August 28, 2024 • 16 mins
Embrace a Fresh Start: Top 3 Tips for Your New School Year!
In this episode of the College and Career Ready podcast, host Sonia Cacique, shares invaluable insights to help students make a successful transition into the new school year. Sonia discusses the top three focus areas that can enhance your academic and personal growth.
Don't miss out on this chance to start a fresh new school year and make meaningful strides in your educational journey. Tune in for actionable advice and inspiring tips to kick off the year on the right foot.
DiscoverU Career and Leadership Empowerment is designed for women and moms just like you—navigating the challenges of career, family, and personal growth. Whether you’re re-entering the workforce, craving more purpose in your career, stepping into leadership, or simply ready to reclaim your time and energy, DiscoverU provides the tools, coaching, and support to help you rise with confidence. Visit www.CollegeCareerReady.org
Connect with Sonia Cacique
LinkedIn
Instagram
Join our College and Career Connections Club for free at www.CollegeCareerReady.org/join
Learn about our Career Connections Course: www.CollegeCareerReady.org/COURSE
"Stay well, be present, and enjoy the journey"
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sonia Intro (00:01):
Welcome to College and Career Ready, the only
podcast that helps studentstransition from high school to
college and college to theircareer.
My name is Sonia Cacique.
I'm a former educator, certifiedschool counselor, career coach,
and founder of Discover U.
Together, we will redefine whatit truly means to be college and
(00:23):
career ready.
And with our community, youdon't have to do this alone.
So come with me and let's getstarted.
Welcome to the College andCareer Ready podcast, the show
that helps you navigate youreducational journey while
preparing for a successfulfuture.
(00:44):
I'm your host, Sonia Kasike, andtoday I will be discussing the
top three things that you can befocusing on this new school year
and that you can work onstarting today.
I can't wait to start ourconversation.
We will explore how to make themost of this opportunity by
connecting with others throughclubs, groups, and events.
(01:05):
and internships and how you cancreate a new identity for
yourself this year.
Listen, being a student has manyadvantages and one of them is
that every year you can start afresh new start.
Whether you're starting college,returning to high school, or
even entering a new educationalenvironment.
(01:26):
This episode is packed with tipsto help you kick off the year on
the right foot.
Now, before we get started ontoday's episode, I want to share
with you that the best way foryou to help me spread the word
of the College and Career Readypodcast is by sharing it with
your friends.
family, local community, andteachers.
(01:49):
This is a podcast that isserving our community of
parents, students, andeducators.
So if you think of anyone thatcould benefit from an episode or
from our podcast, make sure tosend them a direct link.
And if you want to get extrabonus points on my end, rate and
review our podcast By going onApple podcast or Spotify and
(02:15):
five star reviewing our podcastalong with your personal added
touch in the comment section.
Thank you so much for being herewith me.
I am so close to getting to my100th episode, which speaking of
the 100th episode, I wanted totell you that I will continue to
serve all of you through thecollege and career ready
(02:35):
podcast, but I will be taking apause after the 100th episode
and upon returning, I will befocusing on mini seasons.
Now the mini seasons will bevery specific to topics that
interest you.
That is why I am looking foryour questions.
feedback.
I want you to email me at infoat college career ready dot o r
(02:59):
g or you can send me a dm onlinkedin or instagram and share
with me what topics have youenjoyed the most or what topics
you look forward to.
And I will continue to serve mystudents through discover you.
College and career coaching,especially through our career
connections course.
So if that is still of interestto you, we will continue to
(03:21):
offer that course to all of ourstudents.
But I wanted to give you a headsup because we are only, I guess,
after this episode, only sevenepisodes away from reaching our
100th episode.
And I have some really amazingguests that will be with us
these next couple of episodes.
So stay tuned My friends, solet's get started with today's
(03:43):
episode.
I am going to be talking to youabout how to embrace this fresh
new start.
Now listen, it has been severalyears now that I have started.
Ben embracing my career journeyand a fresh new start almost
feels like getting a new job.
