Only a few young adults really know what they want to do with their lives. Some will claim they have such clear direction, only to discover their true passion later in life. Others may never discover what drives them.

In a five week program put on by the Career Center, students can gain some direction in life.

“You almost get a team of people who can help you think, ