In this episode of Academic Survival, Dr. Shandra and Dr. Dar dive into the topic of discovering and using your gifts and talents—especially for students and young professionals. The conversation explores the differences between knowing, using, and figuring out your unique strengths. Drs. Dar and Shandra share personal stories about their journeys to recognizing their own abilities, emphasizing how belief and confidence play pivotal roles in unlocking one’s potential.
They discuss practical strategies for identifying gifts and talents, the importance of community feedback, and the value of putting your strengths to use in real-world settings. The episode breaks down the college journey year by year, providing actionable advice on how students can explore, develop, and maximize their talents for both personal fulfillment and professional growth.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Belief Comes First: Recognizing your gifts and talents starts with believing that you have them. Avoiding comparison and deficit thinking is crucial—focus on what energizes you and what makes you unique.
- Growth Is a Community Effort: Seeking honest feedback from friends, family, and peers can help you see your strengths more clearly. Your value is often best reflected in how others experience what you bring to a group or community.
- Develop Over Time: Through each college year—exploring as a freshman, participating as a sophomore, leading as a junior, and mastering practical experiences as a senior—you build and refine your skills. Investing in your talent, skill, and spiritual gifts prepares you for a meaningful, impactful career and life.
Tune in for empowering insights, actionable advice, and inspiration to let your gifts and talents shine where you can truly thrive!
Other Episodes with Drs. Shandra and Dar:
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
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.