~Why did you elect to be a part of the Step Forward and SHINE Anthology?
My whole life I have been hiding. When I heard the title of this book, “Step Forward and SHINE,” I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me because I am now stepping forward to SHINE.
When I reflected on my life experiences, I realized that what stopped me most from shining was my fear of judgment. I was shy and had been told often, “Good girls are seen and not heard.” I was also humiliated if I answered a question incorrectly in school.
Now that I am determined to speak my message, I have found that sometimes it’s not so easy. As a child I was criticized, with well intentions to make me a better person, but it led
to over achievement and perfectionism. In addition, my father is an amazing person and also very private. I enjoy my privacy as well and found that is what held me back from sharing on social media because I did not want to be seen, and especially SHINE, in such a public way.
~Please share what you help your clients with....what sort of work or expertise do you bring to the world?
I have an M.A. in Counseling Psychology. I have over a decade’s experience working with parents and teens as a Teen Breakthrough Coach, counselor, and an education consultant at schools, private institutions and within the community in the Silicon Valley and surrounding areas.
I specialize in teen leadership and personal development. I have a passion for creating next generation leaders. I work closely with teens, whom I feel are a misunderstood group actually brimming with potential.
I believe that if we can transform our youth, we can transform our future.
Why is this work important to you?
Teens are searching for their identity and who they really are, which is part of their normal development. They are trying to separate and become autonomous. I work with teens so they can look at what’s holding them back now and reframe it. The sooner they can release their limiting beliefs, the sooner they can expand into greater possibilities and make their contribution.
I respect teens and empower them to be leaders. I support them to be confident, creative and make their mark in the world. They are our future.
What is one thing you hope your readers will be inspired by in your inspirations?
What I hope to inspire the readers with is, “Do whatever it takes to overcome your fear, be yourself and do what speaks to your heart. Go for it!”
What tip or piece of advice can you share with our reader today to empower them to live on purpose and with great purpose?
Tap into your passion. Looking at my fear made my passion crystal clear. My fear of being judged kept me hidden and unseen. But at the same time, it let me know that I have a voice, a message that needs to be heard. Now, that I want to be seen, heard, and SHINE, I can share my gifts with the world.
I want to receive your gifts and message. Are you willing to look at your fears and tap into passion? The world wants you and your message and so do I.
Here's another inside peek into the life of a one of our authors in the latest anthology. Kimberly Schehrer is a Teen Breakthrough Coach who supports great parent-teen relationships and gives teens time-tested, research-based, and cutting edge skills to help them navigate life’s challenges by building confidence and boosting self-esteem, to ensure that teens can dream big and, most of all, believe in themselves to make breakthrough choices beyond what they considered possible.
Her chapter in the Step Forward and SHINE Anthology is titled, Choose Freedom Over Fear of Judgment. Let's hear a bit more from Kimberly...
Meet Kimberly Schehrer, MA – Teen Breakthrough Coach
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