July 27, 2021 • 23 mins
Tim's guest for this episode is Emma Austin, a young adult TCK who has spent most of her life living in Central Asia and Turkey. She is also Tim's daughter.
Navigating transition from high school to the next thing can be challenging for any young adult, but TCK's bring a unique set of challenges and strengths to the process. Join Tim and Emma as they talk about what it's like to journey with God and surrender to Him through big choices.
Follow Emma's blog
Support Emma
Notes:
The term third culture kid (TCK) may be new to some. TCK's are people who were raised in a culture other than their parents' or the culture of their country of nationality, and also live in a different environment during a significant part of their child development years. They typically are exposed to a greater volume and variety of cultural influences than those who grow up in one particular cultural setting. The term applies to both adults and children, as the term "kid" refers to the individual's formative or developmental years.
TCKs move between cultures before they have had the opportunity to fully develop their personal and cultural identity. The first culture of such individuals refers to the culture of the country from which the parents originated, the second culture refers to the culture in which the family currently resides, and the third culture refers to the amalgamation of these two cultures. (Source: Wikipedia)
Tim and his wife Eve have raised three TCK's, who are now young adults with some stories to tell.
Thanks for listening in! You can always learn more about Tim and Encompass Life Coaching at www.encompasslifecoaching.com
Let' have a conversation! For coaching inquiries, schedule a call with Tim HERE
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Timothy Austin (00:05):
Welcome, everybody to navigate. I'm your
host, Tim Austin. And this isthe podcast designed to take the
guesswork out of transition. Andwhether you have a transition
looming in your future or you'retrying to make sense out of the
past or current transitionseason, this show will help you
think more creatively and planmore strategically, around any
(00:26):
transition season you findyourself in. At navigate. It's
all about leveraging thechallenges of change for optimal
growth. Emma Austin is what somerefer to as a third culture kid
or TCK for short. She grew up inCentral Asia and Turkey before
returning back to the states forher high school career. She
(00:47):
graduated from public highschool in 2020, and has recently
been on a gap year adventure,which I will let her tell you
about. Emma is also my daughter.
And it's not often that we getto bring our kids into the work
we do and give them a voice anda way to tell their story. So
I'm super grateful for him hiswillingness to have this
(01:08):
conversation, no bribes, nopressure, just a desire to tell
her story. So by the way, if youare a proud parent of a young
adult navigating a transitionseason themselves, you might
want to hit the pause button andinvite them to listen in with
you. Or at least share thisepisode with them. Because
you're in for a treat. So getready to hear from an authentic
(01:31):
truth teller, my daughter, EmmaAustin. Okay, well welcome Emma
to my podcast. I'm glad you joinme. Thanks. It's good to be
here. Yeah, well, I want to hearI know the listeners want to
hear about you and a little bitof your journey and your story,
particularly as it relates tosome of the transition that
(01:55):
you've gone through. But first,why don't you start off by
telling us where you lived andyou pulled on life, where you've
where you've lived and whatyou're doing now?
Emma Austin (02:08):
Yeah, so I grew up in Tajikistan and Turkey, lived
in Tajikistan till I was aboutnine years old, and then lived
in Turkey for three years. Thatwas during middle school. And
then we moved back to North Calfor my high school career. So
(02:28):
that was four years. And now Ijust got back from the world
race by Gabby with the worldrace. And I'm just at home for
the summer. And then I will goin September, end of August. Two
alumni team lead for the sameorganization for worldway. So
Timothy Austin (02:50):
Very cool. And, how did you come to that?
Because your journey has beenmostly overseas until high
school, and then you came back,we came back as a family. And
you did your high school yearsin Northern California. First of
all, just briefly, how was that?
How was high school after livingin the States after living
overseas for so long?
Emma Austin (03:06):
Yeah, it was a it was hard. The transition for
sure. I there's a lot ofloneliness. And just like, not
really, I mean, I didn'tnecessarily really want to be in
the States I loved where I wasin Turkey in, I thought that I
would be at the school I was forthe rest of high school. So it's
kind of a shock moving back tothe States. And yeah, I just
remember a lot of loneliness inthose first few years. Really
all of high school, honestly.
But just feeling like peopledidn't get me. I went to a
public high school, and then,like, I remember, I just was
kind of over that lonely feelinglike, in my, like, sophomore,
junior year. And so that's whenI just like started to like,
(03:28):
want to fit in more and takesteps to fit in. And so I feel
like in doing that I lost like alittle bit during those few
years, who I had become overseasand just who I was, because I
wanted to just be known so much.
But yeah, I walked away from theLord a little bit during that,
but came back to the Lord. Mysenior year, I'd say and then
yeah, so it was tricky, andreally just, yeah, I don't know.
