Help Your Teen Stay Confident and Healthy Through College Planning

College and career planning can bring uncertainty and stress for both teens and parents. Research shows that many teens feel pressure to have their future figured out, and many are afraid that one small mistake could derail their college plans. That fear is what drives anxiety and makes this planning process tough for students. The good news is that parents can help ease that pressure. Join BigFuture® and The Jed Foundation to learn how you can navigate that pressure while helping your teen make thoughtful decisions about life after high school. We’ll share practical strategies for keeping the process in perspective, reducing pressure, and encouraging healthy conversations. Wherever your teen is in the process, this event will offer guidance on how to talk to them and offer support.  You’ll discover how to help them develop a growth-oriented perspective and recognize that there are many paths to success.

Register now to attend live and engage in the real-time chat and to receive a recording afterwards.

Meet Our Speakers 

Jessica Orenstein

MPH Senior Director of Programmatic Partnerships, The Jed Foundation 

Jessica Orenstein is Senior Director of Programmatic Partnerships at The Jed Foundation (JED). A Behavioral Scientist and Public Health Practitioner, she brings over 15 years of experience as a youth advocate across higher education and public health sectors. In her role, Jessica develops and executes partnerships that extend JED’s school-based programs and resources across education and education technology sectors. She is passionate about advancing promising practices and amplifying youth voices to drive meaningful change.

Dr. Celeste Birkhofer 

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Adjunct Clinical Faculty, Stanford Medical School Department of Psychiatry, and Bestselling Author of Beyond Quick Fixes: Essential Ingredients for Better Mental Health and a Fulfilling Life

Dr. Celeste Birkhofer is a licensed clinical psychologist and adjunct clinical faculty member at Stanford Medical School, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She maintains a private psychotherapy practice, teaches and supervises Stanford psychiatry residents, and is on the clinical advisory board for the Jed Foundation—a nonprofit dedicated to promoting emotional well-being in teens and young adults and reducing suicide risk. Her holistic approach to patient care integrates extensive experience and training in contemporary psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies, grief counseling, couples therapy, dialectic behavior therapy (DBT), and mindfulness and self-compassion practices. She is the author of USA Today Bestseller Beyond Quick Fixes: Essential Ingredients for Better Mental Health and A Fulfilling Life. You can learn more about Dr. Birkhofer on her website.

Dustin Lynn 

Managing Director, Advising

Dustin Lynn, M.Ed., is Managing Director, Advising at Matriculate. In this role, he facilitates all aspects of the High School Fellow advising process. Prior to joining Matriculate, Dustin served as Director of College Counseling at Battle Ground Academy after working as a Senior Admissions Counselor at Vanderbilt University. He’s also taught as an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Human and Organizational Development at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College, focusing on human-centered design, systems thinking, and organizational behavior and leadership. Dustin co-founded the NACAC Rural and Small Town Special Interest Group, presented at regional and national conferences on college access topics, and served on college and university admissions advisory boards. A first-generation college student, Dustin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in human and organizational development with a minor in sociology from Vanderbilt University, where he also received his master’s degree in leadership and organizational performance.