From Adventist Classrooms to Digital Natives: My Journey in SEL
How a religious upbringing, peer counseling, and academic twists shaped a Millennial’s vision for social-emotional learning and community building.
Hey parents, hi educators, wassup counselors. Beans here, daydreaming how to inspire digital natives to have the best childhood imaginable.
Today, I want to share something a little personal. If you’ve been following along, you know we’ve been exploring topics like personality development, social-emotional learning, and the challenges parents face in today’s cultural climate. But how did I get here? What shaped my understanding of education, psychology, and community?
This is my story of navigating a small, faith-based upbringing, academic twists and turns, and career pivots that led me to the Digital Natives Club.
(Last time, we explored personality development: “What You Need to Know About Your Child’s Personality Development”. Today, we’re building on that by exploring the journey that shaped my perspective on SEL and community building.)
The Seventh-Day Adventist Educational Experience
Picture this: a tiny classroom where everyone knows your name, your favorite dessert, and that time you tripped during the school play. That was my childhood in the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) school system. Small class sizes made us feel like family—sometimes a nosy, competitive family, but family nonetheless.
SDA schools had this knack for making every subject feel like a life lesson. Math wasn’t just math; it was, “If you borrow 10 apples, what’s the moral thing to do when your friend wants them back?” Science wasn’t just about ecosystems; it was about how God designed the food chain with precision (minus the mosquitos, which we all agreed were a mistake).
Fridays were a mixed bag. We got lighter homework loads (yay!) but had to be ready for Sabbath, a day of no TV, no sports, and a whole lot of quiet reflection. For a kid obsessed with basketball and Transformers, this was a tough sell. But looking back, that forced day of rest taught me how to slow down—a skill I’d appreciate way more as an adult.
The quirks didn’t stop there. We had haystack potlucks (Adventist tacos, if you’re wondering), Bible competitions that made us scripture speed-demons, and the constant threat of being “volunteered” for special music at church. Life in the SDA world was a mix of charm, challenge, and a whole lot of inside jokes.
Pathfinders and Peer Counseling
Ever seen kids in uniform marching proudly down the street, looking like they’re training for a camping Olympics? That was Pathfinders, our version of Scouts, but with Bible prophecy lessons thrown in. We earned badges for knot-tying, fire-building, and—my personal favorite—acts of kindness. (Yes, we had a badge for being nice. Talk about wholesome overachieving.)
The best part? The campouts. Nothing bonds kids faster than burnt marshmallows, collapsing tents, and arguing over whose turn it is to fetch water. Sure, we learned survival skills, but we also learned how to laugh at ourselves when things went hilariously wrong.
Fast forward to high school: Peer counseling was like Pathfinders, but for feelings. Imagine awkward teenagers trying to role-play tough conversations without giggling. That was day one. By day two, we were pouring our hearts out and learning to listen like it was a superpower. Turns out, it kind of is. Who knew simply saying, “That sounds really hard,” could make someone’s day?
College and Beyond
College was where things got interesting. At my small Christian college, you couldn’t sneeze without everyone knowing about it. Late-night Bible studies were the norm, prank wars were legendary, and curfews added just enough rebellion to keep things spicy. Dorm life was like living in a sitcom, complete with quirky roommates and dramatic plot twists.
Then came missionary work. Picture this: a clueless twenty-something trying to teach kids while stumbling through a new language. It was humbling, hilarious, and completely transformative. I learned that kids everywhere are the same—they’ll laugh at your mistakes, teach you their favorite jokes, and remind you to see the world through curious eyes.
Graduate School: Counseling to Research
Grad school was… intense. Think late-night study sessions, caffeine-fueled debates, and occasionally wondering, “Why did I sign up for this again?” I started in counseling psychology, diving into therapy sessions with clients who taught me more about resilience than any textbook ever could.
But then a little voice (probably caffeinated) said, “What if you zoomed out and looked at the bigger picture?” Enter educational psychology. Suddenly, I wasn’t just helping individuals; I was researching ways to help entire schools build kindness and empathy into their culture. It was like creating a giant recipe for happy, resilient kids—one study at a time.
Alt-Academic to Digital Natives Club
After earning my PhD, I took a detour into the world of data analytics. Yep, spreadsheets became my new best friend. At first, I missed the classroom and the kids. But then I realized: data is just stories waiting to be told. (Nerdy, but true.) Analyzing systems and solving problems turned out to be a lot like teaching—only with fewer crayons and more pie charts.
Parenthood added a whole new layer to the mix. Co-parenting my son with my Ecuadorian ex-wife and raising a blended family has taught me the art of compromise, resilience, and turning everyday chaos into laughter.
That’s what brought me here. The Digital Natives Club is my way of blending everything I’ve learned—about education, psychology, and parenting—to create a space where kids can thrive. Think of it as a campfire for the digital age: a place to connect, share stories, and learn the skills that matter most.
Millennial like Me
Growing up as an early-80s Millennial, my experiences were shaped by the unique cultural crossroads of the time: the remnants of a buttoned-up, rules-driven society colliding with the chaotic creativity of the internet era. According to the Strauss-Howe generational theory, Millennials are a Hero generation—shaped by the challenges of their youth and called upon to address society’s biggest crises as adults.
For me and my peers, the 80s and 90s were full of structure and community, from Pathfinders to church potlucks to the early stirrings of peer counseling programs. These experiences laid a foundation of shared values—resilience, teamwork, and a sense of duty to something bigger than ourselves. At the same time, we were navigating the upheaval of 9/11, the rapid rise of technology, and the Great Recession, all of which taught us adaptability and a knack for problem-solving.
Like many Millennials, I grew up feeling the weight of expectation: to fix what was broken, to build bridges across divides, and to create communities that could thrive in a fractured world. That sense of purpose is baked into the Digital Natives Club. It’s my way of taking the skills I gained in my youth and paying them forward, equipping the next generation with the social and emotional tools they’ll need to tackle their own challenges.
Millennials are known for their collaborative spirit and desire to leave the world better than they found it. I see that same drive in today’s parents and educators, who are striving to create safe, connected, and inspiring environments for their kids. Together, we’re proving that the Hero generation isn’t done yet—we’re just getting started.
🚀 Are we there yet?
Not quite—but we’re on the way.
Every step in my journey—from Adventist classrooms to corporate boardrooms—has taught me that resilience, curiosity, and connection are key to building a better future for our kids.
In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts:
Did you grow up in a faith-based community or tight-knit school system? What did you love—or struggle with?
How has your own childhood shaped how you parent today?
What inspires you to invest in SEL for your kids or students?
Let’s keep the conversation going! Comment below, share this post with a friend, and subscribe to stay tuned for the next chapter.
Beans out!