Most students get asked the same question again and again: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
For many, that question feels stressful and limiting. Job titles change, careers evolve, and very few people do just one thing for their entire life. Instead of forcing students to pick a single job label, The Paratum Scholars invites them to ask a different, more powerful question:
What challenges in the world do I want to work on?
That simple shift is at the heart of our Challenge Mindset approach and our college counseling services.
Step 1: Discover Your Challenge Mindset
Through our partnership with SparkPath, students use digital Challenge Cards to explore real-world problems—from protecting the environment to designing new technologies—and sort them based on their interest level.
Students then:
Choose their top three challenges
Reflect on why those challenges matter to them
Begin building a Challenge Profile that captures their interests, values, and the kind of impact they want to make in the world
To access the Challenge Cards, students create a free SparkPath account and use our Paratum access code (“paratum”). This gives them a guided way to connect who they are with the challenges they care about most.
Step 2: Turn Challenges into a Career Path
Once students know their top challenges, we help them connect that insight to concrete next steps. The Challenge Mindset guide walks them through five steps to career discovery:
Research potential employers working on the challenges they care about
Research jobs inside those organizations that sound interesting
Find real people in those roles and study their paths
Identify skills, experiences, and education those people needed
Reach out—through informational interviews, emails, or short conversations—to learn from their journeys directly
This process helps students move from “I don’t know what I want to be” to “I know what I want to work on, and I’m learning how people actually do that work.”
The guide then encourages students to take action: try small experiments like job shadowing, volunteering, internships, or part-time work to explore their interests in a low-risk, high-learning way.
Step 3: How Paratum Scholars Supports Families
The Paratum Scholars is a 501(c)(3) community-based organization headquartered in Long Beach, California, focused on helping students prepare not just for college admission, but for life beyond it.
Through TPS College Consulting, we offer boutique, highly personalized college counseling that builds directly on the Challenge Mindset work. Our services include:
Personal Exploration: Discovering Your “Why”
Highlands Ability Battery (HAB) aptitude assessment
Guidance on course selection and extracurricular involvement
Support in understanding strengths, motivations, and learning styles
College Exploration & Preparation
Career and major exploration aligned with each student’s challenges and aptitudes
SAT/ACT testing strategies
Building a thoughtful, balanced college list
Coaching on how to make the most of college visits and fairs
College Applications & Essays
Strategic application planning and optimization
Brainstorming and developing personal statements and supplemental essays
Preparation for admissions interviews
Guidance on financial aid and scholarships
Transition to College and Beyond
Strategies for a smooth transition to college life
Ongoing career and major planning
Help with résumé and LinkedIn profile development
Continued advising twice a year through college graduation for comprehensive packages
Extra Support for College-Bound Student-Athletes
For students who hope to play their sport in college, we offer dedicated advising on:
Understanding NCAA, NAIA, and different division options
Scholarship realities, recruitment timelines, and communication with coaches
Building highlight videos and athletic profiles
Mindset training and life skills through our Success Beyond Game Day Mind Labs platform
Our goal is to help student-athletes become their own best advocate while keeping academics, well-being, and long-term goals at the center.
A Partnership with Families
We see every advising relationship as a partnership between the student, their family, and our counseling team. Families can expect:
A caring professional who puts the student’s interests first
Clear, reliable communication and flexible scheduling
Digital tools and checklists that keep students on track
Peace of mind during what can otherwise be a stressful process
In return, we invite students and parents to stay engaged—meeting deadlines, communicating openly, and collaborating on key decisions.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If your student is feeling pressure to “pick a major” or commit to a single job title, the Challenge Mindset offers a healthier, more exciting way forward. By focusing on challenges, not just careers, students learn to design a path that fits who they are and what the world needs.
Here’s how you can get started:
Complete the SparkPath Challenge Mindset Cards using our Paratum access code
Download and review our Challenge Mindset Guide and Private College Counseling Options brochure (PDFs)
Schedule a conversation with Chuck Liddiard, Founder & Lead Counselor, to explore which advising option is right for your family