Timothy Austin (03:49):
Well, you mentioned wanting to be known.
And I think that's really commonwith third culture kids, kids
who grew up on the field and,and, and that wrestling with
identity and so you went throughsome of that struggle through
high school. And now you're onthis journey you called the
World Race and tell ourlisteners a little bit what is.
What is the world race? Is it a?
Is it a 10k? What do you have todo? Okay.
Emma Austin (04:07):
It has nothing to do with the running. Yeah, not
running. It's essentially Imean, they have different
programs. I did their gap year.
So the gap year is nine monthslong and traditionally, three
months, three differentcountries. But why it's called
the road race. I think that'sbecause of the their other
program called 1111, which is 11countries in 11 months. So it's
like a race. Okay, each country.
Timothy Austin (04:23):
Okay, so what what have you been doing? Up to
this point in the world race?
What has been your, what hasbeen the focus for you?
Emma Austin (04:34):
Like nine months.
Yeah. So we were in Georgiaor a training period, that was
about three months long. Andthen we launched to Cost
Rica in January. And weere in Costa Rica for three m
nths. And then after that, we wnt to the Dominican for tw
months, and basically in eacplace. The world races part
ers with different ministies. So that's, we work through
ork with there.
Timothy Austin (04:48):
Okay, so you partner with local ministries on
the ground. Yeah. evangelism,whatever kind of help and serve
serve in different ways. Yeah,exactly. Yeah. And you've told
us a lot of some of the waysyou've served, it's been very
diverse, and that a lot ofdifferent kinds of
opportunities. So let's go backto how you navigated that
choice. So you get out of highschool. And you're faced with?
Do I go to college? Do I dosomething like the world race?
And I know, there are probablyother options. There were other
options you were considering?
How did you navigate that?
(05:09):
Because I'm asking, becausesometimes there's that pressure
to do, I'll just do whateverybody else does. Or I
should, I'm going to lose timeif I do something other than
college or, you know, there'sthat. So how did you navigate
all of that?
Emma Austin (05:18):
Yeah, I think, um, it was really easy to get, like,
wrapped in that mindset of, Oh,I'm going to be behind like
this, like everyone else isgoing to college. I'm just going
to be Yeah, behind. But, um,college was originally what I
wanted to do, probably cuzeveryone else was doing. And so
I applied and got accepted tocollege. And it turned out that
it wasn't going to work out forme to go in the fall semester.
And so I was going to have todefer to January, or just wait a
whole year. And so I was kind ofalmost forced, I guess, to look
(05:40):
at other options. I mean, Icould have chosen to gone to
another college, but I justfigured I wanted to go there.
And so I was like, okay, maybethe Lord wants me to do
something like why why am orjust like some sort of
discipleship training thing fora little bit. So I looked into
like, three month options, likesystem thing that would hold me
off until January. And then Ijust found the world race, and
it was nine months long. And Iwas like, really wrestling with
Just like throughout?
Timothy Austin (05:54):
Yeah, throughout this time, it's been What? How
that. Because it was like,that's a whole year off from
like, my life. It feels like youknow, which I learned Now,
obviously, it's not, but that'swhat it feels like in the
many months now? Since you'vebeen part of it?
moment. And so I was like, okay,really praying about it. And
really, the Lord just confirmedit in my heart, like telling me
that, like I was not ready forcollege. And that's why all of
this had happened. He had led meto this point that he wanted me
to take a whole year off for himto just work in my part and
change some things and what aword that he spoke was purging,
(06:22):
because I just and I see thatnow obviously, in retrospect,
looking back, like there was somuch like that he had to purge
and there were other things Ihad to bring up in me like good
things. And I really was a yearof that of him, like breaking,
breaking things and healingthings. And so I'm really glad
that he brought me to thatplace, but I definitely wouldn't
have chosen at first. Yeah.
Yeah. So youdid. Yeah, but you're glad you
did?
Emma Austin (06:31):
Yes. Yeah.
Timothy Austin (06:31):
Okay. Let's talk a little bit about identity
purpose. And some of the some ofthe lessons that you've been
learning and the growthopportunities for you this as
being part of this world raceand and being part of this
program. You have a lot ofcommunity you're you're living
in tight quarters with peopleyou're on teams, you know,
you're you don't have to, youknow, go into Are the details of
the structure but you're in agreat opportunity, a great place
to grow and to learn. Tell us alittle bit about what what are
some of the lessons that you'velearned or you are learning
(06:52):
through this experience?
