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Marijuana is never safe for developing brains

With the rise of countercultural movements in the ‘60s and ‘70s, pot became a symbol of rebellion, peace and freedom. 

But that was then, and this is now. Pot is no longer the benign high. Instead, I’ve seen in my practice an alarming increase in the number of teens and young adults who slip into some form of mental illness, from depression, paranoia and anxiety to permanent psychosis, associated with their use of cannabis. Some will recover. Some never will.

The National Institutes of Health, as well as Yale, Harvard and Johns Hopkins have all studied the effect of marijuana toxicity on the developing brain. The brain is in a developmental state until the age of 26 or 27, making teenagers and young adults, between the ages of 15 and 30, particularly vulnerable.

“Substance use and addictive behaviors really begin for the majority of people during adolescence, which is a period of time where the brain is still maturing and is more sensitive to the effects of exposure to drugs,” says Christopher Hammond, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins who works with adolescents and young adults.

Are all young people affected like this? Not necessarily. Brains are different, but for someone with a predisposition toward a mood or personality disorder, cannabis can push them over the edge into a mental illness. And how does a parent know their child’s unique brain chemistry?

I’ve watched as parents, remembering the good old days, let their children experiment with cannabis in an effort to modify their behavior. They believe it will calm them down, decrease threatening behavior and acting out. It might, in the short term. But there could be long-term damage.

Kids, meanwhile, may be self-medicating for depression or anxiety by smoking, vaping or ingesting cannabis in the form of gummies. What are some of the dangerous outcomes?

Amotivational syndrome has been recognized as a side effect of cannabis for about 20 years. This is the lack of motivation to do anything you need to do to live a normal life, including holding a job or doing school work.

Even worse, young people could end up with depression so severe that it lands them in bed, unable to function. Delusions and suicide ideation, taking the form of statements such as “I wish I were dead,” may emerge as well.

Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t consider cannabis a serious addiction problem, so they don’t pay for treatment without a co-occurring serious mental illness or history of hospitalization for toxicity or withdrawal.

Why is today’s pot so dangerous?

In the ‘70s pot was organic. You’d buy a bag of marijuana grown on someone’s farm, which was sold to a dealer. The amount of THC – the ingredient in cannabis that produces the high – was approximately 3 percent.

Now, you can go to a dispensary and get up to 95 percent THC, with an average of 40 to 50 percent. Gummies might have 5 to 10 percent THC in each one, and it’s very easy to overdose on them because they take a while to produce an effect, and folks tend to overindulge before the effect takes hold.

In addition, street pot is frequently laced with other chemicals, such as fentanyl, to make the high stronger and better. People go to the ER thinking they have marijuana toxicity, but it turns out they have OD’d on something else.

If you suspect one of your students may be affected by pot, have a conversation with them about cannabis and their developing brain – the prefrontal cortex that will someday allow them to go to college, get a job and have the life they deserve. Tell them if there’s a family history of addictive behavior or mental illness. Prepare them for the day in high school when they start getting pressured to share a joint.

If one of your students reeks of pot or exhibit concerning behaviors, take it seriously. Remember, open conversation and your concern may save a kid’s life.

Bonnie Lane, M.S., is principal consultant with Family Support Services specializing in supporting families whose loved ones suffer from severe mental illness or substance addiction. Contact her at 847-651-1554 or refer families to bonnielane@thefamilysupportservices.com.

AI and College Essays: Insights from Top Schools

Everywhere I go, folks ask me about AI and college essays. 

  • Should we be worried?
  • Should we ignore it?
  • Should we learn to use it?
  • Should we teach our students to use it?

As with all things college-essay-related, we’re keeping our eyes open, staying on top of the news, the rumors, and the vaguely true.

Today I wanted to share a few resources from schools and organizations that have something to say about this issue.

This is not a comprehensive list, by any means. We expect more schools to develop policies in the coming years. 

In the meantime, remember that an ethical essay coaching process is built upon three important principles:

  1. Theme matters more than topic
  2. Reviewing is simple if you know what to look for
  3. Every exercise, meeting and email has a purpose

The Wow Method follows these principles, and you can too. If you don’t already have our ten steps, download a copy today. 

