Her son HATED his first job. Perfect.

Most parents push teens toward college without considering alternatives, but education experts Rose Ybaben and Danielle Randall reveal why this approach is outdated—and what works better.

Key Insights:

- Why discovering what you DON'T want is just as valuable as finding your passion

- How to balance parent support with student autonomy when setting goals

- Why adulthood is filled with "do-overs" (and why that's a good thing)

Links & Resources:

- [CareerOneStop Self-Assessments](https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Assessments/self-assessments.aspx)

- [O*NET Interest Profiler](https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip)

- [BigFuture College & Career Planning](https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/)

- [Open Ed Academy Virtual High School](https://openedacademy.com/)

Chapters

(00:00) When Mailroom Misery Becomes Valuable Information

(03:57) The Ideal Timeline for Post-High School Planning

(07:12) Helping Teens Who Have No Idea What They Want

(11:34) The Surprising Value of Knowing What You Hate

(15:43) Hard Work vs. Wrong Path: How to Tell the Difference

(19:27) Breaking the Helicopter Parent Cycle

(24:38) The $200,000 College Debt Trap

(31:08) Adulthood: The Ultimate Series of Do-Overs

(35:16) Beyond Career: Finding Your Impact

(40:02) Final Advice: Goals Are Steps, Not Endpoints

About Our Guests

Rose Ybaben has 15 years of experience working with students of all ages, most recently as a high school counselor. She specializes in helping families navigate the post-high school transition process.

Danielle Randall has 12 years of teaching experience across public, charter, and private school settings. She now supports students pursuing state-certified diplomas at Open Ed.

Join the Conversation

How did you approach post-high school planning?

What alternative paths have worked for your family?

Share your experiences in the comments below.

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