When you get a new job, it'salmost like you have a fresh new
(04:03):
start.
You have a blank canvas and youget to recreate yourself.
Well, guess what?
As a student, you get to do thatevery single year.
How lucky is that?
It's a chance to hit the resetbutton, leave behind any
challenges or struggles from theprevious year and set the tone
for the year ahead.
(04:23):
Whether last year was a successor not, this year is an
opportunity to redefine who youare and what you want to
achieve.
Take a moment to think aboutwhat worked well and what
didn't.
Maybe you struggled with timemanagement or perhaps you didn't
push yourself out of yourcomfort zone as much as you
(04:44):
would have liked.
Reflecting on these points canguide you in setting new goals
and intentions.
Grab a journal, grab your phoneand answer these questions.
Ask yourself, what kind ofstudent do you want to be this
year?
What skills or habits do youwant to develop?
(05:05):
How can you get more involved inyour school or community?
This is a time to start over.
And while you're at it, youmight want to evaluate what
didn't go right last year.
Because sometimes looking back,you know what they say, looking
back can give you a 2020 visionSo think about what went wrong,
(05:27):
what areas you could haveimproved, and who you want to
become today.
Answering these questions canhelp you build a roadmap for
your personal and academicgrowth.
Now that you've got a vision foryour year, it's time to start
making connections.
Building a network is one of themost valuable things you can do
during your school years.
It's not just about makingfriends.
(05:49):
Okay, that's important too, ofcourse, but beyond that, It's
more important, or just asimportant, to surround yourself
with people who can support,challenge you, and inspire you.
First up is clubs and groups.
Whether you're passionate aboutsports, arts, science, or social
causes, there's likely a club orgroup that aligns with your
(06:11):
interests.
These organizations are a greatway to meet like minded people
and develop skills that canenhance your academic and career
goals.
And guess what?
You can attend one just to seehow it feels.
Attend several of them.
Don't feel like you have to becommitted just because you go
once.
Give it a try and see how itfeels.
(06:33):
Don't be afraid to try somethingnew.
Joining a club outside of yourcomfort zone can expose you to
new perspectives andopportunities you never
considered.
And if there's no club that fitsyour interests, consider
starting one.
Leadership experience is afantastic addition to any resume
or college application.
Start seeking resources orpeople within your college that
(06:54):
can help you start a new club orgroup.
Internships are another powerfulway to build connections.
They offer real world experienceand a chance to apply what
you've learned in the classroomand an opportunity to meet
professionals in your field ofinterest.
Even if it's just a few hours aweek, an internship can provide
(07:15):
invaluable insight into yourfuture career path.
And if you are not looking forthat commitment yet.
You can also volunteer, look atvolunteer opportunities where
you might only have to go a fewhours and get some real world
experience.
If you're unsure where to start,talk to your school's career
center or a counselor that canhelp you find opportunities that
(07:39):
match your goals.
And as always, you can join ourCareer Connections course.
When it launches again.
So if you want to know when itopens up again, make sure you
visit collegecareerready.
org forward slash course andsign up on our wait list.
And the third thing that isimportant and that I think
anyone can do beginning of everyschool year is creating your new
(08:03):
school year identity.
All right.
So many of us put new year'sresolutions and.
You know, we think that we haveto wait until January for a
fresh new start, but guess what?
You can do that in August orSeptember of every year, or
honestly, you can create thatthree times a year if you are in
(08:23):
a fall, spring, and summer classschedule.
All right, but since this is themonth of August going into
September, you have a fresh newschool year start, and you have
the chance to craft a newidentity.
One that reflects your goals,values, and aspirations.
(08:44):
It's about being intentionalwith how you present yourself
and the choices you make.
Think of this as an opportunityto brand yourself.
How do you want to be perceivedby your peers, teachers, and
future employers?
Start by setting clearintentions.
Don't worry about what you didlast year.
Now we've already reflected onthat on the first day.
(09:04):
On the first topic that wementioned, and now it's time to
regroup, recreate, and startover.
You get new teachers, newstudents in your class, and new
opportunities.