Susan Knoppow is CEO of Wow Writing Workshop. She can be reached at susan@wowwritingworkshop.com

Beyond 529s: How your students’ grandparents can help pay for college

Today’s Baby Boomers hold over half of total U.S. household wealth, while their kids hold a much smaller portion, despite being bigger in population, according to a new study by New York University economists. Those 65 and older have benefitted from long-term home ownership, booming stock markets and steady jobs with 401(k)s to build their golden nests.

Their children, meanwhile, have struggled with student debt, soaring housing prices, less reliable jobs and fewer pensions.

A wealth transfer is coming eventually, and for many grandparents, that means helping to pay their grandchildren’s college expenses. A 2024 study found that 53% of grandparents are saving for a grandchild’s education, and the 529 college savings account is the go-to vehicle.

There are some benefits to this strategy. The money grows tax-free, and if it’s withdrawn for qualified educational expenses (tuition, room and board, etc.), there are no tax consequences. Contributions are after-tax, but many states offer a deduction or tax credit for their in-state plans. Withdrawals are subject to federal gift tax exclusion, currently $19,000 for an individual or $38,000 for couples.

Under a recent change in the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), funds supplied by a grandparent through a 529 are not reported as student income, so the grandchild’s eligibility for federal aid is not impacted.

However, about 250 colleges and universities use the CSS Profile to award institutional aid. The application provides a much more detailed financial picture, and if the student is applying to one of these schools, 529 contributions from a grandparent are added back in.

Also, most 529 plans offer limited investment options, mainly in mutual funds. This is why many investment advisers recommend 529 plans – because they want to encourage stock market investment. Very few mutual fund managers, though, beat the returns of the S&P 500. (This is why it’s important to work with a fiduciary, who is compensated by clients, not commissions.)

Here are two other strategies for grandparents looking to fund some of their grandchild’s college expenses.

Cash value life insurance policy

A permanent life insurance policy, universal or whole life, that accumulates cash can be a valuable tool for paying college expenses. You are using the cash value as a living benefit, which reduces the death benefit.

Overfunding a cash value life insurance policy involves paying more than the required premium to build a substantial cash value. You can take a loan from the insurance policy,  similar to taking a loan from your 401(k), and use the funds to help your grandchild pay for college. When you pay back the loan, you are paying yourself the interest.

This source of funding is not reported on the FAFSA or the CSS Profile, unless the student puts it in their own savings account. One strategy is for the grandparent to pay tuition directly to the college, which wouldn’t be subject to the federal gift tax exclusion. Depending on the college, however, it could affect aid eligibility, so parents and grandparents need to be on the same page.

It’s important to work with a financial professional to make sure a cash value life insurance policy is appropriate to your circumstances and is structured correctly to avoid tax consequences.

Tax-deferred fixed annuity

Tax-deferred annuities are the insurance industry’s alternative to the banking industry’s certificate of deposit (CD). You deposit a lump sum with an insurance company, which then accumulates tax-deferred interest at a fixed rate and pays out a steady stream of income. The interest is taxed when it’s withdrawn, much like any type of taxable account such as CD, money market or brokerage acct.

The advantages of annuities are that you can time distributions to coincide with tuition payments and the money is protected from market volatility.

There are many different types of annuities based on your specific goals. For example, there are annuities geared specifically to college-bound families that allow withdrawals without any surrender fees. This is why you would want to work with a Certified College Planning Specialist versed in annuities for college, retirement or income.

Again, a grandparent can make tuition payments directly to the school rather than giving the money to the student, which would have be reported.

There’s no reason to put all of your college-funding eggs in one basket. Rather, consider a mix of strategies as you think about putting your grandchildren, or future grandchildren, through college.

Brian Safdari, who founded College Planning Experts in 2004, is a Certified College Planning Specialist™. He and his team have assisted more than 7,500 students nationwide on their college journey using their exclusive My College Fit System and financial planning tools. For more information, call 818-201-4847 or visit collegeplanningexperts.com.

New Scholarship Available – 1 for 2 Education Foundation Scholarship

The 1 for 2 Education Foundation is seeking highly motivated applicants of accredited U.S. four-year
colleges and universities.


For the 2025 academic year the Foundation selected a diverse group of seven scholars who attended
both public and private high schools from four states. Grants of up to $20,000 per academic year were
made to attend both public and private colleges and universities across the U.S.


