Episode 12 — The Finish Line Is Not The Degree —with Jake Weld

Life is not a race. College is not a race. The amount of accomplishments you have in life is not a race. The only race there is, is the growth within yourself. College isn’t going anywhere and life is long. Lean into the process. Enjoy every day. Take a break if you need to. It’s perfectly okay to take your time. In fact, it’s better to. Learn to sit with yourself and to be authentic and honest. That’s when you come to fully find yourself and find your tribe in life, and naturally allow the end of that process to be much more fulfilling than running a silly race.Jake Weld, Vice President, Director of Admissions and Business Development for Mansfield Hall, had a sense of what he wanted to do when entering college, though never quite knew what to do with all his many passions, so he did what he knew best. He took on new adventures throughout his time going back and forth between college and explored himself and the world, which was exactly what he needed to create forward progress in his path. So much so, that he acquired many degrees as he went back to school 3 more separate times after his freshman year. The time away brought him to love academics and lean into his passions on a whole nother level. Now, Jake helps provide academic, social, and independent living skills support to students who are going to college. On this episode of Success is Subjective, Jake joins Joanna to share his untraditional journey as a young adult, through college and his adventurous gap years. Jake’s exciting and different path is what it looks like when allowing college to wait, becomes the best decision in the entire trajectory of one’s life. Listen in for insight on Jake’s journey to where he now supports students to achieve their maximum potential - wherever that path may lead.What You Will LearnThe huge expectation about college that surrounded Jake growing up How Jake’s parents reacted to him choosing to leave college after his freshman yearHow the college that he refused to go to was where he ended up when plan A failedMuddling through college and what it’s like telling your parents you are dropping out of school  What Jake did instead with a good friend for 4 months that allowed him time to self reflectHow important the time off was for forward progressCollege Can Wait!How different and interesting college became every time Jake would go backJake’s love for pursuing the education of his passions brought him to get multiple degrees, and going back a couple years after to get even moreFinding work you are passionate about! It’s okay to struggle and ask for helpConnect with Jake WeldMansfield HallJake Weld of Mansfield HallVirtual HallCall (877) 205-3785Email  [email protected] or [email protected] ReferencesThe National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)Connect with Joanna Lilley  Lilley ConsultingLilley Consulting on Instagram Lilley Consulting on Facebook Sponsored by: www.ParentTrainers.comEmail [email protected]