Maybe you want to be seen as aleader, a collaborator, or
someone who's always curious andwilling to learn.
Identify how you want to beseen.
(09:27):
Describe, write down how youwant to be identified by others.
Your identity isn't just aboutthe big things.
It's also in the small details,how you manage your time, how
you approach your studies, andeven how you interact with
others, all contributes to theperson you're becoming.
As you go through the year, stayflexible.
(09:49):
Your identity can evolve as yougain new experiences and
insights.
As I mentioned earlier, I'mgoing through a new season of my
own life.
And it is time to regroup,reconnect, and plan for the
future.
The key is to stay tuned to yourvalues and be open to growth.
I even had a conversation withone of my students just last
(10:12):
week that was reflecting uponsome of the experiences that
she's gained over the summer andeven identified some commitments
that she had already made thatshe's thinking on regrouping and
Figuring out if it serves her inher own and personal journey and
that's okay.
It's always important for us tostop, evaluate who we are, where
(10:36):
we're at in our season of life,and what we want for the future.
I would encourage you to ask thequestion, why?
Why did you say yes?
Delete.
Why would you consider that asan opportunity?
Why would you attend that eventor why you would reach out and
accept that commitment?
These questions are importantand can help you in your
(10:59):
personal and career growth.
As you go through the years,stay flexible.
Your identity can evolve as yougain new experiences and
insights.
The key is to stay true to yourvalues and open to growth.
All right, my sweet friend, Ihope these three tips will
encourage you and motivate you.
Remember, it's time to embrace afresh new start.
(11:22):
And how do you do this?
Let By asking yourself,reflecting on your past and
deciding on what you want foryour future.
And your future starts today.
You can start planning for thattoday.
How you want to be seen for thisnew school year and you can
decide on what you want to planfor and how you want to take on
(11:44):
this new school year.
You want to build connections inthe process by joining clubs,
groups, and internships.
I cannot stress this enough andwe have had plenty of guests on
the college and career readypodcast that have shared with
all of us that they didn't getto where they're at.
If it wasn't for the groups, theexperiences, the people, the
(12:07):
network that they build.
Throughout their educationaljourney.
This time is a time to explore,and this opportunity can be
offered to you.
If you start building yourconnections today.
And then last but not least,we've talked about how you
create your new identity.
Forget about what people saidabout you before you have the
(12:28):
opportunity to be a new person.
Seek new skills, develop newabilities and develop yourself
anytime you want.
And what a great way then to dothat.
Then in the beginning of theschool year, where you're having
new teachers, new classmates,maybe even new environments or a
new school, this is a newchapter in your life.
(12:49):
A book is created by chapters.
Your life is created by chaptersand guess what?
Chapter one will not be the sameas chapter two.
And it is important to know thatis okay because you are evolving
and changing.
We all change.
If someone hasn't mentioned thatto you yet, let me tell you,
(13:09):
news alert, you will not be thesame person a year from now.
Why?
Because you'll have newexperiences, new people you've
interacted with.
new skills that you havedeveloped for yourself that will
help you to continue to grow.
So don't say that who you areyesterday will define who you
are today or tomorrow.
(13:30):
You have the choice honestlyevery single day.
However, what better opportunityto start fresh other than a new
school year and you have thatopportunity today.
All right, my sweet friend, anew school year is a time of
endless possibilities by settingclear goals.
Making connections and beingintentional about your identity.
(13:51):
You're setting yourself up for ayear of growth and success.
Remember, it's not about beingperfect.
It's about progress and makingthe most of the opportunities,
right?
In front of you.
Thanks for tuning in to thisepisode of the college and
career ready podcast.
If you found this helpful,please share it with your
(14:12):
friends and leave us a review.
Stay connected with us on socialmedia.
My two favorite hangout placesare LinkedIn and Instagram, and
you can always send me a directmessage or email me at info at
college career ready.
org.
Connect with me anytime for moretips and resources to help you
succeed this year and the yearsto come.