For the 2026 academic year the Foundation intends to award at least two merit-based scholarships. The
size of the individual grants is determined on the basis of tuition remaining after considering all other
forms of tuition assistance obtained by the scholar.


Requirements to Apply:
● An up to date official transcript from current school
● Make the Pledge to support the mission of the Foundation
● All required application questions must be answered and fields completed
● Applicants must be living in the United States but are not required to be a U.S. citizen or permanent
resident
● The college or university must be in the United States
● GPA must be at least 3.7 unweighted, 4.0 weighted
● Application Deadline: February 1, 2026


The Foundation considers the applicant’s academic record, leadership, community service activities, and
letters of recommendation. Applicants are also assessed on the alignment of their values with the
Foundation’s values as it relates to their intention to fulfill their Pledge to the Foundation.


While receiving a scholarship from the Foundation, scholars are required to attend the Foundation’s
annual scholar retreat. During this event, scholars will have a chance to meet other scholars, graduates,
and advisory board members. They will also participate in personal development and learning sessions
aimed at preparing them for academic, career, and life goals. The 2026 scholar retreat is planned for
July 30 – August 3, 2026, in Michigan. All reasonable costs to attend the scholar retreat are covered by
the Foundation.


Applicants are required to make the following pledge:


In consideration of the 1 for 2 Education Foundation (“the Foundation”) making this scholarship grant I
pledge to support the mission of the Foundation by:


a) participating in the annual scholar retreat while receiving my scholarship,
b) supporting my fellow Foundation Scholars’ academic and career goals during my lifetime, and
c) paying for a comparable scholarship grant for two persons, who are not related to me by
blood, adoption, or marriage, during my lifetime.


Application link: Apply Now – 1 For 2 Education Foundation – https://www.1for2edu.com/scholarship

AI Readiness Gap: 97% of Parents Expect Kids to Reskill — 36% Believe Schools Aren’t Preparing Them

Report shows nearly all parents worried AI will disrupt their child’s career; 71% plan to be very involved in career choices.

Zety®, a leading resume templates service, recently surveyed more than 900 U.S. parents of children ages 12–24 for itsAI Readiness Gap: 2025 Parent Outlook Report. The data found nearly all parents are growing anxious about how AI will affect their children’s professional lives, with 97% fearing their child’s career could be disrupted or replaced within the next decade.

At the same time, one in three parents (36%) say school isn’t preparing students for AI-era jobs. With that landscape, 71% of parents say they are very involved, or plan to be, in their child’s career choices.

Key Findings

  • Doubts about education: One in three parents (36%) say school isn’t preparing students for AI-era jobs.
  • Reskilling is inevitable: The majority (97%) believe AI will force their child to reskill multiple times during their career.
  • Job uncertainty: 54% of parents are very worried their child will have fewer career opportunities than their generation.
  • Technical skills are vital: Parents believe skills like coding, AI, and data analysis are most critical for their child’s career.
  • Renewed interest in the skilled trades: 29% of parents report their child is most interested in trade work, followed by corporate or office jobs (28%).

Parental Anxiety Rises Over AI and Jobs

Parents are growing anxious about how AI will affect their children’s professional lives. 97% worry their child’s career could be disrupted or replaced by AI within the next decade, highlighting concerns about generational downturn, school readiness, and parental guidance:

  • 54% of parents are very worried their child will have fewer career opportunities than their generation.
  • One in three parents (36%) say school isn’t preparing students for AI-era jobs.
  • 71% of parents are—or plan to be—very involved in their child’s career choices, providing active guidance.

Parents’ Top Career Concerns for Their Kids

AI’s impact is causing parents to closely monitor potential obstacles their children may encounter in their careers. Their biggest concerns include:

  • Fewer job openings overall – 59%
  • Jobs becoming unstable or short-term – 57%
  • Low pay or reduced earning potential – 56%
  • Needing to constantly retrain/reskill – 34%
  • Struggling to adapt to new tools and technologies – 20%

Kids’ Career Interests in an AI World

As AI transforms work, parents reveal which careers their children are most interested in today:

  • Skilled trades (electrician, plumber, etc.) – 29%
  • Corporate or office jobs – 28%
  • Government or public service jobs – 23%
  • Entrepreneurship or freelance work – 10%
  • Creative or artistic careers (e.g., design, writing, performing arts) – 8%
  • Social media or digital content creation – 2%

What Parents See as Essential Skills

Nearly all parents (97%) believe their child will need to reskill multiple times during their career because of AI, and 96% worry they may struggle to adapt to these types of rapid changes in the job market. 

