In this episode, Lisa and Jack discuss:

• How authenticity influences a student’s journey through high school and college admissions
• Making intentional academic and extracurricular choices instead of chasing prestige
• Personal growth through adversity and how it can translate into advocacy and leadership
• Using entrepreneurship to solve real-world problems in the college admissions process

Key Takeaways:

• Crafting a college application around a meaningful personal narrative—especially one rooted in overcoming adversity—can create a clear and compelling through-line that ties together academics, extracurriculars, and long-term interests.
• Prioritizing activities that genuinely excite you, rather than selecting them to impress others, leads to more fulfilling experiences and naturally stronger, more authentic application materials.
• Letting go of lower-impact commitments, even those you once valued, can open up time and energy to go deeper into areas where your skills, passions, and long-term potential align most powerfully.
• Seeking out immersive experiences, such as internships or independent projects, helps translate personal interests into tangible accomplishments while also shaping a clearer vision for future academic and career decisions.

“If you love what you're doing, you won't get tired. If you love what you're doing, you're going to be excited to wake up every day the next morning.” – Jack Goldstein

About Jack Goldstein: Jack Goldstein is from Portland, Oregon, and is heading to the University of Pennsylvania in the fall to commence his pursuits down the pre-law track. He is also the co-founder of Quadzio, a startup that will change the way the college tour process takes place. Passionate about advocacy and student empowerment, Jack aims to bridge gaps in access and authenticity within higher education. His work is driven by a belief that meaningful connections and lived experience should shape how students choose where to learn.

Episode References:

• Subscribe to the free College & Career Clarity newsletter at flourishcoachingco.com/newsletter for weekly tips, insights, and expert strategies straight to your inbox.

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).

flourishcoachingco.com/video

Connect with Jack:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quadzioofficial/

Website: https://quadzio.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-goldstein-023661303/

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode, Lisa and Joanna discuss:

• Exploring alternatives to the traditional college timeline
• The evolving role of parents in post-secondary decision-making
• Emotional and psychological challenges facing college-bound teens
• The importance of preparation and intentional planning for life after high school

Key Takeaways:

• College readiness is less about academic performance and more about whether a student can live independently, manage their time without reminders, handle stress in healthy ways, and recover from inevitable challenges like failure or rejection.
• Choosing to delay college in favor of a well-planned year of work, volunteering, or self-directed learning through platforms like Coursera can give students the clarity, maturity, and practical skills they often need but didn’t gain during high school.
• When a student shows signs of burnout, struggles with mental health, or has never had to navigate real consequences on their own, it’s usually a sign that stepping back from school to focus on personal growth is the healthier long-term decision.
• Families who agree in advance on how they’ll stay in touch, what success looks like during the first semester, and how financial support will be tied to progress tend to create stronger trust and smoother transitions into adulthood.

“College is an experience out of the home for the first time... If your child has never had the opportunity to experience any adversity... that's going to be tremendously harder for them when they land on a college campus.” – Joanna Lilley

About Joanna Lilley: Since 2016, Joanna Lilley of Lilley Consulting has been helping young adults (18+) find mental health, substance use, and wellness resources. Joanna dedicates herself to working solely with emerging adults who unravel in college or aren’t thriving in adulthood. She also hosts the Success is Subjective podcast.

Episode References:

• #020 Teaching Your Teen “How to College”: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/podcast/20-teaching-your-teen-how-to-college/

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).

flourishcoachingco.com/video

Connect with Joanna:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilleyConsultingLLC/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-lilley-ma-ncc-12546566/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LilleyConsulting/featured

Website: https://lilleyconsulting.com/

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode, Lisa and Ramon discuss:

• The importance of real-world work experience in building employable skills
• How to approach job searching and internships with a strategic mindset
• The unique challenges and strengths of neurodivergent students in career development
• Why traditional career services often fall short in preparing students for the real job market
  
  

Key Takeaways:

• Applying to hundreds of jobs (e.g., 500+) with a generic resume rarely yields results; students must instead craft targeted, high-quality applications with a strong business case for themselves.
• Any job, including so-called “little” ones like lifeguarding or concessions, teaches transferable skills—such as teamwork, responsibility, and pressure management—that employers value and belong on a resume.
• Students should proactively connect with professionals on LinkedIn and through school-specific portals to build relationships with potential employers early.
• For neurodivergent students, building confidence involves reframing perceived weaknesses as strengths and learning not only how to interview but also why each step in the process is important, thereby fostering independence and long-term career success.
  
  

“I don’t want you starting your networking when you’re 30. I want you to start when you’re 21.” – Ramon Santillan

About Ramon Santillan: Ramon Santillan is the founder of PersuasiveInterview.com. Before he was an Interview & Negotiation Coach, he was a tax consultant for the world’s biggest accounting firm, the world’s biggest oil driller, and the founder of his own tax practice.

Ramon teaches professionals how to be more charismatic, feel and look more confident, shows them the right way to sell themselves during interviews and client meetings, and negotiate their salaries to what they deserve. He has been quoted by U.S. News & World Report, CBS, Yahoo!, CareerBuilder.com, Chicago Tribune, and many others as an interviewing and salary negotiation expert.

Ramon is a graduate of UT’s Red McCombs School of Business, a graduate of the FBI’s Citizen Academy, a Certified Corporate Trainer, and has served as Historian, Vice President, and President for the ALPFA Houston Chapter. He is a husband of one, father of two, and friend of many.
He loves reading—tell him about your favorite book and he’ll add it to his Amazon wishlist.

Ramon also enjoys writing about himself in the third person. He thinks it’s fun.

Episode References:

• A free step-by-step guide to building a Student LinkedIn Profile: flourishcoachingco.com/linkedin
• Handshake/CareerConnect: https://joinhandshake.com/
• #164 Unlocking Neurodiversity & Career Planning Success with Rebecca Whittaker Matte: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/164

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).
flourishcoachingco.com/video

Connect with Ramon:
Website:

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co