(14:34):
Until next time, my friend, keepstriving, keep growing, and make
this school year your best oneyet.
I'll talk to you next week.
Adios.
Thank you for listening in.
If you enjoyed this episode, itwould mean so much to me if you
share it with a friend, acolleague, or your own
community.
If you share it on social mediaand tag me, I'll make sure to
(14:56):
personally thank you.
My two favorite places to hangout are Instagram and LinkedIn.
Check out our show notes for adirect link.
I'm so thankful for each andevery one of you.
And as always stay well, bepresent and enjoy the journey.
I'll talk to you next week.
Adios.
Welcome to College and Career Ready, the only
podcast that helps studentstransition from high school to
college and college to theircareer.
My name is Sonia Cacique.
I'm a former educator, certifiedschool counselor, career coach,
and founder of Discover U.
Together, we will redefine whatit truly means to be college and
(00:23):
career ready.
And with our community, youdon't have to do this alone.
So come with me and let's getstarted.
Welcome to the College andCareer Ready podcast, the show
that helps you navigate youreducational journey while
preparing for a successfulfuture.
(00:44):
I'm your host, Sonia Kasike, andtoday I will be discussing the
top three things that you can befocusing on this new school year
and that you can work onstarting today.
I can't wait to start ourconversation.
We will explore how to make themost of this opportunity by
connecting with others throughclubs, groups, and events.
(01:05):
and internships and how you cancreate a new identity for
yourself this year.
Listen, being a student has manyadvantages and one of them is
that every year you can start afresh new start.
Whether you're starting college,returning to high school, or
even entering a new educationalenvironment.
(01:26):
This episode is packed with tipsto help you kick off the year on
the right foot.
Now, before we get started ontoday's episode, I want to share
with you that the best way foryou to help me spread the word
of the College and Career Readypodcast is by sharing it with
your friends.
family, local community, andteachers.
(01:49):
This is a podcast that isserving our community of
parents, students, andeducators.
So if you think of anyone thatcould benefit from an episode or
from our podcast, make sure tosend them a direct link.
And if you want to get extrabonus points on my end, rate and
review our podcast By going onApple podcast or Spotify and
(02:15):
five star reviewing our podcastalong with your personal added
touch in the comment section.
Thank you so much for being herewith me.
I am so close to getting to my100th episode, which speaking of
the 100th episode, I wanted totell you that I will continue to
serve all of you through thecollege and career ready
(02:35):
podcast, but I will be taking apause after the 100th episode
and upon returning, I will befocusing on mini seasons.
Now the mini seasons will bevery specific to topics that
interest you.
That is why I am looking foryour questions.
feedback.
I want you to email me at infoat college career ready dot o r
(02:59):
g or you can send me a dm onlinkedin or instagram and share
with me what topics have youenjoyed the most or what topics
you look forward to.
And I will continue to serve mystudents through discover you.
College and career coaching,especially through our career
connections course.
So if that is still of interestto you, we will continue to
(03:21):
offer that course to all of ourstudents.
But I wanted to give you a headsup because we are only, I guess,
after this episode, only sevenepisodes away from reaching our
100th episode.
And I have some really amazingguests that will be with us
these next couple of episodes.
So stay tuned My friends, solet's get started with today's
(03:43):
episode.
I am going to be talking to youabout how to embrace this fresh
new start.
Now listen, it has been severalyears now that I have started.
Ben embracing my career journeyand a fresh new start almost
feels like getting a new job.
When you get a new job, it'salmost like you have a fresh new
(04:03):
start.
You have a blank canvas and youget to recreate yourself.
Well, guess what?
As a student, you get to do thatevery single year.
How lucky is that?
It's a chance to hit the resetbutton, leave behind any
challenges or struggles from theprevious year and set the tone
for the year ahead.
(04:23):
Whether last year was a successor not, this year is an
opportunity to redefine who youare and what you want to
achieve.
Take a moment to think aboutwhat worked well and what
didn't.
Maybe you struggled with timemanagement or perhaps you didn't
push yourself out of yourcomfort zone as much as you
(04:44):
would have liked.