To prepare their children for an AI-driven workforce, parents say the following skills will be most critical for success:

  • Technical skills (coding, AI, data analysis) – 52%
  • Soft skills (communication, adaptability, creativity) – 33%
  • Entrepreneurial skills (innovation, risk-taking) – 12%
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving – 3%

For detailed insights on the Parent Outlook Report access the full study at zety.com/blog/ai-readiness-gap-parent-outlook

AI and Student Services

While AI is being used and considered for many services, it is ideal to take a step back first and review your current office operations. Are you a high school counselor with a backlog of recommendation letter requests? Is your current process for sending out local scholarship information working? Does the student transcript request system for college applications work effectively?  College staff procedures could also be involved. Do you have a back log of transfer student academic records that need to be reviewed? If so, what plans are being considered to correct this situation? Are admission office applicants waiting a long time for a status update? Is this impacting your freshman class yield rate? How are student customer service experiences in your individual student service offices and/or your one stop shop? Do enhancements need to be made? This type of assessment needs to be completed before AI is added to your school’s process. Why? AI will not fix operational issues which are a separate issue. When considering AI options, below are some things to keep in mind.

Choosing a business vendor is a serious matter. In my opinion, the dynamics are similar to a close personal friendship or marriage. Trust and dependability are involved. A technology decision can make or break an organization. I currently view technology choices as two-year decisions that may last as long as five years. This type of decision naturally leads to requesting input from numerous staff members.

Here are the three types of questions involved when you are considering a technology decision: 

1. Technology vendor questions
2. General business vendor questions
3. Political questions to privately consider


In some industries, the number of major and minor companies is constantly changing. As a manager, the decisions you make can drastically affect the existence of other companies.

If you are attempting to choose a technology vendor, I would consider the following:

  • What kind of background do the people have who are heading up the new company?
  • Can this new product or service affect the security of my position or industry?
  • If so, why has the new product or service not already had an impact?
  • How long will it take for the new idea to affect my position, organization and/or industry?
  • Does the idea or product make sense but lack industry support?
  • If it makes sense, will people involved with the new idea or product end up being leaders in the industry?
  • How long would it be before the new idea or product would be replaced?
  • Is my industry ready to accept the new idea or product?

Below is a list of general questions you may want to ask a potential business vendor:

  • May we have a brief organizational overview?
  • What is your Customer Service approach for your current business partners?
  • Do you have any plans to increase staffing in your Customer Service department?
  • Are Satisfaction surveys conducted with your current business partners?
  • What successes did your organization experience during the past fiscal year?
  • What challenges do you expect to face in the upcoming fiscal year?
  • Can you update us on your goals for the upcoming fiscal year?
  • For the upcoming fiscal year, are any new services or products available?
  • What other companies, similar in size and scope, do you currently serve?
  • Can we call a few of your current customers, to discuss your products and services?

Again, selecting a business vendor is serious business. A lot of agreements are easy to get involved in and hard to dissolve.


The last set of questions should be privately considered before you make a final decision:

  • Is a potential conflict of interest involved?
  • Does the parent company of the potential vendor have a vested interest in me also using their other products?
  • If so, are their other products up to the standards my organization requires?
  • Does the potential business vendor have political connections involving upper administration in my organization?
  • If so, will I truly be allowed to make the decision?
  • Date October 28, 2025
  • Author Kenneth McGee, Financial Aid and Enrollment Management Consultant

Which “Optional” Essays are Really Optional?

Students are not always sure which “optional” essays are truly optional. Use Wow coach
Joe Kane’s insight to guide you and your students. Joe has been with Wow since 2013. He
also runs a youth writing program in Nashville, and is a wonder with any type of student. 

