Paying It Forward: The Transformative Power of Education, Service, and Change

This week on the Range of Change podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with someone whose journey is a masterclass in transformation. Liz, a public servant and devoted mother, took the tools of her professional success and reshaped them into powerful acts of advocacy when her children—and her community—needed them most.

What inspired me most was how Liz traced her story back to one formative constant: education. 

As the daughter of immigrant parents, she sees her own success as a gift to be paid forward. Today, she serves on her local school board, where she continues to ensure that children have access to the kinds of life-changing opportunities that shaped her.

As our conversation turned to civics and community, Liz offered a potent reminder: the way we approach education in this country—with its blend of democracy, individuality, and possibility—is both rare and fragile. It takes all of us showing up, leaning in, and committing to the type of communities we want to build together.

A Shared Spark

I found myself deeply moved by Liz’s memories of her early education—how ideas opened her up to new ways of thinking, and how teachers nurtured her curiosity. I related instantly.

Some of the most pivotal moments of my own life were handed to me not in grand gestures, but in quiet gifts: the right book, at the right time; the teacher who saw something in me before I could see it myself. Those small nudges shaped the path I walk today.

That’s the thing about learning—it doesn’t just open doors. 

It teaches you how to walk through them.

The Learning Unlock: Why Education Is Still the Catalyst for Adult Change

Many of us think of education as something we leave behind when we graduate, but in truth, learning is one of the most powerful change agents available to us at any age.

When my coaching clients come to me seeking transformation—whether in career, identity, relationships, or purpose—I often find the first shift happens not in action, but in mindset. The right learning experience can spark clarity, build momentum, and radically expand what you believe is possible.

But adult learning doesn’t look like childhood learning. You can’t just binge YouTube videos and hope for transformation. Research into adult learning theory shows that the conditions for effective adult change are very specific.

Here’s what matters most:

The 3 Essentials of Adult Learning for Change

1. Adult learning must be social.

• We are wired for connection. Learning alongside others—through shared stories, peer insights, and group reflection—fuels motivation and meaning.

• Sense-making thrives in community. We understand more when we can contextualize new ideas in conversation.
  

2. Adults need time and space to convert knowledge into ability.

• Unlike children, adults bring a rich foundation of lived experience to learning. This makes integration more important than speed.

• Sustainable change requires practice, reflection, and pacing—not cramming.
  

3. Adult learning must be relevant and purpose-driven.

• We engage deeply when learning feels connected to our goals, values, and real-life context.

• Abstract theory? Not helpful. Applied insight? Game-changing in generating real buy-in and desire to change.

From Personal Growth to Building Community

Liz’s story is a beautiful illustration of how personal growth and civic engagement are inextricably linked. When we invest in our own development, we often find ourselves newly equipped to give back, speak up, and lead forward.

And when we serve—on a school board, in our neighborhood, or simply by showing up fully for those around us—we expand the learning-unlock outward, becoming teachers ourselves.

That’s the power of education, at any stage of life. And it’s what I aim to nurture through my work as a change coach.

Ready to Learn, Grow, and Thrive?

If you’re on the brink of a personal or professional change, and you know something needs to shift—but you’re not sure how—education might be the unlock you’ve been waiting for.

My THRIVE Group Coaching Experience is built on the adult learning principles that research shows actually work. It’s social, structured over time, and centered on your real-world goals—so you can build the change you want with clarity, confidence, and community.

Scholarships for the July cohort are now open. Click to learn more?