And How a Life Coach for Teens Helped Me Get There
College felt like this giant, looming thing when I was in high school, especially when it came to the pressure of college admissions. Everyone around me seemed to be chasing the same checklist:
Straight A’s
Perfect SAT scores
Flawless college essays
And honestly? I was overwhelmed.
I knew I wanted to go to college. I knew I wanted to be successful. But I didn’t know what I wanted to study. I didn’t even really know who I was yet. On top of that, I had severe ADHD. And while that didn’t mean I wasn’t smart, it did mean school felt like swimming upstream — constantly trying to function in a system that wasn’t built for how my brain works.
The Pressure Teens Face Around College
Most teens feel like they’re falling behind if they don’t check all the boxes. And parents are often just as stressed, wondering how to help their teen stay motivated or focused when nothing seems to work.
I was right there.
But what changed everything for me was working with a life coach for teens — someone who actually understood how to help me tap into what mattered to me.
From ADHD to Engineering: How Curiosity Became My Superpower
One day, I became obsessed with a material called carbon fiber. It was light, strong, and used in everything from bikes to airplanes. That random spark of curiosity lit a fire in me — and I decided I wanted to build a carbon fiber bike for kids.
I had no clue how to start. I didn’t have the tools or the background. But I was hooked.
What kept me going wasn’t discipline or grades — it was intrinsic motivation, something I uncovered through teen life coaching. My coach didn’t give me answers. He asked better questions. He helped me stay focused. He helped me see that my ADHD brain could be an asset.
I spent months learning how to build molds, experiment with layups, and eventually build a bike frame out of carbon fiber. It wasn’t perfect — but it was mine.
What Life Coaching for Teens Taught Me
That project led to more than just a cool story:
- It helped me write a standout college essay
- It got me into Gonzaga University, my top choice
- I was accepted into their Mechanical Engineering program
- It landed me my first job as an Aerospace Casting Engineer at Precision Castparts
But more importantly, life coaching taught me how to:
- Stay motivated as a teen, even with ADHD
- Break through limiting beliefs
- Use curiosity as a tool for growth
- Build real confidence (not just resume points)
Those tools didn’t just help me with college. They’ve helped me navigate every big decision since.
Why Teen Life Coaching Works
Whether your teen is struggling with motivation, executive function, ADHD, or just figuring out who they are — life coaching for teens creates space for them to explore, grow, and move forward with clarity.
It’s not therapy. It’s not tutoring. It’s strategic mentorship that helps teens build skills, self-awareness, and purpose.