The Purpose Journey ™
Programs for High School and College Students
Young adulthood is rich with personal growth, challenges, and questions related to identity, belonging and purpose. When young people have the opportunity to address these questions in depth they can discover who they are, what they want in life, and how they can best contribute to the world around them. From Passion to Purpose: Discovering the Difference Your Life Makes is a dynamic workshop that provides high school and college students with the insights and self-knowledge they need to make choices about their future path from the inside out. Through a process of guided self-inquiry and group discussion in a supportive environment, participants:
Schools and organizations that have benefited from James' purpose programs include:
Hear what students, teachers, and program staff are saying:
Dear James,
This thank you is more than a year overdue, but I wanted to write to let you know that your Finding Passion and Purpose workshop has still impacted me to this day. I was lucky to attend your workshop in the summer of 2013 at Eleanor Roosevelt Girl's Leadership Worldwide in New York. I still remember the feeling of empowerment after hearing you talk about combining our passions and talents. You were the first adult figure (besides my mom) to tell me that age could not limit my potential. I've been working on college application, so I've given a lot of thought into what experiences shape who I am today. I strongly believe that your workshop inspired me to discover my purpose and live up to my full potential. It made me a better me. Thank you for helping me explore my possibilities and believe in myself. I cannot thank you enough for your program. Keep up the good work. :)
Sincerely,
Mali Holmes
I had the great fortune to witness and participate in James Porter’s “From Passion to Purpose” workshop while staffing the Girls Leadership Worldwide summer program. James approached the girls with deep sensitivity to the challenges of being a teenager. From the beginning of the workshop, he seamlessly created a safe, affirmative space which enabled the girls to engage openly and authentically with themselves and one another. The room pulsed with excitement and revelation as the girls wrote and shared about their passions, talents, and visions for the world. During a closing circle, the glowing girls read their "statements of purpose," each followed by a supportive "YES!" from the group. Prior to the workshop, "purpose" was an abstract notion to me, something I only hoped to discover someday. James’ workshop empowered me to create and recognize my purpose now, by reorganizing knowledge that is already within me. No matter how old you are or where you stand in life, James will meet you there and help you access your own intuition and insight. A wholehearted "YES!" to James! --Lucy Schmid, Dorm Director, Girls Leadership Worldwide '14
Mr. Porter,
I’m writing to testify for the effectiveness and importance of your workshops. I attended the From Passion to Purpose workshop at an ECCEL retreat, and your Communication workshop at a Student Government Leadership retreat. From Passion to Purpose served as an inspiration for me to discover how I can incorporate my talents and hobbies into my career path, and as an excellent ice breaker for me and my peers. Your Communication workshop exemplified the theme of our retreat through your tips on networking and effective communication. You yourself are an excellent coach as well; your sincerity and clear passion for helping others find their own passions are what separate yours from the other workshops I've participated in, and I encourage all of my peers to take advantage of the experience you bring to the table. Thank you for helping me on my journey of personal growth, and I look forward to inviting you to our college so my peers can benefit as well! -- Abdullah Kinan, Eleanor Roosevelt Community College Emerging Leaders program, 2014-15
"James Porter’s Passion and Purpose workshop had a significant impact on our participants from Girls’ Leadership Worldwide. The girls referenced the workshop time and again throughout the nine days of the program. They felt it helped them to learn about themselves, pinpoint their passions around social justice issues, and understand how to live from their passions. At the end of the program, which was packed with impressive workshop presenters, many of the girls stated that James Porter was their favorite." - Sandra Sirota, Program Manager Girls’ Leadership Worldwide 2013
“Incredibly insightful and thought provoking. I learned so much about myself and my peers…Hearing people’s own hopes and dreams helped me find mine in a way I wouldn’t have expected." - high school student
“I found everything I needed to look into my future.” - high school student
“The workshop really helped me make connections between my talents and passions and to see clearly the different options I have for my future. It was pretty awesome.” - high school student
"It is difficult for a young person going into the world to know exactly what they want to do. James' approach to looking at oneself holistically helped my students really gain a deeper perspective on themselves and how they might fit into the world. By using the idea of passion and compassion and asking them to do some self-evaluation I was really amazed at how students gained a clearer, more confident idea of their potential, and most importantly, their purpose."
- Patty Mooney, Teacher, Saugerties High School
“James Porter provided a powerful workshop to the Kingston High School community. Participants were able to find ways to plan for their future through the identification and exploration of personal interests combined with life skills that could lead to a future of professional and personal fulfillment. Mr. Porter demonstrated effective methods....and provided valuable food for thought about the path ahead.
- Deborah Zale, Coordinator, WOW Program, Kingston High School
For more information about programs for teens and young adults please contact James.
© 2014 James M. Porter, Jr.
