College and Career Clarity
College and Career Clarity
How to Raise Curious, Future-Ready Teens – with Kami Wanous
In this episode, Lisa and Kami discuss:
- How curiosity shapes the development of lifelong learners who can adapt and grow over time
- Why box-checking habits weaken authentic engagement with learning
- What project-based learning offers as a bridge between interests and academics
- The role family culture plays in nurturing natural curiosity and supporting ongoing personal growth
Key Takeaways:
- Box-checking driven by grades and pressure drains curiosity and leaves young people unprepared for real college, career, and life demands.
- Real-world projects like building a skate park or creating community signage reveal how project-based learning blends civic knowledge, physics, planning, and passion.
- Curiosity grows at home through natural conversations that connect everyday life, current events, and reading into meaningful learning.
- A teen’s lost love of learning often shows up as ongoing frustration or disengagement whenever school is mentioned.
“We have to change the messages that we're sending, and the message of lifelong learning is that learning happens everywhere, all the time.” – Kami Wanous
Episode References:
- Sample Birkman Report
- Pails by Chris Brady
- The Truth About College Admission Workbook
- #169 The Hidden Impact of College Major Selection on Admissions with Rick Clark
- Check your family’s learning culture in minutes — take Kami’s Love of Learning Launch Pad quiz
- Take the free Career Planning Readiness Quiz
Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).
Connect with Kami:
Website: https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheFreedomScholar & https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733
IG: https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar
YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtJpXKtndYS9rrP98KcvDEw
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous-14117723a
Homeschool Success: https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/podcast
Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishcoachingco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co