At the end of a recent brainstorm session, one of my students said he was concerned that
his application didn’t demonstrate enough hardship. After a couple follow up questions, I
discovered that he had read through the Common App sections before our meeting, and the
Additional Information section caught his attention. Reading the long list of challenging
circumstances gave him the impression that living through hardship was a prerequisite for a
strong application, but he knew that none of the listed circumstances applied to him. 


Even though my student saw that the Additional Information section was labeled “optional,”
he didn’t trust it. And with good reason. There are plenty of supplemental essays and
additional materials that are marked “optional” but are really a requirement if students what
to be competitive. Students notice that. They also notice when adults, who are trying to
maintain a positive tone, get a little cagey when asked if a part of the application is truly
optional. 
 
While discussing the Additional Information section with my concerned student, I was
intentionally direct. I acknowledged that some essays marked “optional” are actually
required, while others are perfectly fine to leave blank. I also promised that I would always
tell him the difference right away. I’d never leave him guessing. 
 
For the hardship question, I told him that if he didn’t immediately think of an idea while
reading the prompt, that’s probably a sign that the question isn’t for him. Students who have
experienced hardship that significantly impacted their high school experience generally don’t need to dig for a story. It’s already on their mind. When he realized that he could leave that section blank, he heaved a big sigh of relief.


Optional? In this case, yes.
 
In others, maybe…
 
Trust yourself and trust the process. You can download a free copy of the ten-step Wow
Method here: https://wowwritingworkshop.com/wow-method-free-download/

Susan Knoppow is CEO of Wow Writing Workshop. She can be reached at
susan@wowwritingworkshop.com

Have You Considered Working with Families Independently? A Conversation with Four Former School-Based Counselors Who Made the Transition to IEC – Free Webinar

Have you ever thought about pursuing college counseling on a private basis, either as a side hustle, working for a company, or starting your own company? Do you wonder about the pros, cons, practical challenges, and great rewards of this work? If so, please join a candid (and unrecorded) conversation with four IECs who were all school-based college counselors before transitioning to owning their own business. Yvonne Espinoza, CEP, Jamie Kirby, Hilary Lehn, M.Ed., and Chris Teare, CEP, will offer their thoughts on how they approach this work through the lens of former school-based counselors, and answer the questions you submit in advance or bring with you to the session.

*Please note: This webinar registration is limited to current school-based counselors to allow space for their participation. Also, the information shared during registration is only for presenters to understand our audience. Registrants will not be added to any marketing materials, nor will the information be shared with any other parties.

Dec 3, 2025 1:00 PM Central Time

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/5DCUFjoHS6eS1K5cj–PdQ?fbclid=IwZnRzaANl_xFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHg7RjmvNMOM6TGqke0nKgVXVKPq1wcZBfz6BPksI1ayqFnpH0IZruiI6WFHH_aem__umHgoUwiAhB2F66QxRVhA#/registration

How Career Planning in Security Studies Opens Doors Across Industries

Security studies are a robust and diverse education pathway that, let’s face it, very few 18-year-olds have on the mind.

As a counselor, you come across many different types of students, and yet one category that is most likely underrepresented on the list of students you interact with regularly is the child with a keen interest in foreign policy, national and international security, and international relations.

And how much poorer is the world for that? In reality, though this career path does not have instant or obvious appeal to people choosing their degree, it is a genuinely lucrative and impactful one worthy of consideration.

The next time you have a clever student on your hands who doesn’t know what direction to take their life, you could do a lot worse than directing them toward a career in security studies.

A Degree in Security Studies Can Open Many Doors

Security studies can sound, at first, to be a very limiting major. On the one hand, the corresponding degrees are pretty specific and clearly optimized for someone with an interest in public policy or even international relations. However, when deciding the value of a degree, it’s important to consider not just the specific job it correlates with, but also the skills involved.

Security studies will focus on foreign policy, political science, national security, international security, and other comparable career paths, but it will also teach problem-solving skills, organizational skills, and leadership skills.

Depending on the emphasis, it might also interact with other disciplines. For example, a focus on information security will inevitably emphasize tech skills.

There are many well-known federal organizations that are constantly hiring people with security degrees. This includes everything from the Department of Homeland Security to the NSA or the DEA.

Keep in mind also that, as an undergraduate degree, this can also be a gateway into other career paths.

