Jean Eddy on Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners

Key Points

  • Uncertainty is the one thing that all kids leave high school with.

  • We need more people wanting to take a chance on making change.

Jean Eddy Crisis-Proofing Today's Learners

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast Tom Vander Ark is joined by Jean Eddy, CEO of American Student Assistance (ASA) and author of Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow’s World.

“There is a revolution ahead that is centered on transforming the way we create and deliver educational experiences to kids. Those experiences can and will include self-discovery and career exploration, and will be focused on their individual needs, goals, and passions,” said Jean Eddy. “Success will be measured on the competency kids have built in their skills, on the progress that they feel they’ve made in reaching their goals, and on the confidence they feel when making decisions about what comes next.”

In Jean’s book, she highlights a set of questions that high school students should be able to answer when they graduate, including: 

  • What am I good at?
  • What would I like to become better at?
  • What motivates me? How do I work best?
  • What can I see myself doing when I’m older and what, specifically, do I
  • need to do to make that happen?
  • What skills will I need to reach my goals?
  • What do I want to build in my life?
  • What difference do I want to make in the world?
  • Where can my skills and contributions fit into existing structures, or do I want to build a new structure?
  • What kind of life and living can I have in the areas I want to pursue?

Transcript

Tom Vander Ark: There’s a new vision for secondary education. To quote Jean Eddy, “There’s a revolution ahead that is centered on the way that we create and deliver education experiences to kids. Those experiences can and will include self-discovery and career exploration and be focused on their individual needs, goals, and passions.” You’re listening to the Getting Smart podcast, and I’m Tom Vander Ark. Today, we’re joined by Jean Eddy. She’s the CEO of American Student Assistance, also known as ASA, and the author of a great new book called Crisis Proofing Today’s Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow’s World. Jean, what a treat to have you on the podcast! I love this book, Jean—it was so good. It’s just the best pathways book.

Jean Eddy: My pleasure. Really happy to be here.

Tom Vander Ark: That I’ve seen—it’s more than that. Actually, like I said in the intro, I think it’s a new vision for secondary education. So, I’m really excited to talk to you today.

Jean Eddy: That’s high praise coming from you! I’ll try to live up to it.

Tom Vander Ark: Jean, I get the sense that, having followed you and ASA for almost 20 years, there’s a backstory here. How did you and ASA come to understand the centrality of career exploration and identity development to secondary education?

Jean Eddy: I think there were a couple of things going on concurrently. I was a board member at ASA for a number of years, but while I was a board member, I worked in higher education, and I worked with lots of kids. It’s fair to say that I met more than my share of young people on a college campus who had no idea why they were there. They didn’t know what they were there for. They decided, “Well, maybe this is going to be okay because I’ll figure it out while I’m here.” Along the way, they changed majors a few times. Some might graduate from college still not knowing what they wanted to do, or worse, they dropped out, having taken out loan after loan, without knowing why they were there. At ASA, as a guarantor, our work was to help young people figure out how to repay their loans in the best possible way so they could have a life. I was dedicated to my board seat because I’ve always been dedicated to young people in their education journey.

I was hearing stories from borrowers saying, “I wish I had known…”

Jean Eddy: I was hearing stories from borrowers saying, “I wish I had known how expensive it was going to be. I wish I had known how much debt I was going to get into. I wish I had known what my career opportunities were before I started taking out loans. I wish I had known more about myself before I committed to this path.” So when I became CEO at ASA, I started asking myself, “Why don’t we start earlier?” I knew what I was hearing from young people on college campuses and our borrowers, and I thought that if we helped students sooner, they would make better decisions.

I also knew that many young people were overwhelmed by the idea of career planning because they thought it meant, “You’re asking me to make a decision about what I want to be for the rest of my life.” But it’s not about that. It’s about exploring possibilities, learning more about yourself, and developing skills that can help you in many careers. If we can start earlier, in middle school, and give students the tools they need to explore career options without pressure, we can help them be more intentional in their education journey. That’s how we came to this focus on career exploration at ASA.

Tom Vander Ark: That’s such a thoughtful response, Jean. I really appreciate how you connected the dots between student debt and the importance of starting earlier in terms of career exploration and self-discovery. It seems like ASA is at the forefront of not only addressing student debt but also helping young people avoid it by making more informed decisions. How have you seen this shift at ASA in terms of program development and partnerships?

Jean Eddy: We knew we had to change our focus if we wanted to have a bigger impact. We shifted from being solely focused on loan repayment and moved upstream, thinking about how to help students before they make those big decisions. We’ve invested in digital tools, resources, and programs that help students explore careers, learn about their strengths and interests, and understand how their education can lead to different career pathways. We’ve also partnered with schools, community organizations, and nonprofits to bring these resources to students where they are.

