Meet the Village Team: Andrea Pien
Andrea’s Experience With Supporting Teenagers
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what led you to become a coach?
In college, I was a student worker in my admissions office. A pattern I noticed was there was a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about the college process, especially in marginalized communities. I wanted to combat this misinformation. My first job out of college was as an admissions officer, so that I could communicate with different students and families about how to navigate the college admissions landscape.
After a few years in the admissions field, I realized that I preferred seeing all parts of a high school student, instead of the highly curated part that I was seeing as an admissions officer. This led me to a career as a college counselor in independent schools.
I loved being a college counselor, but I realized that in addition to helping students apply to college, I also liked helping them grow into better versions of themselves. This led me to becoming a coach.
Q: What drew you to working with teenagers? What's your favorite part about working with them and their parents?
Teenagers make me laugh! They are so honest and straightforward. I like that they can be wise and insightful one minute, and then accidentally bruise themselves walking into a wall because they were on their phone the next minute. But honestly, the most rewarding part is watching teenagers becoming more confident in themselves, and considerate of the people around them. In a sometimes very bleak-looking world, teenagers give me hope.
I have the utmost admiration for anyone who decided to become a parent. It is truly difficult and often thankless. I like partnering with parents and hearing their observations of their teens, and coaching them on how to support the teens in their lives.
Q: When you look back on your teenage years, what memories or moments stand out the most to you?
I went to a high school where I felt like I was running in a hamster wheel, always hustling for the next grade or trying for leadership in the next activity. I thought I was doing all of this “to get into a good college,” but it never occurred to me to ask why that mattered to begin with. I never took the time to imagine a life after college. I wish I had had a coach to help me connect my day to day activities with my bigger picture goals.
Andrea’s Inquiry-Based Coaching Style
Q: How would you describe your coaching style?
Usually, when a student signs with Village, they are trying to change something in their life. As a coach, my job is to help them see how their life could be different if they made the changes they wanted to make. For example, would the student get more sleep and feel more energized if they finished their homework earlier?
To get a student to imagine a different world for themselves, I ask a lot of questions. I help students learn about themselves, and experiment with strategies that work for them. In the homework example, if a student’s goal is to start homework earlier, I’ll ask questions such as:
“What’s distracting you?”
“On a scale of 1-10, what are the odds that you’ll start your homework during the track meet? What’s something you could do to increase those odds?”
By asking these questions, I’m inviting the student to reflect, and also to participate in their own coaching practice, instead of giving top-down instructions.
Q: Are there any specific techniques you use in your work?
I ask a lot of questions. I also try to teach a little of the science of adolescent development and the science behind neurodivergence so that students can understand the big picture.
I try to get to know the student as a whole, instead of just in the classroom. I like to know what books they like to read, which video games they play, which sports teams they support.
Q: What challenges do you think are unique to teenagers? How do you help them navigate these?
The opinions of their peers are such a big deal. I have clients who tell me that one of their main goals is to stop being such a people pleaser. This is natural - as humans, we are social creatures, but caring too much about the opinions of others can mean that students don’t get to be their own unique selves.
I help teens navigate peer pressure by understanding their own individual values - at Village, we have a values exercise that we often have our students do. I remind teenagers of their values when peer pressure is a source of conflict or tension.
Q: How do you stay up to date with issues impacting teenagers?
I consume a lot of media - Tik Tok, podcasts, and the latest in education research.
Q: How do you measure progress with your clients? What does success look like?
Often, I’ll name a change when I see it. For example, a student the other day told me that she met with her teacher to discuss the class. “That’s self-advocacy! That was one of your goals!” I’d say. Every few months or so, I’ll set aside time in my sessions to review the past few months. I’ll remind my clients of what their goals were, and ask them how they think they’re doing in relation to them.
Success looks different for every student. For some, it’s just being able to show up and feel as though they have an adult in their corner. For others, it’s seeing some tangible difference in the way they approach the challenges they face. I celebrate the process in addition to the outcomes (for example, “hooray for starting your homework early!” instead of “hooray for the A on your homework!).
Get To Know Andrea Outside Of Work
Q: Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing? How do you spend your time?
I love reading, especially fiction, and especially young adult fantasy. Novels are one of the best ways to learn how to empathize with others. This summer, I won my local library’s adult summer reading challenge.
I love board games, video games, and role-playing games. I think gaming can be very social - for me, it gives me a sense of agency and creativity. Each time I lose at a game, I think about what I can try to do differently.
I also love birding - it is an activity that I am new at, and frankly, I am not “good” at it. I’ve learned to ask people for help, and to be okay with being mediocre at my hobbies. I love that it gets me outdoors, and I love the sense of wonder and awe when I spot a new bird or when I see a bird doing something cool. It also gets me thinking about how we as humans steward our environment.
Q: What show is currently queued up on your Netflix watch list?
As an educator in the metro-Philadelphia area, I have to say Abott Elementary. I have never laughed so hard at the Philadelphia inside jokes.
Q: What is a favorite tool, book, or resource you’d recommend to teenagers or parents?
This might sound cheesy as heck but I love the Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You Podcast! Cathy and Meredith make me laugh all the time, and they provide so many actionable tips to help with the more challenging parts of teenagerdom.
Does coach Andrea Feel Like A Good Fit For You?
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