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

Episode 87 — Getting Off the Traditional Conveyor Belt Path —with Kai Johnson

September 14, 2021 Joanna Lilley, MA, NCC Season 1 Episode 87
Success is Subjective: Helping parents of college students accept that dropping out is okay
Episode 87 — Getting Off the Traditional Conveyor Belt Path —with Kai Johnson
Show Notes

It takes a lot of courage to step away from society and make your own path. It takes bravery to show up with your differences and challenge them. Even though it’s scary, what if you did step off the traditional conveyor belt path and into something different? What if the fear attached to the unknown is an invitation to take that leap?

Kai Johnson, Director of Ingenuity Year, found himself stuck on the conveyor belt of life in his emerging adult years. It wasn’t until he got fed up and decided to do a study abroad program while in college where he was able to connect with the world and get back to himself. Kai’s gap year experience impacted him so much that he now helps run a gap year program designed for students with learning differences and ADHD.

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Kai joins Joanna to share his experience where he was able to really connect with himself through his time studying abroad during and after college. Stepping into something different allowed Kai to find what lights him up and has directed his entire life. Listen in for insight on what Kai has learned through the ups and downs of his journey.

What You Will Learn

  • Society’s standards around college
  • Feeling completely lost in college
  • Kai’s life changing experience at a study abroad program in Fiji
  • How Kai’s parents were supportive when he got off the traditional conveyor belt path
  • The new sense of appreciation Kai developed when he came back to college
  • How Kai changed things around with the rest of the time he had in college
  • Traveling to India in his last semester of college
  • The differences between the cultures in Fiji and India
  • How Kai got started in his career with experiential education
  • The twists and turns in Kai’s career journey
  • It’s okay to not be okay
  • The important of learning to trust your intuition
  • Fear can be an opportunity and an invitation

Connect with Kai Johnson

 Connect with Joanna Lilley