Emma Austin (10:12):
Yeah, I think tha I mean, one of the biggest les
ons I learned, had to do witlike, just really basic th
ngs, I feel like that I had knowlike, who he says I am or w
o he is, but I, I hadn't believethem yet. And so the Lord r
(10:34):
ally was walking me through thatthis year, just learning to beli
ve those truths. Yeah, just siple truths, like I'm loved by t
e Father. Like, I feel like asa TCK as a, as a person who had
rown up in a Christian househld, I always knew about the
ord's love, and I knew that hloved me. But I think that beca
(10:59):
se that I think that because I ws almost like, raised in a
hristian environment. That wasomething I took for granted
because I just, yeah, I nevereally believed it. And so the
Lord really walked me throgh what it means to like, be
ieve and live out of that truth,like knowing that I am loved. A
d yeah, I think another thing tat as a TCK, and many TCK is
(11:22):
are prone to do is, like, jusadapt to their environments,
hich is great. It's a great ting, great skill to have, bu
also can be something where weose ourselves. And so yeah, th
s year, the Lord walkedme through a lot of like, ju
(11:44):
t me facing the fact that I hadut my identity in the people
hat surrounded me and notn him, and that I had looke
to people for validation. Anyeah, just fulfilled by people
what they thought or said to m, and so the Lord just walked
me through that. And I couldee that so clearly in Georgia,
(12:04):
ecause I was like, often realy lonely, which is crazy, bec
use I was surrounded by this aazing community. But during t
is training period, in Geogia, I was often just so l
nely. And yeah, and I think tht was the Lord really breakin
that, like desire for validaton in me from others. And so th
n it was cool to watch him walke through after ga like, then h
(12:28):
was like, Okay, now you canstart learning these things that
like, you are loved by me and strt believing them. And that was
like, life changing. For me. Ias like, I always knew I was
oved. But I didn't like it's jut crazy.
Timothy Austin (12:44):
Yeah, what a powerful lesson to learn. And s
mething that is so foundtional to your, you know, your
rowth and success in the futur, wherever God leads you, where
er he takes you, or whateer kind of times come that are h
rd or challenging, or, you know,when you're tempted to not belie
(13:08):
e that, you know, your identty is in him. And yeah, you c
n go back to this, go back to ths kind of as an anchor for,
or your life. Yeah, it's and Iwas just thinking, as you were
alking how it sometimes hurtsfor when the Lord kind of strip
away things. Uh, yeah, the frst part was kind of a strip
(13:29):
ing away of some of the falsebeliefs, mindset, diffe
ent things that you were belieing in order to then start with
kind of a clean slate, you kow, and to build, build you,
ou know, with that, right, you kow, with the right persp
ctive and mindset and to buildthat into you. But it is a proce
(13:50):
s where you have to be patiet, isn't it?
Emma Austin (13:52):
Yeah, yeah.
uncomfortable. And just, I do't know that. If he couldn't h
ve started teaching me thosthings, if I had was still ho
ding on to like, friendshipor just others opinions, you kn
w, because I was putting thatabove him. And so, yeah, the br
aking is really uncomfortable. Bt yeah, I'm thankful for it.
Timothy Austin (14:15):
Yeah. Any anyth ng else in that area? Any other
lessons learned in terms of yor identity or purpose or anyth
ng or anything else that you'dlike our listeners to know about
Emma Austin (14:30):
Well, I would just add on to what I said before
with talking about being loved.
knew that. I learned thathat was like, my sole purpose. A
d I think that on top of like wating other people's valid
tion, I had often juststrived a lot for things and
(14:50):
been in this constant statef striving. And so I just, the
e's just So much security and arest and knowing that all I ever
ad to do was be loved by the bythe Lord. And that Yeah, I didn'
I couldn't do anything to earnthat or, or anything like th
t. And that goes back to believng because I knew that but I di
(15:13):
n't believe that. So Well, yeah,I think that was just somethin
I wanted to add. That's good.
eah.
Timothy Austin (15:22):
Yeah. What missed opportunities might you
have had? Had you not chosenthis route? And you would have
chosen strict collegestraightaway? Wow. Yeah. Um, I
know, it's hard to, but youknow, cuz, but but just what
could have been some missedopportunities? Do you think?
Emma Austin (15:43):
Well, I def nitely think that just the com
unity aspect. And I mean, I knoyou can find good community in
ollege and, but I've just nevr experienced community like tha
on the race. And once. Onc, like, the Lord walked me thr
ugh a lot of that stuff, he gavme some of the Swedish swe
test friendships that I coud really ever hope for. And so
(16:05):
ust really cool. Living in tha. And I think I probably wou
d have learned, I learned somof the stuff that I learned thi
year, but it would have takn me a while, or it would hav
come at a later time. And so'm just thankful like, the Lor
taught me some of that now, socan, like, start moving fro
(16:27):
there. And yeah, I can't, I dont know what else.
