A Journey to Purpose and Passion
By: Dr. Jake Gunnoe
Finding one’s career path is often a winding journey, full of exploration, challenges, and self-discovery. For Adelynne York, a sophomore at Grand Canyon University, this journey has been one of growth, resilience, and finding her passion in unexpected places.
Embracing Uncertainty and Exploring Possibilities
During high school, Adelynne grappled with uncertainty about her future. With her mother working as a nurse, she assumed she would follow a similar path into the medical field. Yet, she struggled to feel fully aligned with that direction.
It was during The Valley Guardian’s Executive Coaching program that Adelynne began to uncover her unique interests and strengths. Although she stressed about her future, her coach encouraged her to continue dedicating time to various hobbies, from playing badminton and basketball to hiking and baking designer cookies. This exploration not only helped Adelynne identify what brought her joy but also gave her the confidence to consider a career path beyond the expectations she initially held.
Shifting Focus and Discovering Passion
As she prepared for college, Adelynne made a bold decision to pivot from her initial plans and declared a major in Christian Youth Ministry at Grand Canyon University. She immersed herself in her studies and secured an internship with a local church during her freshman year. The experience was transformative—it provided her with hands-on exposure to youth ministry while revealing a deeper passion for counseling.
Recognizing this newfound passion, Adelynne decided to shift her academic focus to Behavioral Health Science, with a minor in Youth Ministry. The change reflected her desire to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others through both spiritual guidance and mental health support.
Balancing Education, Work, and Entrepreneurship
Adelynne’s journey has been marked by hard work and determination. To support herself financially, she took on multiple roles, working for a residential cleaning company and launching a small business selling custom cookies. These efforts not only helped her sustain her education but also showcased her entrepreneurial spirit and ability to balance competing demands.
A Future Full of Potential
Adelynne York’s story is a testament to the power of exploration, adaptability, and self-discovery. From uncertain beginnings to a clear sense of purpose, she has embraced her journey with courage and resilience. As she continues her studies and gains more experience, Adelynne is poised to make a significant impact in the field of behavioral health and youth ministry.
Her path reminds us that finding one’s purpose is not always a straight line—but with persistence and support, it’s always within reach.
THE VALLEY GUARDIANS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
The Valley Guardian program is a multiyear coaching program for underserved students in the community. It was created by successful business people in the valley. They got together and formed a non-profit to find ways to fund developmental programs for kids in underserved communities. This program was aimed toward the underserved kids in the valley who have good hearts and have a desire to be successful and be mentored. The kids who are a part of this program have access to all different kinds of services like professional coaches, coaching calls, getaways, leadership education and training workshops, access to professionals in the valley, college and career readiness and more. The Valley Guardian program started with a single school of 6 students, and overtime has grown to 13 schools, 7 districts, and 49 active students. Overall there have been 120 students who have benefited from this program.
The Valley Guardians program offers over thirty online and in person workshops per year. We do many different types of workshops per year including things like arcades, parks, hikes, parties, and online leadership training. Many of the kids who come are not very social and are looking for a place to feel comfortable and be able to meet new people while being themselves. When they come to programs they have a great time. The way we set them up makes kids feel comfortable, whether we ask them what they are interested in doing or set them up to meet new people through social activities at the beginning of each event. The students find they feel connected and accepted through the program.