Summary: <br> This past month, we sent our third daughter to college. More than a year ago, she began to explore the possibility of studying abroad. As a result of months of apply to schools, virtual meet-ups, and 5,000 miles of travel, she is now a student at Aberystwyth University in Wales.<br> <br> <br> <br> Sending off another Parker child has been an emotional roller coaster. But the experience also brought back some memories of the first time we sent a child to college. As I was walking down memory lane this week, I came across a post I had shared in 2017 about the cycles of self-reflection and applying those lessons both in parenting and in personal growth.<br> <br> <br> <br> This week, I’ve decided to re-share that content here in an encore episode. Listening back also made me realize I originally shared this post in the spring of my last year as a high school principal. At the time, I had no idea I would be offered an opportunity to move into full-time work serving principals in my own state as well as across the globe with my books and trainings. <br> <br> <br> <br> Listening back has been bitter-sweet, but it has also been a great reminder that growth is a ongoing cycle of learning, reflecting, refining, and action.<br> <br> <br> <br> I hope you enjoy this repeat podcast episode and can apply it to your own journey: <br> <br> <br> <br> ——————————————————-<br> <br> <br> <br> March 2017: A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I took our oldest daughter, Emily, out to dinner. She turned 18 this year, and we wanted to encourage her in the opportunities and challenges she will be facing as a graduating senior and soon-to-be college student.<br> <br> <br> <br> Previously, I had been reading Tim Elmore’s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0996697004/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0996697004&linkCode=as2&tag=williamdparke-20&linkId=dbdf04a14f78fbdecaa41358615519da">Generation iY</a> where he shares about three intelligences that help us in conversations with our students and children as they mature:<br> <br> <br> <br> Emotional intelligence: We need to help them develop their EQ—self awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.<br> <br> <br> <br> Moral intelligence: We need to coach them toward robust character—personal discipline, secure sense of self, strong positive values. (Perhaps we could call this MQ.)<br> <br> <br> <br> Leadership intelligence: Finally, we need to encourage clear vision, courage, priorities, big-picture perspective, and planning skills (LQ) (Elmore 209).<br> <br> <br> <br> During dinner, I asked Emily if I could read through the descriptions and if she could reflect on areas she felt were her strengths and where she thought she still needed to grow. As she self-reflected on different areas, I learned some new insights about her. And I think she may have learned some new insights about herself too.<br> <br> <br> <br> My Own Self-Assessment<br> <br> <br> <br> Self-reflection isn’t only good for our children as they grow. It’s good for older learners like you and me. I remember about five years ago when I was talking to a buddy who is twenty years younger than I. He was telling me about the goals he and his wife had set and reached. He was excited about being a young father, starting his own business, and pursuing his dreams. I began to reminisce with him about when I was his age—how my wife and I had paid off debts, bought our first house, started a family.<br> <br> <br> <br> As he listened, he looked at me with a curious expression and asked, “So that was twenty years ago. What are your goals now?” Suddenly, I was stumped. I realized I didn’t have an answer,
