Success is Subjective: Helping parents of college students accept that dropping out is okay

Episode 37 — Stop Trying to Fit Yourself Into a Poor Fit! —with Sean Tomkinson

November 05, 2020 Joanna Lilley, MA, NCC Season 1 Episode 37
Success is Subjective: Helping parents of college students accept that dropping out is okay
Episode 37 — Stop Trying to Fit Yourself Into a Poor Fit! —with Sean Tomkinson
Show Notes

So many try to fit in. Fit in with their peers, fit into expectations, into society’s standards. When most of these things were never meant for you to fit into in the first place. You can’t expect the letter A to fit into the letter B spot on an alphabetic puzzle mat, so how do you expect yourself to fit into someone else’s path? 

Sean Tomkinson, owner of Passages Alaska Wilderness Therapy, realized while in college that he couldn’t bear to force himself to stay where he didn’t feel he belonged at the time. During his time off he decided to go to the air force and allow himself to explore himself and life as a whole more before returning back to school. During his time away from college Sean discovered wilderness therapy and was motivated to go back to school to pursue that passion. Now he finds himself doing work he loves, connecting with students. 

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Sean joins Joanna to share his journey as he navigated life as a young adult and where he finds himself today. The decision Sean made to take time off school instead of forcing himself through it allowed him to find a career where he was definitely called to be in. Listen in for insight on Sean’s inspiring story and how he’s come to realize that sometimes it isn’t you but instead the fit that isn’t what it necessarily needs to be.

What You Will Learn

  • Going to school with a class of 8
  • The lack of social life that Sean had growing up
  • Not returning to college after sophomore year. College can wait!
  • It's okay to take a break from college.  A lot more people do it than we realize! 
  • Sean’s time in the air force
  • When Sean got serious about school at 34 years old 
  • Getting introduced to wilderness therapy 
  • The phenomenal work that Sean does in Alaska
  • Stop trying to fit yourself into a poor fit

Connect with Sean Tomkinson 

Connect with Joanna Lilley