Ep 28. More than a Medal: What Alysa Liu Teaches us about Teen Motivation and Success

In this episode, I explore the powerful lessons in Alyssa Liu’s journey, from stepping away to winning Olympic gold on her own terms, and what her story teaches us about teens, identity, agency, and authentic success.

Her story isn’t just about sports. It’s about joy, ownership, and becoming who you truly are.

 Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: 

  • Why teen motivation strengthens when it feels like their choice
  •  How to help teens build an identity bigger than achievement
  •  The difference between support and control (and why it matters)
  •  Why joy and authenticity actually fuel excellence
  •  How to help teens define success for themselves
  •  Why mistakes build real confidence, not perfection 

 If this episode resonated with you, explore our transformational wilderness experiences that empower teens to build resilience, self-trust, leadership, and lasting maturity. 

Rites of Passage Trips Info Session
📅 Wednesday, March 18th at 6pm Pacific
🔗 youth.guided-passages.com/wilderness

Take a moment to leave a review, subscribe, and send me a message with your key insight. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Image of Guided Passages Founder Jasmyne Chandler next to the question, "Want a better connection with your teen?"

share

Related posts

BACK TO RESOURCES LISTING

Kerrick Gooden

Guide

Kerrick was raised in the Hill Country of Austin, Texas where he studied at the University of Texas. After some travel, he moved to the Rogue Valley of Oregon with a vision to farm and support youth. He completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Cultural Anthropology with Honors in 2004 at Southern Oregon University, and devoted over a decade supporting youth and their families navigate  local and state social service programs. During this time, he and his partner cultivated a food forest at their home and founded Verdant Phoenix as an educational mini-farm in 2016.

Verdant Phoenix Farm became an expression of a way of life for Kerrick. He is interested in the relationships between humans, soil, microbes, plants/trees/shrubs, food, culture, time, and the web of life. As these elements inform his horticultural practice, Kerrick enjoys supporting landscapes, gardens, farms, and their people who are interested in belonging to the land.