, decor); my son can give you detailed ideas on the bakery shop he might like to own some day.

Don’t leave the discussions for later… if a child is old enough to have an opinion, they’re old enough to explore the passion, and see where it might take them in life.

say you know you are good at organization- you might undertake the job of creating a better system for tracking and record keeping for the people you contact in your area and where you tract.

say you know you have good interpersonal skills- you might reach out to an elder in your district who is really struggling and pay extra attention to how mission leaders counsel and help.

Say you are really creative- you might come up with a innovative way to motivate the Elders in your zone to improve their companionship study or helpful teaching examples.

When we had a missionary who grew up working in a resteraunt came up with this great idea to a ward and investigator dinner at the church and serve the people it was a great successfull activity again borne out of individuals experience and interest.

Help me understand. How would self-awareness of talents, skills, and abilities help one be a better missionary?

It’s not that I didn’t have tons of support along the way – particularly in college, I saw every career counselor and took the career class and everything, only to end up having no idea. Some of us are just confused, but I figured it’s better to pick a plan and go with it rather than move back home and work at the mall.

Heidi- Thanks for sharing your story. I have known many people in similar siutations- they stay single or without children longer than expected or become widowed or divorced and foudn they would be spednign alot of time int eh workforce doing somethign that wasn’t very fulfilling.

Michelle and Karen- I have to say I have never taken that perspective. Then again I am a fairly open person. I have always felt asking someone about there interests is a very genuine thing to do, a way of seeking to develop a relationship and appreciate them as an individual- not as threatening or judgemental. As an adult woman I get asked this all the time again I don’t take it as invasive. building realtionships of trust is actually a missionary skill.

(you may see I simply used missionaries as an example but noted that this extendes to a range of young adults). I pointed out in an earlier comment I think sometimes we are so focused on getting them on missions we fail to help them develop any sort of plan before a mission. I think more self awareness of talents, skills and abilites will actually help you be a better missionary. I don’t see a simple question like this as an impediment to their work or a huge distraction. In fact I think having a good plan before you go out will make you less distracted and stressed. When a new missionary comes in it’s interesting to know a bit about them as individuals. Because I hate it when missionaries are treated as a generic whole. I believe their meaningful connections with members investigators are part of what makes a mission a meaningful experience. I think we are far more successful in our service (be it missions etc) when allow our individuality and and talents to support unity of purpose.

I was impressed though recently when my cousin, thriving on a mission, asked my husband to please send him a letter giving him advice on career fields in engineering so he could review it on preparation day. I thought showed foresight and maturity.

I DO think college is a time of exploration and self discovery. I loved taking floral design, youth leadership, ballroom dance, outdoor cooking, doing study abroad, but I am also glad that I had a clear focus as it allowed me to recieve a rich education in a timely period and have many opportunities before I became a mother.