Rising College Sophomores & Parents - College-to-Career Journeys

I'd like to ask for a little help from my network as I enter the next phase of research for my book. Over the past year, I've been interviewing former students, educators, employers, and thought leaders as part of a book I'm writing about one of the most important—and often most stressful—transitions in a young person's life: navigating the path from education to a meaningful career. The more conversations I have, the more convinced I become that many students are being asked to make important decisions about majors, careers, internships, and life direction before they fully understand themselves, the labor market, or the opportunities available to them. As a former university faculty member, career advisor, and now the parent of a college student myself, I've seen this journey from multiple angles. What I'm hoping to better understand now are the lived experiences of students and families who are navigating it in real time. I'm looking to speak with: • Students who have recently completed their freshman year of college (rising sophomores) • Parents of current college students or recent graduates I'm especially interested in talking with students and parents who still have questions—not just those who already have answers. Questions like: • Am I on the right path? • How do people actually discover careers that fit? • What should I be doing right now that I'm not doing? • How much should parents help? • How much should they step back? • Is college providing the guidance, direction, and clarity we expected? These would be informal, conversational interviews lasting approximately 45–60 minutes. The goal isn't to find perfect answers. It's to better understand the questions, uncertainties, frustrations, surprises, and moments of insight that shape the college-to-career journey. Insights, stories, and selected quotes may be incorporated into the book with participants' permission. If you'd be willing to participate—or know someone who might be a good fit—please send me a direct message. I'd be grateful for the help. The students and families who share their stories will help shape something I hope makes this transition a little less bewildering for the ones who come after them.