Why Discovering Your Student’s Strengths Matters More Than Ever
In today’s ever-evolving education and career landscape, many parents find themselves unsure where to begin when guiding their child toward a successful future. While college has long been considered the default path, Gen Z’s options are broader than ever before — and many parents are struggling to keep up.
At College Parent of America, we believe that the best starting point for meaningful postsecondary planning is understanding your student’s unique strengths. That’s why we offer the CliftonStrengths Assessment as a core benefit of our Paid Membership — a strategic tool to help both parents and students uncover the natural talents that can illuminate the right path for the future.
The Power of Knowing Your Student’s Strengths
Based on decades of research in positive psychology by Gallup, the CliftonStrengths Assessment delivers a personalized report that reveals your student’s top five talents — the foundation for building academic, social, and career success.
With this tool, you and your student will gain:
A detailed strengths profile that highlights your student’s natural abilities
Insights into their personal learning and working styles
Student-specific guidance to support academic growth and social connections
Actionable strategies to align those strengths with college majors and career pursuits
This insight doesn’t just help your student make better decisions — it helps you, as a parent, show up with more confidence when those life-changing conversations take place.
Parents Are the #1 Trusted Source — But Are We Ready?
According to the Gallup Walton Family Foundation’s 2025 "Voices of Gen Z" Study, students trust their parents more than any other resource for education and career guidance. Yet:
Only 53% of parents say they frequently talk about postsecondary options with their children
Just 17% of those who occasionally talk about the future feel “extremely prepared” to advise their child
And most conversations are limited to what the parents know: usually bachelor’s degrees and paid jobs
That means even though we're the most trusted voices in our kids’ lives, many of us aren’t equipped with the tools or knowledge to guide them comprehensively. Parents often feel lost talking about pathways like apprenticeships, trade certifications, associate degrees, or even entrepreneurship — even though these routes can lead to fulfilling, high-paying careers.
Strengths-Based Insight Bridges the Gap
This is where the CliftonStrengths Assessment shines as more than just a personality test — it’s a compass.
Imagine sitting down with your teenager to discuss their future and having a clear, strengths-based roadmap to guide the conversation:
Instead of broad questions like “What do you want to do after high school?”, you’re asking, “How can we use your strength in Strategic Thinking to find paths that play to your ability to plan, innovate, and problem-solve?”
You’re not just talking about college versus career — you’re talking about the intersection of their identity and opportunity.
Informed by their strengths, your student can explore personalized paths in higher education, skilled trades, business, or beyond
Unlock Your Advantage
If you’re ready to become the kind of parent your student needs most — a knowledgeable, confident guide who can help them navigate the future — the CliftonStrengths Assessment is the perfect first step.
Included in our Paid Membership, the assessment gives you:
A professional, research-backed tool tailored to students
Guidance on making education more meaningful
A foundation for discussing all postsecondary paths — not just the familiar ones
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to be a career expert to guide your child. You just need the insight, language, and confidence to ask better questions and open up the full range of possibilities.
As the "Voices of Gen Z" study reveals, parents are the most trusted advisors — but we need to show up with the right tools to live up to that status. Let College Parent of America help you start the conversation with clarity and purpose.
Start discovering your student’s strengths today and give them — and yourself — the edge for tomorrow.
👉 Join College Parent of America Now
Source: Gallup Walton Family Foundation – Voices of Gen Z Study, "Known Unknowns: Gen Z’s Limited Awareness of Non-College Pathways," 2025.