Timothy Austin (16:30):
So as a TCK as a, as a, as a third culture kid
growing up overseas, and knowinghow to adapt, how has that
helped you? Or maybe evenhindered you personally, as a
parent, watching my thirdculture kids, I see a lot of
strengths in terms of the waythey're the way they can adapt
(16:51):
and be flexible, and, and all ofthat, and yet, you may have
experienced some thingschallenging because of that or
not. What do you think?
Emma Austin (17:02):
Um, yeah. I think that it's very helpful, like the
flexibility aspect of it on therace, because you rarely know
really, what's going to happen,obviously, like, you have an
outline of your like, day to dayschedule. But you Yeah, things
often come like very unplanned,we always say like, no
(17:25):
expectations, like don't haveexpectations, because you don't
know what's going to happen. Andso that was super helpful in
that, and yeah, I think justlike, having a background of
living overseas was helpful ingeneral, just being more
comfortable and adapting moreeasily to what each country the
(17:50):
cultural aspects are. And what Ithink TCK is often have like a
more just like, not a highersense of like, what's acceptable
and not acceptable, andcountries and can just like,
catch on to that stuff reallyquickly, just so that that was
(18:11):
definitely very helpful. Yeah, Idon't know, any unhelpful
aspects. I think what Imentioned earlier with just
like, relationships with peoplelike being who you think you
should be in those relationshipsinstead of your actual, real
self, but yeah,
Timothy Austin (18:30):
yeah, I think that's good. Okay, well, good.
This has been really great. And,and so we're, I want to
encourage, oh, I mean, anybodywho has a, you know, a kid who's
transitioning from high schoolto college, whether they're TC
Ks or not, I think there'salways that there's always that
piece of owning your faith,purse, you know, personally,
(18:54):
knowing who you are in Christ.
So all of that journey is partof life. And it often happens or
excels. Like, when you're kindof transitioning from one thing
to the next, you know, so whatadvice or encouragement might
you give to someone in highschool who's looking at next
(19:14):
steps? Third culture kids ornot, but but we've been talking
about third culture kids and sothat's a big part of our lives.
So but yeah, what advice orencouragement might you give
who, for those who are liketrying to navigate all these
choices and change and changes?
Emma Austin (19:34):
Yeah, um, I would definitely say that something I
wished someone had told me whenI was looking at these options
is that where the Lord has youis where right where you're
supposed to be in that you cannever be behind or lagging in
life if you're in his will andfollowing him and so just yeah,
(20:00):
take comfort in the fact thatlike, if you're obeying Him and
following him and going, wherehe's leading, like, that's all
you need to do. And that's rightwhere you need to be. And yeah,
I just think it's so like I saidearlier, so easy to get caught
up in the like agenda or the waywe think our life is supposed to
(20:21):
go based on how other people'slives are looking. And yeah,
it's just where he has us rightwhere you need to be. And yeah,
I don't know.
Timothy Austin (20:31):
I kind of hear you saying avoid comparisons
too.
Emma Austin (20:34):
That's a big one. Y ah, for sure. Yeah, and honest
y, another thing that Iwould say is this doesn't real
y have to do with like making aecision on like, college or w
atever it is. But just Yeah,like, looking at the truths th
(20:55):
t you know about the Lord and abut yourself and just like d
gging deep and asking yoursef, do I really believe
his about the Lord? Really? DI really believe this about my
elf? Honestly, that is it ging to help you so much in w
atever decision or transitioyou make? Because Yeah, once y
u're like, believing and livng out of those truths, yo
(21:19):
find so much security and, andyeah, that's just gonna help a
lot.
Timothy Austin (21:25):
Yeah, yeah.
That's great. Great advice. Sotell us as we wrap up here,
what's next?
Emma Austin (21:33):
So in end of Augus , I will go alumni team lead for
the world race. So that basicallmeans that I will be leading
group of girls for three moths at the beginning of their ga
year with roll Dre so exactlyhat I did last year they're
oing this year and so I just getto lead them, because I've alr
(21:55):
ady done the thing. And I get tojust show them the ropes, w
lk alongside them, encouragthem challenge them in their fi
st few months. So yeah, I'm realy excited.
Timothy Austin (22:06):
Great. Yeah.
Great. We're excited for you andand to track with you on this
journey. So thanks again forjoining me for this episode of
navigate.
Emma Austin (22:19):
Yeah, thanks for having me.
Timothy Austin (22:22):
I hope listening in on this conversation with Mr.
Austin has been encouraging foryou. You won't want to miss the
next episode, where we continuethe conversation about TC KS,
with my guest and longtimefriend shad Phillips. Thanks for
joining me today for thisepisode of navigate podcast.
I've been your host Tim Austinand you can also find me hanging
(22:44):
out at encompass life coachingcalm as a coach and a blogger.
If you want to leverage thegrowth and discovery
opportunities in a transitionseason, reach out to me at
encompass life coaching calm andlearn how some one on one
coaching can create space forintentional conversations, which
then become catalysts for growthin any season you find yourself
(23:06):
in. I hope this has been helpfulto you and if it has Would you
mind rating the podcast writinga review and sharing on social
media. And of course, you canalways subscribe so that you're
sure to get in on the nextepisode, and I'll catch you next
time.
Welcome, everybody to navigate. I'm your
host, Tim Austin. And this isthe podcast designed to take the
guesswork out of transition. Andwhether you have a transition
looming in your future or you'retrying to make sense out of the
past or current transitionseason, this show will help you
think more creatively and planmore strategically, around any
(00:26):
transition season you findyourself in. At navigate. It's
all about leveraging thechallenges of change for optimal
growth. Emma Austin is what somerefer to as a third culture kid
or TCK for short. She grew up inCentral Asia and Turkey before
returning back to the states forher high school career. She
(00:47):
graduated from public highschool in 2020, and has recently
been on a gap year adventure,which I will let her tell you
about. Emma is also my daughter.
And it's not often that we getto bring our kids into the work
we do and give them a voice anda way to tell their story. So
I'm super grateful for him hiswillingness to have this
(01:08):
conversation, no bribes, nopressure, just a desire to tell
her story. So by the way, if youare a proud parent of a young
adult navigating a transitionseason themselves, you might
want to hit the pause button andinvite them to listen in with
you. Or at least share thisepisode with them. Because
you're in for a treat. So getready to hear from an authentic
(01:31):
truth teller, my daughter, EmmaAustin. Okay, well welcome Emma
to my podcast. I'm glad you joinme. Thanks. It's good to be
here. Yeah, well, I want to hearI know the listeners want to
hear about you and a little bitof your journey and your story,
particularly as it relates tosome of the transition that
(01:55):
you've gone through. But first,why don't you start off by
telling us where you lived andyou pulled on life, where you've
where you've lived and whatyou're doing now?
Emma Austin (02:08):
Yeah, so I grew up in Tajikistan and Turkey, lived
in Tajikistan till I was aboutnine years old, and then lived
in Turkey for three years. Thatwas during middle school. And
then we moved back to North Calfor my high school career. So
(02:28):
that was four years. And now Ijust got back from the world
race by Gabby with the worldrace. And I'm just at home for
the summer. And then I will goin September, end of August. Two
alumni team lead for the sameorganization for worldway. So
Timothy Austin (02:50):
Very cool. And, how did you come to that?
Because your journey has beenmostly overseas until high
school, and then you came back,we came back as a family. And
you did your high school yearsin Northern California. First of
all, just briefly, how was that?
How was high school after livingin the States after living
overseas for so long?
Emma Austin (03:06):
Yeah, it was a it was hard. The transition for
sure. I there's a lot ofloneliness. And just like, not
really, I mean, I didn'tnecessarily really want to be in
the States I loved where I wasin Turkey in, I thought that I
would be at the school I was forthe rest of high school. So it's
kind of a shock moving back tothe States. And yeah, I just
remember a lot of loneliness inthose first few years. Really
all of high school, honestly.
But just feeling like peopledidn't get me. I went to a
public high school, and then,like, I remember, I just was
kind of over that lonely feelinglike, in my, like, sophomore,
junior year. And so that's whenI just like started to like,
(03:28):
want to fit in more and takesteps to fit in. And so I feel
like in doing that I lost like alittle bit during those few
years, who I had become overseasand just who I was, because I
wanted to just be known so much.
But yeah, I walked away from theLord a little bit during that,
but came back to the Lord. Mysenior year, I'd say and then
yeah, so it was tricky, andreally just, yeah, I don't know.
Timothy Austin (03:49):
Well, you mentioned wanting to be known.
And I think that's really commonwith third culture kids, kids
who grew up on the field and,and, and that wrestling with
identity and so you went throughsome of that struggle through
high school. And now you're onthis journey you called the
World Race and tell ourlisteners a little bit what is.
What is the world race? Is it a?
Is it a 10k? What do you have todo? Okay.
Emma Austin (04:07):
It has nothing to do with the running. Yeah, not
running. It's essentially Imean, they have different
programs. I did their gap year.
So the gap year is nine monthslong and traditionally, three
months, three differentcountries. But why it's called
the road race. I think that'sbecause of the their other
program called 1111, which is 11countries in 11 months. So it's
like a race. Okay, each country.
Timothy Austin (04:23):
Okay, so what what have you been doing? Up to
this point in the world race?
What has been your, what hasbeen the focus for you?
Emma Austin (04:34):
Like nine months.
Yeah. So we were in Georgiaor a training period, that was
about three months long. Andthen we launched to Cost
Rica in January. And weere in Costa Rica for three m
nths. And then after that, we wnt to the Dominican for tw
months, and basically in eacplace. The world races part
ers with different ministies. So that's, we work through
ork with there.
Timothy Austin (04:48):
Okay, so you partner with local ministries on
the ground. Yeah. evangelism,whatever kind of help and serve
serve in different ways. Yeah,exactly. Yeah. And you've told
us a lot of some of the waysyou've served, it's been very
diverse, and that a lot ofdifferent kinds of
opportunities. So let's go backto how you navigated that
choice. So you get out of highschool. And you're faced with?
Do I go to college? Do I dosomething like the world race?
And I know, there are probablyother options. There were other
options you were considering?
How did you navigate that?
(05:09):
Because I'm asking, becausesometimes there's that pressure
to do, I'll just do whateverybody else does. Or I
should, I'm going to lose timeif I do something other than
college or, you know, there'sthat. So how did you navigate
all of that?
Emma Austin (05:18):
Yeah, I think, um, it was really easy to get, like,
wrapped in that mindset of, Oh,I'm going to be behind like
this, like everyone else isgoing to college. I'm just going
to be Yeah, behind. But, um,college was originally what I
wanted to do, probably cuzeveryone else was doing. And so
I applied and got accepted tocollege. And it turned out that
it wasn't going to work out forme to go in the fall semester.
And so I was going to have todefer to January, or just wait a
whole year. And so I was kind ofalmost forced, I guess, to look
(05:40):
at other options. I mean, Icould have chosen to gone to
another college, but I justfigured I wanted to go there.
And so I was like, okay, maybethe Lord wants me to do
something like why why am orjust like some sort of
discipleship training thing fora little bit. So I looked into
like, three month options, likesystem thing that would hold me
off until January. And then Ijust found the world race, and
it was nine months long. And Iwas like, really wrestling with
Just like throughout?
Timothy Austin (05:54):
Yeah, throughout this time, it's been What? How
that. Because it was like,that's a whole year off from
like, my life. It feels like youknow, which I learned Now,
obviously, it's not, but that'swhat it feels like in the
many months now? Since you'vebeen part of it?
moment. And so I was like, okay,really praying about it. And
really, the Lord just confirmedit in my heart, like telling me
that, like I was not ready forcollege. And that's why all of
this had happened. He had led meto this point that he wanted me
to take a whole year off for himto just work in my part and
change some things and what aword that he spoke was purging,
(06:22):
because I just and I see thatnow obviously, in retrospect,
looking back, like there was somuch like that he had to purge
and there were other things Ihad to bring up in me like good
things. And I really was a yearof that of him, like breaking,
breaking things and healingthings. And so I'm really glad
that he brought me to thatplace, but I definitely wouldn't
have chosen at first. Yeah.
Yeah. So youdid. Yeah, but you're glad you
did?
Emma Austin (06:31):
Yes. Yeah.
Timothy Austin (06:31):
Okay. Let's talk a little bit about identity
purpose. And some of the some ofthe lessons that you've been
learning and the growthopportunities for you this as
being part of this world raceand and being part of this
program. You have a lot ofcommunity you're you're living
in tight quarters with peopleyou're on teams, you know,
you're you don't have to, youknow, go into Are the details of
the structure but you're in agreat opportunity, a great place
to grow and to learn. Tell us alittle bit about what what are
some of the lessons that you'velearned or you are learning
(06:52):
through this experience?
Emma Austin (10:12):
Yeah, I think tha I mean, one of the biggest les
ons I learned, had to do witlike, just really basic th
ngs, I feel like that I had knowlike, who he says I am or w
o he is, but I, I hadn't believethem yet. And so the Lord r
(10:34):
ally was walking me through thatthis year, just learning to beli
ve those truths. Yeah, just siple truths, like I'm loved by t
e Father. Like, I feel like asa TCK as a, as a person who had
rown up in a Christian househld, I always knew about the
ord's love, and I knew that hloved me. But I think that beca
(10:59):
se that I think that because I ws almost like, raised in a
hristian environment. That wasomething I took for granted
because I just, yeah, I nevereally believed it. And so the
Lord really walked me throgh what it means to like, be
ieve and live out of that truth,like knowing that I am loved. A
d yeah, I think another thing tat as a TCK, and many TCK is
(11:22):
are prone to do is, like, jusadapt to their environments,
hich is great. It's a great ting, great skill to have, bu
also can be something where weose ourselves. And so yeah, th
s year, the Lord walkedme through a lot of like, ju
(11:44):
t me facing the fact that I hadut my identity in the people
hat surrounded me and notn him, and that I had looke
to people for validation. Anyeah, just fulfilled by people
what they thought or said to m, and so the Lord just walked
me through that. And I couldee that so clearly in Georgia,
(12:04):
ecause I was like, often realy lonely, which is crazy, bec
use I was surrounded by this aazing community. But during t
is training period, in Geogia, I was often just so l
nely. And yeah, and I think tht was the Lord really breakin
that, like desire for validaton in me from others. And so th
n it was cool to watch him walke through after ga like, then h
(12:28):
was like, Okay, now you canstart learning these things that
like, you are loved by me and strt believing them. And that was
like, life changing. For me. Ias like, I always knew I was
oved. But I didn't like it's jut crazy.
Timothy Austin (12:44):
Yeah, what a powerful lesson to learn. And s
mething that is so foundtional to your, you know, your
rowth and success in the futur, wherever God leads you, where
er he takes you, or whateer kind of times come that are h
rd or challenging, or, you know,when you're tempted to not belie
(13:08):
e that, you know, your identty is in him. And yeah, you c
n go back to this, go back to ths kind of as an anchor for,
or your life. Yeah, it's and Iwas just thinking, as you were
alking how it sometimes hurtsfor when the Lord kind of strip
away things. Uh, yeah, the frst part was kind of a strip
(13:29):
ing away of some of the falsebeliefs, mindset, diffe
ent things that you were belieing in order to then start with
kind of a clean slate, you kow, and to build, build you,
ou know, with that, right, you kow, with the right persp
ctive and mindset and to buildthat into you. But it is a proce
(13:50):
s where you have to be patiet, isn't it?
Emma Austin (13:52):
Yeah, yeah.
uncomfortable. And just, I do't know that. If he couldn't h
ve started teaching me thosthings, if I had was still ho
ding on to like, friendshipor just others opinions, you kn
w, because I was putting thatabove him. And so, yeah, the br
aking is really uncomfortable. Bt yeah, I'm thankful for it.
Timothy Austin (14:15):
Yeah. Any anyth ng else in that area? Any other
lessons learned in terms of yor identity or purpose or anyth
ng or anything else that you'dlike our listeners to know about
Emma Austin (14:30):
Well, I would just add on to what I said before
with talking about being loved.
knew that. I learned thathat was like, my sole purpose. A
d I think that on top of like wating other people's valid
tion, I had often juststrived a lot for things and
(14:50):
been in this constant statef striving. And so I just, the
e's just So much security and arest and knowing that all I ever
ad to do was be loved by the bythe Lord. And that Yeah, I didn'
I couldn't do anything to earnthat or, or anything like th
t. And that goes back to believng because I knew that but I di
(15:13):
n't believe that. So Well, yeah,I think that was just somethin
I wanted to add. That's good.
eah.
Timothy Austin (15:22):
Yeah. What missed opportunities might you
have had? Had you not chosenthis route? And you would have
chosen strict collegestraightaway? Wow. Yeah. Um, I
know, it's hard to, but youknow, cuz, but but just what
could have been some missedopportunities? Do you think?
Emma Austin (15:43):
Well, I def nitely think that just the com
unity aspect. And I mean, I knoyou can find good community in
ollege and, but I've just nevr experienced community like tha
on the race. And once. Onc, like, the Lord walked me thr
ugh a lot of that stuff, he gavme some of the Swedish swe
test friendships that I coud really ever hope for. And so
(16:05):
ust really cool. Living in tha. And I think I probably wou
d have learned, I learned somof the stuff that I learned thi
year, but it would have takn me a while, or it would hav
come at a later time. And so'm just thankful like, the Lor
taught me some of that now, socan, like, start moving fro
(16:27):
there. And yeah, I can't, I dont know what else.
Timothy Austin (16:30):
So as a TCK as a, as a, as a third culture kid
growing up overseas, and knowinghow to adapt, how has that
helped you? Or maybe evenhindered you personally, as a
parent, watching my thirdculture kids, I see a lot of
strengths in terms of the waythey're the way they can adapt
(16:51):
and be flexible, and, and all ofthat, and yet, you may have
experienced some thingschallenging because of that or
not. What do you think?
