13 to 25

25-year-old Avthar describes the tech industry as a place of fulfillment for engaging problem-solving and being of service to others. He highlights the ways his current boss has built a positive work environment for offering constructive feedback and points to other trusted adults who have invested in his personal growth throughout his youth and young adulthood.

Combining a degree in Spanish and a passion for healthcare, 23-year-old Cristina offers a compelling look at her decision to pursue a career as a healthcare interpreter. She describes the importance of finding balance between work and life: making time to enjoy outside interests and friendships and connecting with a mentor who's working to build online community spaces with fellow Latinas.

While student-teaching during his final semester of college, Jesse shares how mentors are helping him cultivate both personal and professional growth, noting how even small, intentional gestures from them have impacted his life. He discusses practical ways he hopes to support his own students as an educator, including bringing principles of restorative justice into the classroom.

A lover of the arts, Mat is in his final semester of college and considering between career paths in music production, musical theater, or dance. He reflects on the challenges of entering the performing arts professionally during a global pandemic and offers perspective on the lessons he’s gleaned from mentors at work and school.

In her final college semester, and while preparing for graduate school at a seminary, Tatum shares her hopes of becoming a Methodist pastor, largely driven by her passion to root her work in disability justice. As a functionally blind person advocating for overall accessibility and awareness, Tatum draws helpful parallels between “spoon theory” and work-life balance.

14-year-old Lucy already has her hopes set on studying developmental psychology, specifically focused on child and adolescent development. She shares how her own mental health journey has led her to want to pursue work where she can offer children and youth the kinds of critical resources she's benefited from. In addition to her career ambitions, Lucy points to other sources of meaning in her personal life, including theater and Colombian dance.

23-year-old Abdalla shares his passion for engineering, the ways he hopes to see workplaces continue to grow in their inclusion efforts and strategies, and how his Muslim faith offers opportunities for meaning, mentorship, and growth.

High school senior Abby shares her hopes about what sort of work environment she might eventually engage in and reflects on the trusted adults who are helping her navigate her current commitments as well her next steps in terms of post-secondary education options.

Springtide Executive Director Dr. Josh Packard talks with Marte Aboagye, producer of The Voices of Young People Podcast about key themes and takeaways from Season 4 as it relates to our brand new report, Work / Life: Helping Gen Z Flourish & Find Balance.

Hear a preview of what’s to come in Season 4 of The Voices of Young People Podcast as all 8 guests answer the question, “What does work-life balance look like to you?” This season coincides with our latest report, Work / Life: Helping Gen Z Flourish & Find Balance (available at springtideresearch.org).