“An emerging adult who takes the time to deeply reflect and raise their own self-awareness about their innermost desires can be guided by them if they have at least some clues from listening to who they are and what they value”. Jennifer Miller, Education Consultant
On this page:
Watch for the spark
Your young adult may be on a path to finding their purpose in life, or they may feel completely lost and unsure of what to do. Young adults are in a time of their life when many questions, ideas, and insecurities can emerge. It is at this time when you can help them think about the meaning of what they do and what they are interested in. Read more.
Sparks and Thriving
A spark is a metaphor for describing how young people experience talents, interests, or strengths that make them feel really happy, energized, and passionate, and that give them real purpose, direction, or focus.
Search Institute has conducted extensive research on why some young people thrive, while others just “get by.” Many factors play a role, but a key dimension is what we call “sparks.”
Self-Assessments
Self-assessment tools are also a great way to learn more about yourself! Your teen can learn more about their strengths and weaknesses (and how to build on them), their personality type, and what their interests can help them accomplish in life.
- DISK Personality Test – Free
- Personality Plus – Free
- Work Values Test – Free
- The Smalley Animal Personality Quiz – Free
- Myers Briggs Assessment – FEE*
- Strengthsfinder Assessment – FEE*
The Government of Canada Job Bank offers 3 career quizzes to help you discover what occupations and careers may be best for you.
The RBC Upskill tool helps you discover how the skills you have today open up a world of possibilities. You’ll get career recommendations that match your skills to the jobs of tomorrow.
Ontario School Counsellor’s Association (OSCA) has a handful of self-assessment tools for students to help them learn more about themselves and future career options.
Print off START’s WIN Map for your youth: a self-assessment tool that encourages exploration of individual wiring and interests, inspiring and connecting each of us to ourselves, to one another, and to the needs of our world while building social and emotional capacity.
16 Personalities. The 16 personality types were developed by Isabel Briggs Myers (this type of test is also known as the Myers-Briggs test). This personality test will provide you with a description of who you are and might explain why you do the things you do.
Before providing personal information, ensure your teen has read the website’s rules and understand what they have signed up for.