One of the things I’m most excited about is our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. We’ve worked with them to create a career exploration program that reaches students in their clubs across the country. The program helps students think about what they’re good at, what they enjoy, and what careers might align with their interests. We’re also working with school districts to integrate career exploration into the curriculum so that students are having these conversations earlier, before they get to the point where they feel lost or pressured to make a decision.

Tom Vander Ark: That’s incredible. It’s so important to reach students where they are, especially in environments like the Boys & Girls Clubs, where they feel supported and can explore without the pressure of formal school settings. I love that ASA is doing this work. How do you think the role of education is evolving when it comes to preparing students for their futures?

Jean Eddy: Education is changing in big ways, and it has to. The traditional model of education—where students move through school in a linear path and then make a decision about their careers at the end—is no longer sufficient. We live in a world that’s changing so quickly, and students need to be equipped with the skills to adapt, think critically, and be lifelong learners. That means we need to rethink how we’re preparing students, not just academically, but holistically.

We need to give students opportunities to explore their interests, develop their identities, and learn how to navigate a world that’s going to continue to change. It’s not just about teaching them math and science, though those subjects are important. It’s also about teaching them how to be resilient, how to communicate effectively, and how to work with others. These are the skills that will help them succeed no matter what career they choose.

Tom Vander Ark: That’s exactly right. One of the things I loved in your book, Crisis Proofing Today’s Learners, is how you emphasized the need for resilience and adaptability. You talk about how the pandemic accelerated the need for these skills and how education has to catch up. Can you share a little more about your thoughts on that?

Jean Eddy: Absolutely. The pandemic was a wake-up call for all of us, especially in education. It showed us just how quickly things can change and how unprepared many of us were for those changes. Schools had to pivot to online learning almost overnight, and students had to figure out how to stay engaged and motivated in a completely new environment. It wasn’t easy, but it also showed us how resilient students can be when given the right support.

We saw students who thrived in the online environment because it gave them more flexibility and control over their learning. But we also saw students who struggled because they didn’t have the same level of support or structure they were used to. What this taught us is that we need to build systems that are more flexible and responsive to the needs of all students, not just those who do well in traditional settings.

Tom Vander Ark: That’s so true. And I think one of the key takeaways from your book is that we need to be intentional about building these systems. It’s not enough to just hope students will be resilient. We have to create environments that foster resilience, adaptability, and a growth mindset. How do you see that playing out in schools and communities?

Jean Eddy: I think it starts with creating a culture that encourages exploration and learning from failure. Students need to feel safe to try new things and take risks, knowing that it’s okay if they don’t succeed right away. That’s part of the learning process. We also need to give students opportunities to practice these skills in real-world settings. Whether that’s through internships, project-based learning, or community service, students need to be able to apply what they’re learning in meaningful ways.

It’s also important for schools to have the resources and support they need to make these changes. That’s where partnerships with organizations like ASA come in. We’re working to provide schools with the tools and resources they need to integrate career exploration and self-discovery into their programs. But it’s going to take a collective effort—schools, communities, families, and businesses all have a role to play in preparing students for the future.

Tom Vander Ark: That’s such an important point. It really is a collective effort, and I think that’s one of the things your book does so well—it brings together all the different pieces of the puzzle. Jean, as we wrap up, what’s your vision for the future of education? What do you hope to see in the next 5-10 years?

Jean Eddy: My hope is that we’ll see a more personalized and student-centered approach to education. I want to see students who are engaged and excited about their learning because it’s connected to their interests and goals. I want to see more schools embracing career exploration and self-discovery as core components of the curriculum. And I want to see more collaboration between schools, communities, and businesses to create opportunities for students to explore different career pathways and develop the skills they need to succeed.

Ultimately, my vision is for a world where every student has the opportunity to discover their passions, develop their talents, and pursue a path that’s meaningful to them. It’s not about forcing students into a specific career or path. It’s about giving them the tools and support they need to make informed decisions about their future, whatever that may be.

Tom Vander Ark: That’s a beautiful vision, Jean. Thank you so much for sharing your insights with us today. I really encourage everyone to read Jean’s book, Crisis Proofing Today’s Learners. It’s a fantastic guide for anyone who’s passionate about reimagining education and preparing students for the future. Jean, thank you again for being with us, and thank you for the work you’re doing to support students across the country.

Jean Eddy: Thank you, Tom. It’s been a pleasure.

Tom Vander Ark: Thank you all for listening to today’s episode of the Getting Smart podcast. Be sure to check out Jean’s book and explore the resources from American Student Assistance. Until next time, keep learning and keep leading.

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