I’m proud to say that my super power is the ability to help kids understand today’s media world and help shape their role in it. As a former news journalist, I spent years witnessing and reporting the consequences of people’s actions, for better and worse. I then went on to found a brand marketing firm focused on creating marketing programs for many consumer clients. That requires the ability to understand why people make the consumer choices they do, then leverage that insight into creating credible brand messages.

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After a number of years, I “retired” to focus on raising my daughter. I now had more time to do things like playground duty, and that’s when my observation skills kicked into high gear again. My daughter was only in fourth grade at the time, yet most of her group were already sporting clothing with designer logos splashed across their backsides and mimicking the latest social media celebrity of the hour.

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When I talked to them, it was obvious they based their opinions across any topic solely based on what they seen on social media. They had no true minds of their own. Media effectively owned them at the age of nine. I found it pretty soul-crushing so in 2006, I launched shapingyouth.org, a media literacy program aimed at reshaping kids’ ideas about social media, socialization, body image, diversity, nutrition and physical and mental health. Most importantly, I designed it to help kids better understand define themselves and their authentic value and role in the world.

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I’d love to say that the last 19 years have transpired without major life hardships, but that isn’t true. At the same time when I was building the program, I experienced years of caregiving for both my parents, their deaths within a year of each other, an acrimonious divorce, financial challenges and of course, COVID. Despite my personal maelstrom, I am tenacious about this cause and started yet another venture to help kids develop critical thinking skills and have confidence in who they are.

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So why is any of this relevant as you zero in on your own post-career opportunities? When I first “retired” to raise my daughter, I still assumed I’d returned to the workplace one day. But ageism sneaked up, making me a dinosaur in youth-fueled Silicon Valley. When that door shuts, it hits you hard in the face. I bet if I met any of you at a cocktail party, we’d all agree we still feel like we’re in our 30’s. At least mentally. So for those of you who were forced out before you wanted to leave, I truly get it.

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But I urge you to call up your 35-year-old spirit when deciding what’s next. Take your time finding what gives you new-found drive. It could be a new business opportunity, a cause where you’re happy to volunteer your time and energy to, a new skill set or an adventure you’ve dreamed about for years. All I needed was to see my daughter and her friends on the playground to figure out my passion. May you experience that energy in your gut that I feel in mine when I wake up and face the day.

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shapingyouth.org

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