Emma Austin (17:02):
Um, yeah. I think that it's very helpful, like the
flexibility aspect of it on therace, because you rarely know
really, what's going to happen,obviously, like, you have an
outline of your like, day to dayschedule. But you Yeah, things
often come like very unplanned,we always say like, no
(17:25):
expectations, like don't haveexpectations, because you don't
know what's going to happen. Andso that was super helpful in
that, and yeah, I think justlike, having a background of
living overseas was helpful ingeneral, just being more
comfortable and adapting moreeasily to what each country the
(17:50):
cultural aspects are. And what Ithink TCK is often have like a
more just like, not a highersense of like, what's acceptable
and not acceptable, andcountries and can just like,
catch on to that stuff reallyquickly, just so that that was
(18:11):
definitely very helpful. Yeah, Idon't know, any unhelpful
aspects. I think what Imentioned earlier with just
like, relationships with peoplelike being who you think you
should be in those relationshipsinstead of your actual, real
self, but yeah,
Timothy Austin (18:30):
yeah, I think that's good. Okay, well, good.
This has been really great. And,and so we're, I want to
encourage, oh, I mean, anybodywho has a, you know, a kid who's
transitioning from high schoolto college, whether they're TC
Ks or not, I think there'salways that there's always that
piece of owning your faith,purse, you know, personally,
(18:54):
knowing who you are in Christ.
So all of that journey is partof life. And it often happens or
excels. Like, when you're kindof transitioning from one thing
to the next, you know, so whatadvice or encouragement might
you give to someone in highschool who's looking at next
(19:14):
steps? Third culture kids ornot, but but we've been talking
about third culture kids and sothat's a big part of our lives.
So but yeah, what advice orencouragement might you give
who, for those who are liketrying to navigate all these
choices and change and changes?
Emma Austin (19:34):
Yeah, um, I would definitely say that something I
wished someone had told me whenI was looking at these options
is that where the Lord has youis where right where you're
supposed to be in that you cannever be behind or lagging in
life if you're in his will andfollowing him and so just yeah,
(20:00):
take comfort in the fact thatlike, if you're obeying Him and
following him and going, wherehe's leading, like, that's all
you need to do. And that's rightwhere you need to be. And yeah,
I just think it's so like I saidearlier, so easy to get caught
up in the like agenda or the waywe think our life is supposed to
(20:21):
go based on how other people'slives are looking. And yeah,
it's just where he has us rightwhere you need to be. And yeah,
I don't know.
Timothy Austin (20:31):
I kind of hear you saying avoid comparisons
too.
Emma Austin (20:34):
That's a big one. Y ah, for sure. Yeah, and honest
y, another thing that Iwould say is this doesn't real
y have to do with like making aecision on like, college or w
atever it is. But just Yeah,like, looking at the truths th
(20:55):
t you know about the Lord and abut yourself and just like d
gging deep and asking yoursef, do I really believe
his about the Lord? Really? DI really believe this about my
elf? Honestly, that is it ging to help you so much in w
atever decision or transitioyou make? Because Yeah, once y
u're like, believing and livng out of those truths, yo
(21:19):
find so much security and, andyeah, that's just gonna help a
lot.
Timothy Austin (21:25):
Yeah, yeah.
That's great. Great advice. Sotell us as we wrap up here,
what's next?
Emma Austin (21:33):
So in end of Augus , I will go alumni team lead for
the world race. So that basicallmeans that I will be leading
group of girls for three moths at the beginning of their ga
year with roll Dre so exactlyhat I did last year they're
oing this year and so I just getto lead them, because I've alr
(21:55):
ady done the thing. And I get tojust show them the ropes, w
lk alongside them, encouragthem challenge them in their fi
st few months. So yeah, I'm realy excited.
Timothy Austin (22:06):
Great. Yeah.
Great. We're excited for you andand to track with you on this
journey. So thanks again forjoining me for this episode of
navigate.
Emma Austin (22:19):
Yeah, thanks for having me.
Timothy Austin (22:22):
I hope listening in on this conversation with Mr.
Austin has been encouraging foryou. You won't want to miss the
next episode, where we continuethe conversation about TC KS,
with my guest and longtimefriend shad Phillips. Thanks for
joining me today for thisepisode of navigate podcast.
I've been your host Tim Austinand you can also find me hanging
(22:44):
out at encompass life coachingcalm as a coach and a blogger.
If you want to leverage thegrowth and discovery
opportunities in a transitionseason, reach out to me at
encompass life coaching calm andlearn how some one on one
coaching can create space forintentional conversations, which
then become catalysts for growthin any season you find yourself
(23:06):
in. I hope this has been helpfulto you and if it has Would you
mind rating the podcast writinga review and sharing on social
media. And of course, you canalways subscribe so that you're
sure to get in on the nextepisode, and I'll catch you next
time.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.