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

Episode 71 — It's Not About What Others Want For You, You Have To Want It For Yourself — with Cannon Kristofferson

July 20, 2021 Joanna Lilley, MA, NCC Season 1 Episode 71
Success is Subjective: Helping parents of college students accept that dropping out is okay
Episode 71 — It's Not About What Others Want For You, You Have To Want It For Yourself — with Cannon Kristofferson
Show Notes

Everyone seems to have their say in other people's lives. Whether it’s family, society, teachers, or peers. That push will only get you so far. At the end of the day if you don’t want it for yourself, the spark to work for it won’t be there. You have to want whatever it may be, more than the influence of being told by your parents, society, teachers or peers. There’s something about coming to want more for yourself instead of rushing into things due to pressure, that organically brings you where you’re meant to be on the path of life.

Cannon Kristofferson, Program Director of The Grounds Recovery, went back to school at the age of 31, not because he was influenced to, but because he really wanted to. He uses that learning experience and his decade’s of experience working within the recovery community, to bring in the idea of education and school, when it’s appropriate for the men at The Grounds. He focuses on meeting them where they are, instead of being concerned about their age. Cannon’s personal journey of a long recovery as a young adult offers him a unique perspective and understanding that provides hope and encouragement to The Grounds members and their families. His extensive experience includes direct work with at-risk young adults through the city of San Diego, supporting veterans suffering with co-occurring substance abuse, PTSD and other mental health issues, and individual client work within the LGBT community.

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Cannon joins Joanna to share his journey going from a young adult who couldn’t seem to get out of the repetitive cycle he felt trapped in, to now using his personal journey of recovery as a young adult, to encourage young men and their families. He has helped design The Ground Program by referencing what he needed so badly as a young adult, himself. Listen in for insight on Cannon’s empowering story and how he works to help many young adults change their trajectory to a life of purpose and happiness, avoiding the path he was once on.

What You Will Learn

  • The black and white mentality Cannon was surrounded with growing up
  • How early Cannon got into substance abuse
  • Cannon’s experience in High School
  • What brought Cannon to his first experience in a wilderness program
  • Cannon’s experience with different colleges
  •  When Cannon’s experience with drug use increased after treatment
  • How Cannon ended up in jail for a year
  • Cannon’s 5 years sober
  • How overworking brought Cannon to relapse
  • When Cannon went back to college at the age of 31
  • Cannon’s time in Hawaii doing what he enjoyed
  • What Cannon did after he finished his bachelor's degree
  • What led Cannon to help start a program for men 
  • What they implement at The Ground Recovery Program
  • Cannon’s advice to parents with at risk youth

Connect with Cannon Kristofferson

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