All rights reserved
- Identify their core passions, talents and visions for the future
- Envision the impact they want to have in the world
- Receive encouragement from peers who share their aspirations and challenges
- Gain self-confidence and a positive assessment of their own abilities
- Craft a vision for their future path
Schools and organizations that have benefited from James' purpose programs include:
- Eleanor Roosevelt Leadership Center's Girl's Leadership Worldwide program
- Eleanor Roosevelt Community College Emerging Leaders program (ECCEL)
- Dutchess Community College Student Government Association
- Prideworks for LGBT Youth Annual Conference
- Rondout Valley High School, Stone Ridge, NY
- Saugerties High School, Saugerties, NY
- Kingston High School, Kingston NY
- Woodstock Day School, Woodstock, NY
- Family of Woodstock, Kingston, NY
Hear what students, teachers, and program staff are saying:
Dear James,
This thank you is more than a year overdue, but I wanted to write to let you know that your Finding Passion and Purpose workshop has still impacted me to this day. I was lucky to attend your workshop in the summer of 2013 at Eleanor Roosevelt Girl's Leadership Worldwide in New York. I still remember the feeling of empowerment after hearing you talk about combining our passions and talents. You were the first adult figure (besides my mom) to tell me that age could not limit my potential. I've been working on college application, so I've given a lot of thought into what experiences shape who I am today. I strongly believe that your workshop inspired me to discover my purpose and live up to my full potential. It made me a better me. Thank you for helping me explore my possibilities and believe in myself. I cannot thank you enough for your program. Keep up the good work. :)
Sincerely,
Mali Holmes
I had the great fortune to witness and participate in James Porter’s “From Passion to Purpose” workshop while staffing the Girls Leadership Worldwide summer program. James approached the girls with deep sensitivity to the challenges of being a teenager. From the beginning of the workshop, he seamlessly created a safe, affirmative space which enabled the girls to engage openly and authentically with themselves and one another. The room pulsed with excitement and revelation as the girls wrote and shared about their passions, talents, and visions for the world. During a closing circle, the glowing girls read their "statements of purpose," each followed by a supportive "YES!" from the group. Prior to the workshop, "purpose" was an abstract notion to me, something I only hoped to discover someday. James’ workshop empowered me to create and recognize my purpose now, by reorganizing knowledge that is already within me. No matter how old you are or where you stand in life, James will meet you there and help you access your own intuition and insight. A wholehearted "YES!" to James! --Lucy Schmid, Dorm Director, Girls Leadership Worldwide '14
Mr. Porter,
I’m writing to testify for the effectiveness and importance of your workshops. I attended the From Passion to Purpose workshop at an ECCEL retreat, and your Communication workshop at a Student Government Leadership retreat. From Passion to Purpose served as an inspiration for me to discover how I can incorporate my talents and hobbies into my career path, and as an excellent ice breaker for me and my peers. Your Communication workshop exemplified the theme of our retreat through your tips on networking and effective communication. You yourself are an excellent coach as well; your sincerity and clear passion for helping others find their own passions are what separate yours from the other workshops I've participated in, and I encourage all of my peers to take advantage of the experience you bring to the table. Thank you for helping me on my journey of personal growth, and I look forward to inviting you to our college so my peers can benefit as well! -- Abdullah Kinan, Eleanor Roosevelt Community College Emerging Leaders program, 2014-15
"James Porter’s Passion and Purpose workshop had a significant impact on our participants from Girls’ Leadership Worldwide. The girls referenced the workshop time and again throughout the nine days of the program. They felt it helped them to learn about themselves, pinpoint their passions around social justice issues, and understand how to live from their passions. At the end of the program, which was packed with impressive workshop presenters, many of the girls stated that James Porter was their favorite." - Sandra Sirota, Program Manager Girls’ Leadership Worldwide 2013
“Incredibly insightful and thought provoking. I learned so much about myself and my peers…Hearing people’s own hopes and dreams helped me find mine in a way I wouldn’t have expected." - high school student
“I found everything I needed to look into my future.” - high school student
“The workshop really helped me make connections between my talents and passions and to see clearly the different options I have for my future. It was pretty awesome.” - high school student
"It is difficult for a young person going into the world to know exactly what they want to do. James' approach to looking at oneself holistically helped my students really gain a deeper perspective on themselves and how they might fit into the world. By using the idea of passion and compassion and asking them to do some self-evaluation I was really amazed at how students gained a clearer, more confident idea of their potential, and most importantly, their purpose."
- Patty Mooney, Teacher, Saugerties High School
“James Porter provided a powerful workshop to the Kingston High School community. Participants were able to find ways to plan for their future through the identification and exploration of personal interests combined with life skills that could lead to a future of professional and personal fulfillment. Mr. Porter demonstrated effective methods....and provided valuable food for thought about the path ahead.
- Deborah Zale, Coordinator, WOW Program, Kingston High School
For more information about programs for teens and young adults please contact James.
© 2014 James M. Porter, Jr.
All rights reserved
