About
The journey to this day
It began when my dad died my freshman year of college; I had really struggled up to that point in everything except sports and his death was a real wake-up call for me. I got engaged in my life in a very different way than I had every been before.
The school adventures…phew
Somehow, largely thanks to my mom, I actually graduated with a philosophy degree from Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, New York, where I learned as much about the women’s movement, dealing with disappointment and sadness, and equal rights as I did about anything academic. Thankfully, my education includes a trip around the world on a ship – the most profound learning experience of my life. Then after years of working in every way I could with young people, I forgot how much I struggled in school (at least school that was not on a ship), and in 2000 got a Master’s degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois – and if you want to hear a story of survival sometime, just ask.
Learning from young people
Since that trip around the world 1991 I have worked with thousands of teens and young adults. I have been a teacher, camp counselor, a baseball coach, and life coach to parents and kids. I have led Accelerated Learning summer programs, 44-day outdoor adventure trips, and been a school administrator.
I have learned through personal and professional experience how to listen and draw out the unique passion and talents that each person possesses. I believe there is nothing more important than young people discovering and cultivating their unique combination of imagination, courage, talent, and passion.
Stay-at-home dad
I am a committed partner and parent of 2 young kids. The healthiest kids I have shared life with have all had strong relationships with their parents. The only way I can do the work I do is to make sure I am walking my talk, so my wife and I have shared childcare responsibilities for the last 7 years. When the kids reached their school years, I got certified as Life Coach and then I began to write. And after a couple years I published my book – Launch Your Life:5 secrets to knowing what you want in your teens, college-years, and early career.
Launch Your Life
One day my daughter was listening to a song from the timeless album Free to Be You and Me. “Some daddy’s are authors” says the song, to which my daughter said, “that is you daddy”. What? Me? An author? Huh.
I do not imagine myself like that. I am a guy who really, really cares about people and has some ideas that I really believe can help. And because of my struggles in school, I learned that how information is conveyed is really important – actually more important that the information itself. So, Launch Your Life attempts to convey the things that I really believe will help you in as many ways as I could create, so that you can find your way in there.
Riding around Portland
I am deeply committed to being part of the change that is necessary to slow down the impact of climate change. One way my commitment shows is riding around Portland on my bike – and usually with our kids. We ride on our bike, which we call our own little parade, everywhere and daddy gets quite a workout!
Finally, it is probably important to know that I am a master of 4th grade humor and always assume that if you did not laugh at my joke, then you must not have heard it. My wife, quickly becoming my comic sidekick, offers warnings and/or reminders to our friends when I get on a roll – or a bun, or even just a plain old sl
ice of bread. Did I mention that I like play on words?
I am grateful and honored to do the work that I do and would be honored to work with you.
Please feel free to call, (503) 234-4843, or email me here with any questions.
Or click here to begin your journey with my free workbook and yEs-zine.
Still hesitating on whether to download the free workbook? See if you are caught in the most dangerous myth.
what urgency
calls you to your
one love?
David Whyte