Reflecting on these points canguide you in setting new goals
and intentions.
Grab a journal, grab your phoneand answer these questions.
Ask yourself, what kind ofstudent do you want to be this
year?
What skills or habits do youwant to develop?
(05:05):
How can you get more involved inyour school or community?
This is a time to start over.
And while you're at it, youmight want to evaluate what
didn't go right last year.
Because sometimes looking back,you know what they say, looking
back can give you a 2020 visionSo think about what went wrong,
(05:27):
what areas you could haveimproved, and who you want to
become today.
Answering these questions canhelp you build a roadmap for
your personal and academicgrowth.
Now that you've got a vision foryour year, it's time to start
making connections.
Building a network is one of themost valuable things you can do
during your school years.
It's not just about makingfriends.
(05:49):
Okay, that's important too, ofcourse, but beyond that, It's
more important, or just asimportant, to surround yourself
with people who can support,challenge you, and inspire you.
First up is clubs and groups.
Whether you're passionate aboutsports, arts, science, or social
causes, there's likely a club orgroup that aligns with your
(06:11):
interests.
These organizations are a greatway to meet like minded people
and develop skills that canenhance your academic and career
goals.
And guess what?
You can attend one just to seehow it feels.
Attend several of them.
Don't feel like you have to becommitted just because you go
once.
Give it a try and see how itfeels.
(06:33):
Don't be afraid to try somethingnew.
Joining a club outside of yourcomfort zone can expose you to
new perspectives andopportunities you never
considered.
And if there's no club that fitsyour interests, consider
starting one.
Leadership experience is afantastic addition to any resume
or college application.
Start seeking resources orpeople within your college that
(06:54):
can help you start a new club orgroup.
Internships are another powerfulway to build connections.
They offer real world experienceand a chance to apply what
you've learned in the classroomand an opportunity to meet
professionals in your field ofinterest.
Even if it's just a few hours aweek, an internship can provide
(07:15):
invaluable insight into yourfuture career path.
And if you are not looking forthat commitment yet.
You can also volunteer, look atvolunteer opportunities where
you might only have to go a fewhours and get some real world
experience.
If you're unsure where to start,talk to your school's career
center or a counselor that canhelp you find opportunities that
(07:39):
match your goals.
And as always, you can join ourCareer Connections course.
When it launches again.
So if you want to know when itopens up again, make sure you
visit collegecareerready.
org forward slash course andsign up on our wait list.
And the third thing that isimportant and that I think
anyone can do beginning of everyschool year is creating your new
(08:03):
school year identity.
All right.
So many of us put new year'sresolutions and.
You know, we think that we haveto wait until January for a
fresh new start, but guess what?
You can do that in August orSeptember of every year, or
honestly, you can create thatthree times a year if you are in
(08:23):
a fall, spring, and summer classschedule.
All right, but since this is themonth of August going into
September, you have a fresh newschool year start, and you have
the chance to craft a newidentity.
One that reflects your goals,values, and aspirations.
(08:44):
It's about being intentionalwith how you present yourself
and the choices you make.
Think of this as an opportunityto brand yourself.
How do you want to be perceivedby your peers, teachers, and
future employers?
Start by setting clearintentions.
Don't worry about what you didlast year.
Now we've already reflected onthat on the first day.
(09:04):
On the first topic that wementioned, and now it's time to
regroup, recreate, and startover.
You get new teachers, newstudents in your class, and new
opportunities.
Maybe you want to be seen as aleader, a collaborator, or
someone who's always curious andwilling to learn.
Identify how you want to beseen.
(09:27):
Describe, write down how youwant to be identified by others.
Your identity isn't just aboutthe big things.
It's also in the small details,how you manage your time, how
you approach your studies, andeven how you interact with
others, all contributes to theperson you're becoming.
As you go through the year, stayflexible.
(09:49):
Your identity can evolve as yougain new experiences and
insights.
As I mentioned earlier, I'mgoing through a new season of my
own life.
And it is time to regroup,reconnect, and plan for the
future.
