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

Episode 60 - It’s Okay to Not Know What You Want to Do With Your Life —with John Sykes

May 04, 2021 Joanna Lilley, MA, NCC Season 1 Episode 60
Success is Subjective: Helping parents of college students accept that dropping out is okay
Episode 60 - It’s Okay to Not Know What You Want to Do With Your Life —with John Sykes
Show Notes

Maybe figuring out one thing to do with your entire life isn’t the goal. Perhaps it’s to find what you find passion and purpose in now and the rest will come together.

John Sykes, Director of Marketing and Business Development at The Recovery Academy, found college to be one of the most exciting times of his life where he felt like he could really explore himself and life as a whole. Eventually that exploration turned into drugs and alcohol abuse that would fill his life for years to come. It wasn’t until John’s early 30’s when everything caught up with him and he had no choice but to find recovery. Now, John finds himself sober, with a Master’s degree, and back at a recovery center but this time working there. He’s not sure if he will be doing this work for the rest of his life but for now he finds his own sense of success and fulfillment in it, which is more than he could ever ask for.

On this episode of Success is Subjective, John joins Joanna to share his journey as he navigated college, addiction and how he came to find recovery and a sense of purpose. If it weren’t for the years of struggle in addiction, he wouldn’t find himself working with young men in their own recovery journeys. Listen in for John’s insight on how it’s okay to not know what you want to do with your life no matter your age.

What You Will Learn

  • “Going to college is just what my family did.” 
  • How exciting of a time college was for John
  • “I had the real silver-spoon, bohemian college experience; studying abroad a few times, and just enjoying every moment.” 
  • How impactful studying abroad was for John and being able to fully embrace the collegiate experience
  • In 1995, High Times Magazine spotlighted Appalachian State as a great school! 
  • After many years of reflection, he identified that he was a functioning addict because every decision he made was influenced by alcohol and drugs 
  • When everything caught up with John in his early 30’s
  • There’s no such thing as an “aristocratic addict” 
  • The true surrendering and understanding that recovery from substance abuse takes a long time! 
  • When John got his Masters degree in a path he’s passionate about, and how he’s now been living in Minnesota for over 10 years!

Connect with John Sykes

Connect with Joanna Lilley