Be More Like The Flower
The daffodils are finally poking their heads out of the soil, the sap is running and tapped for syrup, and our local farmer’s market is full of bouquets and fresh greens. Every year, springtime feels like a collective re-awakening and chance to begin again.
Whenever I can, I try to orient myself to the seasons and the lessons they offer us. The past few quiet months have been a much-needed opportunity for reflection, planning, travel, projects, creativity, and rest. One practice I’ve leaned into is my weekly Zen Buddhism meditation class, led by Williams College professor Bernie Rhie. I’ve learned that cultivating an awareness of my thoughts and finding stillness are essential to my wellbeing, and open the doorway for greater connection and inspiration elsewhere in my life. During each class, Professor Rhie gives a dharma talk to share his wisdom. He recently spoke about how meditation—or any practice of slowing down and looking inwards—helps us get in touch with what makes us feel alive. More often than not, it’s hard to know what we feel called to do because we have so many internalized beliefs about what we should do and who we should be. Instead of constantly thinking, picking, choosing, debating, agonizing, and going back and forth, we need to “be more like a flower moving towards life and the direction of light.”
This message spoke to me quite intimately, both because it seems like such a simple and necessary reminder (if not one that can, at times, feel very difficult)—and because it has guided my vision for Uncommon Futures. At our best, we hope to empower our students to make decisions about their next steps not based on fear or society’s expectations, but on what feels most true to them. This philosophy is the foundation of our career counseling curriculum, which I’ve developed as a tool to help young people answer the question: “What should I do with my life?” with the understanding that there is no wrong answer, but through self-reflection and real-world experience, you can find a path that feels authentic to you. Life is a dynamic and ongoing process of self-discovery as students, friends, professionals, community members, global citizens, spiritual beings, inhabitants of our planet, and of what it simply means to be human. All of us need support on that journey.
Although there’s nothing I love more than building college lists, helping students write essays, and creating gap year itineraries, I’m genuinely so excited to fulfill the trifecta of future-planning support I always dreamed this company would have. With the launch of career counseling, we’re thrilled to welcome Evan Doherty onto our team: She’s a fellow Colorado College alum, nonprofit extraordinaire, and International Coaching Federation-trained coach with a specialty in executive functioning support for students. She’ll be doubling as an essay coach as needed, but (other than myself—how could I not!) will be our lead career counselor.
In fact, if you go over to our website, you’ll notice that we’ve refreshed our branding and updated our language as a pathway counseling company. No matter if you’re applying to college, planning a gap year, or figuring out your career, we’re here to help you find and navigate whichever path you decide to walk down.
