College & Career: Design Your Life, Not Just Your Degree

College & Career: Design Your Life, Not Just Your Degree

Building on the exploration of AI tools for career preparation in my previous article, we now turn to a complementary approach: using design thinking to prototype and explore multiple career paths during the college years. While AI provides data-driven insights and efficiency, design thinking offers a framework for creative exploration and personal discovery—together creating a powerful toolkit for students navigating their futures.

Try on Your Future: Why College is the Perfect Time to Explore Career Possibilities

What if you could step into your future self's shoes—test out different career paths, experiment with bold ideas, and map out multiple versions of what your life could look like? College offers a unique opportunity to do just that. It's not just about earning a degree; it's about discovering who you are and who you want to become. By "trying on" different versions of yourself, you can reduce the anxiety of the unknown, uncover hidden passions, and build a clearer vision for your future. This process isn't just practical—it's empowering.

The Case for Exploring Multiple Futures

Many students feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of career options or unsure about how to get started. Developing a list of potential careers is a great first step, but it's only useful if you take action. Tools like Odyssey Planning, as outlined by Dave Evans and Bill Burnett in Designing Your Life, encourage students to map out alternative career paths and imagine different versions of their future selves. Pairing this approach with AI tools can make the process even more actionable. For example, AI can help students create step-by-step five-year plans for specific roles while also offering tips on skill-building, networking, and industry trends.

This type of exploration allows students to visualize their goals and test their assumptions. Instead of passively wondering about "what if," they can actively prototype their futures by running small experiments—taking an online class, shadowing professionals, or trying out internships. These low-stakes trials help students determine whether a career aligns with their values and interests before committing fully.

Benefits of Trying on Different Versions of Yourself

• Clarity and Confidence: Mapping out multiple career paths helps students crystallize their vision for the future, reducing uncertainty and boosting confidence as they approach graduation.

• Skill Development: Engaging in exploratory activities—like networking or experimenting with new roles—builds transferable skills such as adaptability, problem-solving, and self-awareness.

• Open-Mindedness: Exploring alternative futures encourages curiosity and creativity while helping students avoid "identity foreclosure," where they prematurely settle on a single path without considering other options.

• Reality Testing: By combining AI insights with real-world conversations and experiences, students can validate their plans and refine them based on practical feedback from professionals.

The Wild Idea: Encouraging Exploration, Not Judgment

When a student declares they want to be an influencer, a fashion stylist, or an EDM DJ, it's easy for parents or counselors to bristle at the idea. These careers may seem unconventional or even unrealistic to older generations. However, the reality is that people do succeed in these fields. Instead of dismissing these aspirations as wishful thinking, it's far more productive to encourage young people to explore them fully. By building a thoughtful plan—such as mapping out a five-year pathway, talking to professionals in the field, and running small experiments—students can determine for themselves whether they have the resources, skills, and passion required to pursue these careers. This process helps students reality-test their ideas but also fosters critical thinking and self-awareness. Often, they'll come to their conclusions about what is feasible and aligned with their values. The key is to let them explore without judgment—because every "wild idea" has the potential to spark something meaningful, even if it evolves into a different path entirely.

Designing Your Life Tools on Campus

At Lewis & Clark University in February 2023, I gave a workshop combining Odyssey Planning with AI career tools. These senior year students showed me just how transformative this process can be. Students left feeling less anxious about graduation because they had taken the time to explore alternative futures. Many remarked that they had never allowed themselves to imagine different versions of their lives before—and they wanted more time to dive deeper into these possibilities.

Several universities have incorporated the Designing Your Life methodology to help students plan their futures and prototype different life paths. At Johns Hopkins University, the Life Design Lab has reimagined the Odyssey Plan process to address limitations while preserving the element of play and imagination. The university offers a four-week Odyssey course for alumni, helping them understand their strengths, identify potential career paths, and build lasting relationships with peers. Tulane University's Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking offers a 1-credit life design lab called "Taylor Your Tulane" (TYT) for first-year students. This course applies human-centered design principles to help students design fulfilling college experiences, explore different academic pathways, and prototype areas of curiosity. Students in TYT develop a detailed yet flexible educational plan that incorporates both coursework and co-curricular experiences, while also learning to apply design thinking mindsets to challenges they encounter. These programs demonstrate how universities are adapting the Designing Your Life methodology to help students and alumni navigate their futures more effectively.

Actionable Tools for Students & Career Services

• Use AI for Career Mapping: Input prompts like "Create a five-year plan for [career goal]" into tools like Perplexity AI to generate actionable steps tailored to your aspirations.

• Run Small Experiments: Test your ideas through internships, campus events, or online courses. For example, an aspiring EDM DJ might borrow equipment for a week to experiment with music production or play at a campus party.

• Talk to Professionals: Have due diligence conversations with at least 10 people in your desired field to gain diverse perspectives and refine your plans.

• Teach Students Odyssey Planning: Incorporate the DYL methodology in university career services programming.

• Stay Curious: Keep an open mind and explore "wild ideas." Even unconventional career paths can lead to fulfilling futures when approached thoughtfully.

Build Your Future with Intention

The college years can be an ideal time to explore who you are—and who you might become. By trying on different versions of yourself through tools like Odyssey Planning and AI-driven insights, you'll gain clarity, confidence, and direction for your post-graduation journey. Don't wait until after college to figure out your path—start experimenting now! Be curious, take action, and design a future that truly resonates with your passions and values - spending time on these activities while in school allows new graduates to hit the ground running and launch more quickly into financially independent contributors.