The key is to stay tuned to yourvalues and be open to growth.
I even had a conversation withone of my students just last
(10:12):
week that was reflecting uponsome of the experiences that
she's gained over the summer andeven identified some commitments
that she had already made thatshe's thinking on regrouping and
Figuring out if it serves her inher own and personal journey and
that's okay.
It's always important for us tostop, evaluate who we are, where
(10:36):
we're at in our season of life,and what we want for the future.
I would encourage you to ask thequestion, why?
Why did you say yes?
Delete.
Why would you consider that asan opportunity?
Why would you attend that eventor why you would reach out and
accept that commitment?
These questions are importantand can help you in your
(10:59):
personal and career growth.
As you go through the years,stay flexible.
Your identity can evolve as yougain new experiences and
insights.
The key is to stay true to yourvalues and open to growth.
All right, my sweet friend, Ihope these three tips will
encourage you and motivate you.
Remember, it's time to embrace afresh new start.
(11:22):
And how do you do this?
Let By asking yourself,reflecting on your past and
deciding on what you want foryour future.
And your future starts today.
You can start planning for thattoday.
How you want to be seen for thisnew school year and you can
decide on what you want to planfor and how you want to take on
(11:44):
this new school year.
You want to build connections inthe process by joining clubs,
groups, and internships.
I cannot stress this enough andwe have had plenty of guests on
the college and career readypodcast that have shared with
all of us that they didn't getto where they're at.
If it wasn't for the groups, theexperiences, the people, the
(12:07):
network that they build.
Throughout their educationaljourney.
This time is a time to explore,and this opportunity can be
offered to you.
If you start building yourconnections today.
And then last but not least,we've talked about how you
create your new identity.
Forget about what people saidabout you before you have the
(12:28):
opportunity to be a new person.
Seek new skills, develop newabilities and develop yourself
anytime you want.
And what a great way then to dothat.
Then in the beginning of theschool year, where you're having
new teachers, new classmates,maybe even new environments or a
new school, this is a newchapter in your life.
(12:49):
A book is created by chapters.
Your life is created by chaptersand guess what?
Chapter one will not be the sameas chapter two.
And it is important to know thatis okay because you are evolving
and changing.
We all change.
If someone hasn't mentioned thatto you yet, let me tell you,
(13:09):
news alert, you will not be thesame person a year from now.
Why?
Because you'll have newexperiences, new people you've
interacted with.
new skills that you havedeveloped for yourself that will
help you to continue to grow.
So don't say that who you areyesterday will define who you
are today or tomorrow.
(13:30):
You have the choice honestlyevery single day.
However, what better opportunityto start fresh other than a new
school year and you have thatopportunity today.
All right, my sweet friend, anew school year is a time of
endless possibilities by settingclear goals.
Making connections and beingintentional about your identity.
(13:51):
You're setting yourself up for ayear of growth and success.
Remember, it's not about beingperfect.
It's about progress and makingthe most of the opportunities,
right?
In front of you.
Thanks for tuning in to thisepisode of the college and
career ready podcast.
If you found this helpful,please share it with your
(14:12):
friends and leave us a review.
Stay connected with us on socialmedia.
My two favorite hangout placesare LinkedIn and Instagram, and
you can always send me a directmessage or email me at info at
college career ready.
org.
Connect with me anytime for moretips and resources to help you
succeed this year and the yearsto come.
(14:34):
Until next time, my friend, keepstriving, keep growing, and make
this school year your best oneyet.
I'll talk to you next week.
Adios.
Thank you for listening in.
If you enjoyed this episode, itwould mean so much to me if you
share it with a friend, acolleague, or your own
community.
If you share it on social mediaand tag me, I'll make sure to
(14:56):
personally thank you.
My two favorite places to hangout are Instagram and LinkedIn.
Check out our show notes for adirect link.
I'm so thankful for each andevery one of you.
And as always stay well, bepresent and enjoy the journey.
I'll talk to you next week.
Adios.
Popular Podcasts
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.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
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.