In the next few headings, we’ll take a look at how an undergraduate degree in security studies can indirectly lead to other careers.

Law

Law schools are pretty inclusive when it comes to undergraduate degrees that they view as admissible. Because the law is so niche and specific, schools are by no means accepting only pre-law majors.

They want any student with an established ability to think logically, write clearly, and understand high-level concepts, such as those developed in security studies, particularly with its emphasis on policy and international relations.

International relations is a uniquely good undergraduate degree for people interested in going on to law school.

Not only does it give the student a bunch of interesting fallback careers that they can pursue if they tire of working as a lawyer, but it also equips them with many of the skills they’ll need as professional lawyers.

Entering Tech-Related Fields

To enjoy a career in technology, you’ll generally need both an undergraduate and graduate degree in a related field of study. That said, many people migrate into tech careers having obtained an undergraduate degree in something different. In these cases, you’re often able to enroll in tech programs by completing prerequisites.

Here’s why: security studies can open doors in tech-related careers. Let’s say you’re interested in a career in cybersecurity with a degree in security studies. You’ll understand risk factors at a level most people won’t. Cybercrime is often politically motivated. Preventing these types of violations is often not just a matter of understanding the architecture behind digital security systems, but also understanding how and why hackers do the things they do.

No, a degree in security studies alone is not going to qualify you for a career in cybersecurity. But it can help open doors into graduate programs that provide worthwhile careers in lucrative fields.

City Positions

Security studies can also be a very valuable component of preparing for careers in public office. Not only will it look good on an application or even in an election platform, but it will also prepare the student to fully understand the unique needs of the community that they are serving.

Changing the Way Students Think About Degrees

Of course, it doesn’t have to be security studies. There are so many different ways that students today can prepare themselves for interesting and lucrative careers. You, as a guidance counselor, are not necessarily responsible for advocating any particular degree path, but rather for changing the way the student sees their education.

To begin with, it is important to remember that a great many people will choose careers far outside what their degree was initially designed to prepare them for. This has become less an exception and more a rule of modern employment.

You can help your student prepare for the modern job market by encouraging them to think not only about the specific career they are training for, but also the skills they are learning within the program.

It’s these resume-ready abilities that will ultimately have the biggest influence on the trajectory of their life.

To simply major in security studies or a comparable educational discipline is not necessarily to commit to it for your entire life. High schoolers today should understand that their education does not narrow their options, but expands them.

Conclusion

The world of employment changes so frequently that it’s difficult to determine which way the wind will be blowing in the context of helping an eighteen-year-old map out their entire future. The world of employment has changed a lot over the last twenty years, and with the advent of artificial intelligence, none of us really know what the next several decades will have in store.

Here’s what can be said with reasonable confidence: having the ability to problem-solve, think logically, and understand complex concepts will always be valuable. Security studies is not the only degree path that emphasizes these traits, but it sure is a good one.

Trust the College Essay Process

In our weekly staff meetings, we always discuss student wins and challenges. No matter how many years of experience we have with the Wow Method, we’re always learning.

Here’s some insight from David Bersell, who has been with us for more than seven years, has worked with hundreds of students, trained countless IECs and school counselors, and supervises training for our team of coaches.

This week, a student surprised me. She was someone who had a hard time talking about her ideas during the brainstorm. After talking for over an hour, and exploring additional topics and characteristics, we eventually agreed on a clear theme, based on the idea that she had the most to say about.

She wrote a short first draft and brief responses for the content exercises, where we ask the student to write outside the essay and consider new openings. While I was a little worried about how the essay would turn out, I kept her moving, and tried to be steady and encouraging in my emails.

She wrote a much stronger second draft but still stopped before the end of her story. I gave two rounds of feedback, and she was able to add a paragraph each time. We got to an effective and genuine essay in four weeks, and it was a nice reminder: don’t write off students who aren’t the easiest or the highest willingness or ability.

I was still able to help my student share who she is without much additional thought or effort.

I’ll say it again (and again, and again, and again): Trust the process!

You can download a free copy of the ten-step Wow Method here: https://wowwritingworkshop.com/wow-method-free-download/

Susan Knoppow is CEO of Wow Writing Workshop. She can be reached at susan@wowwritingworkshop.com

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