As a parent, you’ve likely heard whispers about the enigmatic role of academic advisors. They’re often mentioned in passing, but their true purpose remains shrouded in a bit of mystery. What exactly do these behind-the-scenes guides do? How can they impact your child’s educational journey? Well, we’ve found an academic advisor who’s spilling all the beans about his line of work and shedding light on how academic advisors can become invaluable allies in navigating the complex world of education and helping your child achieve their academic potential.
Jaw-Xin, better known as Jaw, is a Chinese-American from California who returned to live in China eight years ago. These days, he works with young people to help them discover their passions and realize their ambitions. Officially, he calls himself an academic advisor and application mentor. Let’s find out what the job’s all about.
Hello, Jaw! Please introduce yourself and your work.
Hello! I was born and raised in the beautiful Golden State and have lived in China since 2017. My mentoring principle is identifying students’ strengths and passions by integrating their characteristics into their activities. I view students holistically and help them see themselves for who they truly are: unique and capable individuals with their own strengths and potential. As an academic advisor and application mentor, I foster students’ abilities by developing extracurricular and super-curricular plans. Utilizing my passion for writing, I then act like a movie director to bring their stories to life on paper.
So, let’s dive right in. What exactly does an academic advisor and application mentor do?
I try to approach conversations without bias or preconceptions; [students]already have plenty of people telling them what is right and wrong. However, what they think and what they’ve done is meaningful, so why not understand their motivations? Kids nowadays often lack time for reflection; they only have time to do do do. But by asking thoughtful, purposeful questions, I give them the space to process their thoughts and actions, instilling confidence that their thoughts, actions, and contributions matter. This communication builds rapport and trust. More importantly, I engage with parents to understand their true aspirations for their children. We are a team. Do they want robots making money, or individuals who lead fulfilling, well-rounded lives?
Jaw’s job is to work with the parents and, as a team, support their child to achieve their short-term goals, which lead to their final long-term goal. Sometimes, this could last one week or even five to six years. Kids today, especially those from families who have decided to hire a professional to assist in their child’s academic journey, have no shortage of teachers in their lives, so the job of an academic advisor is that of a life-long friend and mentor rather than that of a teacher.
During my chat with Jaw, what surprised me was the age of his clients. I assumed they would be high schoolers or maybe middle schoolers, but Jaw has guided students ranging from age four to 30. I was surprised by how young his youngest mentee was, but he assures me that the students are typically between the ages of 14 and 22.
So here’s a theoretical scenario: I have a kid who’s 13 years old who’s starting to seriously consider his future. He’s scoring above average in all his subjects and is especially good at math. In his spare time, he enjoys video games, coding, and basketball. He seems to be interested in becoming a computer engineer or a hacker in the future but doesn’t know how to start. What would you suggest?
“Explore and experiment. If he’s interested in these areas, blow his mind with creative examples of what computer engineers and hackers do. If he likes what he sees, then work your way backward from there. What are the prerequisites? What can he do now to meet those prerequisites?” says Jaw.
According to Jaw, time is this boy’s most valuable resource, since he’s only 13. How much time does he have outside of school and homework? How much spare time does he devote to video games, coding, and basketball? What are his abilities in gaming, coding, and basketball? Knowing these answers will allow someone in his Jaw’s profession to provide the right resources.
The next step is figuring out what drives him. Perhaps his love for video games means that he’d like to make a video game. Go try it. He loves basketball, so encourage him to explore that further. Perhaps he aims to be the next Lebron James? Go explore it.
Why should we tell a 13-year-old what he can or cannot do? Jawn says: “As an experienced teacher, I can quickly gauge students’ abilities, so I can gently nudge them to consider other aspects if they’re hitting a wall. What if, while striving to become the next Lebron, [this child]discovers he doesn’t have what it takes but finds his passion and ability in sports medicine? If he enjoys playing video games, why not teach him Python and Scratch to develop one? Does he like coding? Let’s start a school hackathon.” There’s always a way to turn a child’s passions into something that’ll help them build a portfolio.
The key is to start planning, exploring, and recognizing your child’s passions and abilities early. Time becomes more and more limited as we grow older.
It was certainly enlightening to get an inside peak at what a professional academic advisor does and how they help guide a child’s academic career. If you are interested in getting in touch with Jawn, you can scan his WeChat QR code below or email him at jawxin@gmail.com .
Images: Courtesy of Jaw-Xin, Unsplash
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