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

Episode 62 - Life Hiccups are Just as Important as Successes —with Sarah Watkins

May 18, 2021 Joanna Lilley, MA, NCC Season 1 Episode 62
Success is Subjective: Helping parents of college students accept that dropping out is okay
Episode 62 - Life Hiccups are Just as Important as Successes —with Sarah Watkins
Info
Success is Subjective: Helping parents of college students accept that dropping out is okay
Episode 62 - Life Hiccups are Just as Important as Successes —with Sarah Watkins
May 18, 2021 Season 1 Episode 62
Joanna Lilley, MA, NCC

It is a privilege to experience life, the good and the bad. Sarah Watkins’ story is a beautiful reminder of that privilege and example of how to take life’s hiccups and turn them into motivators, and into a powerful story.

Sarah Watkins, program manager for political party development at an international development nonprofit in Washington, DC, dealt with a huge hiccup in her early adulthood. Not only was early adulthood and college a struggle to navigate, dealing with losing her mom was one of the hardest things to deal with for Sarah. Though, Sarah didn’t let her biggest challenges stop her from achieving her goals and making her mother proud. Sarah now helps nations across the world with democratic norms and standards and is a mentor at the Black Professionals in International Affairs.

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Sarah joins Joanna to share her journey as she navigated a huge family loss while also navigating a life long career path. Sarah’s strong and powerful story will be sure to inspire you in the hiccups you find yourself in. Listen in for Sarah’s insight on how she managed to carry on her mother’s legacy even as a young adult and how she continues to do so today.

What You Will Learn

  • She grew up in Hyde Park, IL which is the homelands of Barack Obama, where post-secondary education was expected!
  • How Sarah grew up attending her mom’s lecture at Indiana University (this was her childcare!)
  • Dealing with losing her mom at a young age
  • Senioritis + trauma is a painful experience to have to navigate!  Her mom’s legacy helped her to heal, and she’s since expressed significant gratitude towards her mom. 
  • Sarah taught herself Hebrew, has worked at a non-profit helping African refugees access social services, worked at the Democratic Party of Illinois, the House of Representatives, and now for a nonprofit in DC that helps nations across the world with democratic norms and standards. 
  • How losing a parent at a young age has affected her life and career journey
  • Your process and growth in life isn’t linear!
  • The importance in being kind to yourself and practicing radical rest
  • She’s a mentor at the Black Professionals in International Affairs

Connect with Sarah Watkins

Connect with Joanna Lilley  

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Show Notes

It is a privilege to experience life, the good and the bad. Sarah Watkins’ story is a beautiful reminder of that privilege and example of how to take life’s hiccups and turn them into motivators, and into a powerful story.

Sarah Watkins, program manager for political party development at an international development nonprofit in Washington, DC, dealt with a huge hiccup in her early adulthood. Not only was early adulthood and college a struggle to navigate, dealing with losing her mom was one of the hardest things to deal with for Sarah. Though, Sarah didn’t let her biggest challenges stop her from achieving her goals and making her mother proud. Sarah now helps nations across the world with democratic norms and standards and is a mentor at the Black Professionals in International Affairs.

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Sarah joins Joanna to share her journey as she navigated a huge family loss while also navigating a life long career path. Sarah’s strong and powerful story will be sure to inspire you in the hiccups you find yourself in. Listen in for Sarah’s insight on how she managed to carry on her mother’s legacy even as a young adult and how she continues to do so today.

What You Will Learn

  • She grew up in Hyde Park, IL which is the homelands of Barack Obama, where post-secondary education was expected!
  • How Sarah grew up attending her mom’s lecture at Indiana University (this was her childcare!)
  • Dealing with losing her mom at a young age
  • Senioritis + trauma is a painful experience to have to navigate!  Her mom’s legacy helped her to heal, and she’s since expressed significant gratitude towards her mom. 
  • Sarah taught herself Hebrew, has worked at a non-profit helping African refugees access social services, worked at the Democratic Party of Illinois, the House of Representatives, and now for a nonprofit in DC that helps nations across the world with democratic norms and standards. 
  • How losing a parent at a young age has affected her life and career journey
  • Your process and growth in life isn’t linear!
  • The importance in being kind to yourself and practicing radical rest
  • She’s a mentor at the Black Professionals in International Affairs

Connect with Sarah Watkins

Connect with Joanna Lilley