Helping Students Discover "Why" They Are In College
Students with an understanding of their purpose are more academically engaged, resilient, and likely to thrive.
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Sense of Purpose
Study after study has shown that purpose improves our lives on many levels. Academic engagement and grit goes up. Depression and anxiety go down.
Renewed Confidence
When students figure out what their unique contribution to the world is, this grounds them emotionally. As a result, their confidence goes way up.
faith in their potential
This program encourages students to dream. It encourages them to believe in themselves and what the future has in store.
When students are unplugged from why they are in school, anxiety and depression are more likely to occur. They are adrift and the demands of school and life take a greater toll.
What We Do
At Discovering My Purpose, we know that you share our mission to help students thrive.
We want to help them connect with their strengths and what they love to do so that they can meaningfully contribute to the world. Knowing who they are and how they can show up in the world - this self-knowledge grounds them emotionally, helping them live happier, more meaningful lives.
What Your Students Get
Access to a cutting-edge content based on proven positive psychology concepts from the best thought leaders in the field, including:
- A strengths-based approach to help students learn more about what they are good at
- Mindfulness practices to help lessen anger and anxiety
- An understanding of the brain and how to short-circuit the negative habits that sometimes trip them up
- Enrichment questions staff can use to spur conversation and deepen learning
- A detailed workbook that outlines course content, resources and exercises
- A checklist to help keep their efforts organized and on track
- Bonus content to support and deepen their learning of critical concepts
Bonus Module
Understanding Your Brain
Why do we start with the bonus module? For young people, this information helps create fertile ground for change by kicking any victim mentality they might have to the curb. How? First we give them a brain-based explanation on how people make decisions - using teen-friendly terms to explain the roles of our limbic center (part of the brain where emotions and survival instinct lives) and pre-frontal cortex (where values and goals live). This helps them understand why they might have made poor decisions in the past. Then we give them simple steps to make better choices in the future. Students end the module feeling empowered to take their lives in a new direction!
Module 1
Getting to Know Yourself
Aristotle said, "Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." With this module we continue to build students' belief in themselves and how they can contribute to the world. Students take a scientifically validated survey to uncover their top strengths. They are then coached in how to lean into their strengths and rev up their growth mindset. The module is enriched with a variety of exercises and activities. A quick example of a student favorite - take a limiting self-belief and add one powerful word to the end of the sentence - YET. For example, "I can't understand algebra YET." "I am not good enough to get on the team YET." A simple and easy way to shift from fixed to growth mindset.
Module 2
Getting Stronger
Our students need to have a steady foundation and a deep well-spring of strength. Module two covers a lot of ground, from mindfulness practices to self-esteem boosters to ways purpose helps increase resilience and grit. With our focus of "Get Stronger", we talk about how students can learn from hard times, how to embrace and learn from failure and how to increase their willingness to try new things.
Module 3
Dream Big
Now it is time to shift gears. In Module 3 we use a powerful approach called Appreciative Inquiry. Students think about moments in their past when they felt good or happy. They are guided to learn more about these moments - even if those moments were small - so that they can bring more of this positivity into their lives. From here, we encourage them to dream big, seeing their Fantastic Future and all that it holds. Everyone deserves to dream. We explain that as little as 30 minutes a week spent on something meaningful boosts happiness. This means purposeful lives are within everyone's reach.
Module 4
Make It Happen
In the final module, we change gears again. This is the time to make things happen! Module 4 helps students choose goals aligned with their values and strengths. Students work on a step-by-step action plan that takes their bigger goals and then breaks them into smaller and smaller steps. This approach is powerful, because it makes change feel doable. Students outline their Authentic Action plan. The end of the module talks about best practices around change management. Long after the program is over, students can use these life skills to move towards their goals, purpose and dreams.
Our Creation Story and
The Most Important Question Students Aren’t Asked.
Endorsed By the Following Organizations
program made possible through the donations of individuals such as you.