Episode 8: College, Debt and the Next Generation | Shana Conjurski

So my husband and I were both actually previously married.

And when we met and started dating and eventually got married, you know, our children at the time were very young.

So I think the oldest was seven all the way down to, you know, three months old.

And so, you know, we...

We had this interesting challenge with having to integrate those families in two different parenting styles and then also having other parents in the mix that, you know, we had to navigate those relationships.

And I think for us, being in the Navy was helpful because, you know, the military provides a significant amount of structure for every individual.

And so we approached raising our children the same way we approached raising our junior sailors in the Navy.

And ensuring that they understood, you know, it's a crazy path to success, I think, for any individual.

I think the Navy allowed my husband and I to both be incredibly successful.

So we had that example, you know, for our children where...

You don't have to necessarily go to college to achieve your goals.

You can join the Navy.

You could go to a trade school and learn something, work with your hands.

You can go to college.

We would tell them if you want to work at Walmart and be a greeter, that's totally fine as long as you're happy.

You don't have to...

Try to plan your life or set your expectations against what society or other people feel is a measure of success.

You need to find that within yourself and go explore that and figure out what that is and be patient about it too.

As I mentioned before, going from the Navy into the corporate world, I've had to reinvent myself several times.

So finding the patience within yourself to be able to grow the way you want to grow and that changes as you grow older.