From Wellness to Youth Development: Sarah’s Journey of Growth, Connection, and Impact

Published November 2026 as a part of the Career Exploration Tool: Stories from the Field series. This series of stories brings to life the many pathways members of Michigan’s early care and education field have taken to achieve their goals, nurture their interests, and achieve success.

Throughout her early career, Sarah discovered a passion for building meaningful relationships, designing programs, and helping people create positive, lasting change. As her interests evolved, she found herself increasingly drawn to coaching and leadership development. She enjoyed helping others recognize their strengths, discover new possibilities, and take meaningful steps toward their goals.

While networking to build a coaching practice, an unexpected connection introduced Sarah to an afterschool program in her community. At the time, she was already facilitating learning experiences and teaching growth-oriented skills to adults. She quickly recognized that the same principles she had been using in health and wellness—connection, encouragement, and personal growth—could make a meaningful difference in youth development.

She decided to take a chance.

That decision opened the door to a new professional path, one that allowed Sarah to combine her passion for supporting adults with her growing commitment to helping young people succeed. What initially seemed like a career change became a natural extension of the work she had always loved: helping people discover what they are capable of achieving.

Today, Sarah serves as a Statewide Quality Coach with the Michigan After-School Partnership (MASP), supporting out-of-school time leaders and programs across Michigan. Her work focuses on helping professionals strengthen their leadership skills, improve program quality, and create meaningful experiences for the young people they serve.

No two days look exactly alike. Sarah might spend her time reviewing program data, conducting observations, facilitating reflective conversations, or helping leaders identify their strengths and opportunities for growth. What she enjoys most is helping people connect their everyday responsibilities to a larger purpose.

For Sarah, the impact of her work extends far beyond the individuals she coaches. By supporting program leaders and helping them grow professionally, she knows she is also strengthening the experiences of countless young people and families throughout Michigan.

She describes this as a ripple effect.

When adults are equipped with the skills, confidence, and support they need to succeed, they are better prepared to create environments where young people feel safe, valued, and empowered. Those experiences can influence how youth see themselves, the relationships they build, and the opportunities they pursue.

Sarah also remains directly connected to young people through her volunteer work as an adult mentor in a student-led leadership program. There, she helps youth discover their voices and develop leadership skills while supporting adult volunteers in creating opportunities for meaningful youth participation.

Whether she’s coaching a program leader or mentoring a student, her purpose remains the same: helping people grow so they can positively influence others.

Of course, working in youth development requires a willingness to adapt. One of Sarah’s greatest challenges is staying connected to the constantly evolving experiences, perspectives, and interests of young people. While youth culture continues to change, she recognizes that the foundations of positive youth development—relationships, belonging, encouragement, and trust—remain constant.

Rather than viewing change as an obstacle, Sarah embraces it as an opportunity to learn.

Throughout her career, she has discovered that some of her most valuable professional growth has come from being open to experiences she never anticipated. Her willingness to ask questions, explore possibilities, and say “Why not?” has led her to opportunities ranging from publishing a book and developing educational content to participating in youth development research.

None of those accomplishments were part of her original career plan. Each became possible because she was willing to try something new.

Her journey has also taught her that being an effective leader doesn’t mean having all the answers. Some of her greatest lessons have come from mentors, colleagues, and the young people she serves. By listening to different perspectives and remaining open to feedback, she has become a stronger coach, leader, and person.

Sarah’s professional development has followed a similarly unconventional path. While her formal education provided a foundation, much of her expertise in leadership and youth development has come through hands-on experience, mentorship, and reflection. She continues to learn through courses, conferences, webinars, books, podcasts, and collaboration with other professionals.

For Sarah, learning isn’t something that ends when a degree or credential is earned. It’s an ongoing process of curiosity, experimentation, and growth.

One experience in particular continues to shape how she approaches her work.

While facilitating a leadership activity in a middle school classroom, Sarah asked a group of students to identify the qualities of a good leader. As students enthusiastically shared their ideas, she wrote their responses on a whiteboard.

Then, from a student who rarely spoke, came a quiet observation:

“A leader is someone who doesn’t yell at you when you make a mistake.”

The conversation continued, but Sarah paused.

In that moment, she recognized that the student’s words revealed something much deeper than a leadership quality. They offered a glimpse into his experiences and what he needed from the adults around him.

The moment reinforced an important lesson: youth development isn’t simply about teaching skills or delivering activities. It’s about creating environments where young people feel safe enough to share their thoughts, make mistakes, and discover their own voices.

That experience has stayed with Sarah, influencing how she approaches both youth development and adult leadership.

Her advice to anyone considering a career in the field reflects the lessons she’s learned throughout her own journey.

“You do not have to have everything figured out. You do not need all the answers to take the next step.”

She encourages aspiring professionals to be kinder to themselves, embrace opportunities, ask questions, and remain curious. After all, her own career demonstrates that skills developed in one profession can lead to unexpected and fulfilling opportunities in another.

And while Sarah takes the responsibilities of youth development seriously, she is quick to point out something else she loves about the field: it’s fun!

Every day brings new experiences, opportunities to learn, and moments of laughter. She describes out-of-school time education as a “work hard/play hard” environment filled with remarkable people—both youth and adults—who inspire her to keep growing.

What Sarah wishes more people understood is that out-of-school time education is about much more than providing activities before school, after school, or during the summer. It’s about creating opportunities for young people to build confidence, develop relationships, discover their strengths, and recognize their ability to make a difference.

Those experiences can shape their choices and opportunities for years to come.

Sarah’s journey is a reminder that meaningful careers don’t always follow a straight line. Sometimes, the skills and experiences gained along one path become the foundation for an entirely different opportunity.

From health and wellness to coaching and statewide youth development, Sarah has built a career around one consistent purpose: helping people recognize their potential and create positive change.

And through every new opportunity, she continues to demonstrate that when we invest in the growth of others, the impact can reach further than we ever imagined.