Testimonials
Here’s what others are saying about Where’s the Map?
“What a GREAT gift for a young person! What a ‘dream’ book for them to create and guide their own future! It is excellent and I will definitely encourage my students to spend thoughtful time with it as they begin their work with me. You present so many levels and layers of options and possibilities for young people, which they rarely have the opportunity to see, let alone explore in their school-structured lives.
There can be a great deal of anxiety and tension around being 16-18 . . . ‘life’ is coming at young people so rapidly and they feel their capabilities and their weaknesses acutely. Your book could provide the antidote to that tension—a personal and private opportunity to examine, honor, and indeed celebrate the unique potential of every young person willing to take a good close look at her or his ‘self’.”
Joyce Reed, Former Associate Dean of the College at Brown University
Nationally recognized expert in student mentoring and advising
www.collegegoals.com
“As you leave school you step from a lifetime of dependence and embark on a lifetime of independence. The chances of making the best of that lifetime are greatly enhanced if you have a plan from the outset. Preparing that plan is not easy but help is now at hand thanks to the excellent Where’s the Map? All parents and all students owe a debt to Jim and Beth Hood for this book, which should be a must read for every high school graduate.”
Richard Oliver,
Chief Executive,
Year Out Group
www.yearoutgroup.org
"The challenge for emerging adults today lies in finding their passions, talents and, ultimately, their own voice resulting from a clear internal direction. In Where's the Map? Beth and Jim have created an excellent experiential guide for young life explorers, that focuses on setting a course to finding one’s own unique internal compass. "
Terese Corey Blanck, National speaker and co-author of the books:
The College to Career Road Map: A Four Year Guide to Finding Your Path
The College to Career Road Map: A Four Year Guide to Coaching Your Student
www.collegetocareer.net
"If you don't know what you want to do, and you need to discuss your plans, Where's the Map is the perfect companion. This isn't a book, it's a friend, a guide, a taskmaster, and a counselor - all in one. Let it help you decide what your map will feature."
Robert P. Gilpin, founder of Where You Headed?, co-author
Time Out: Taking a Break from School to Travel, Work, Study in the U.S. and Abroad
www.whereyouheaded.com
“Where's the Map? is a helpful guide for anyone wanting to identify, explore and clarify their personal and professional life goals, hopes and dreams. Readers will find the “roadmaps” provide valuable help in self exploration of “what’s next” for determining and working toward whatever the future holds! The tools and information provided are concrete and easy to follow and implement. A great resource for high school students, college students, graduates, adults searching for a change, and educators.”
Michelle W. Legault, Outreach Counselor for first-generation college bound students
“AWESOME! What a fabulous resource. Not all of us can be so lucky to have Beth and Jim in person for life’s important decisions. If I hadn’t had the privilege of having them help me along through so many important life milestones and decisions, I would have been happy to have this book! I really like the mission and vision portions of each chapter of life. It is so important to make and keep goals so that there is something that is pushing you to continually reach for your dreams. This book helps people ask themselves the hard life questions, and ground themselves so that they can really be able to achieve their goals. Great!”
Shannon Maureen Hickey, 5th grade English International teacher
American School of Puebla, Mexico
Current Masters student in Administration of Educational Organizations
“Take the question of what you want to do with the rest of your life seriously. It doesn’t matter whether you’re still in school or have already finished, whether you’re looking at college, jobs, or where to live, Where's the Map? will take you though the questions you need to ask yourself before you embark on those big, life-altering decisions.”
Penelope Trunk, Author of The Brazen Careerist: The NEW rules for SUCCESS
www.penelopetrunk.com
"Beth and Jim are two of those incredible people who have been lucky enough to realize their life's passion. In Where's the Map? they help everyone else do the same. By sharing their stories and life goals, they empower the reader to pursue their own personal life mission, whatever that may be. I wish I would have had this book when I was graduating high school!"
Cathleen Daly, age 23
Graduate of University of St. in International Studies
“Where's the Map? is a must-have for everyone who wants to live a happy and fulfilling life, which we all do! Beth and Jim not only live what they teach, but they have organized the information in such a way that it makes sense for everyone, no matter if you are a recent college grad or someone who realized your map flew out the window mid-trip or you forgot to get one in the first place! Living by your values is so basic, yet somehow so difficult to conceptualize without a guide to help. This guide will help you create the map of the life you want and help you avoid the pitfalls of living outside of what you believe. I highly recommend this book for everyone— your happiness and journey depend on it!"
Drew Rabidoux, LMSW
Life Coach
"WOW! Jim and Beth have provided a BRILLIANT guiding light for today’s youth who are eager to figure out where and how they want to spend their tomorrows. Where's the Map? offers serious help in a playful, fun manner - making it a great gift for anyone transitioning from adolescence into adulthood. In fact, I’ve just given this book to my oldest daughter who is about to take a “gap year” away from college, and I can’t thank the Hoods enough for this timely resource!”
Dr. Peter Montminy
Child Psychologist, Father of Four
Director of MidStep Centers for Child Development
www.midstep.com
"Jim told me that he had the idea for this book while we were meditating silently together at sunset on the beach here in Hawaii. That's what I love about Jim and Beth! They live their conviction that our best guidance comes from within. And as a result they have created a magnificent Life Guide that masterfully encourages young people to nurture and balance their fledgeling inner "knowing" with a beautifully articulated set of self-explorations.
Jim and Beth are among the very most positive, encouraging and inspiring people I know. Their book will be of immense help to many, many young people! I recommend Where's the Map? with delight."
Dr. Michael Aronowitz
Licensed Psychologist, Kamuela, Hawaii
"After working with high school science students for 33 years I can tell you that many of them would love this book and its activities. My Senior Advanced Biology students would start talking about graduation within the first month of their senior year. I would have loved to do some of these activities with them to help their current state of excitement and anxiety as they prepared to leave their high school education and head out into the world. The book could easily be used by high school juniors (or even sophomores) as they plan their course work for their last 2 years of high school. I could definitely see a Guidance Counselor using this book for seminars with the students.
The book is also useful for people at different stages of their lives. I loved chapter 7, “What Keeps You Going.” I am recently retired and felt that much of that chapter is relevant to us as we plan the next stage of our lives. It really got me thinking and very pumped up!!!"
Larry Hood
High School Science Teacher for 33 years
Waterloo, IL
Where's the Map? helps students to sort out all their options and make decisions they can live with, whether it's to continue education, take some time off, or begin a career they can truly love. Beth and Jim don't make you follow their path; they help you discover your own! Highly recommended... especially to those who might follow my suggestion and drop out of school.
John Kremer
Curator, The College Drop-Out Hall of Fame
www.collegedropouthalloffame.com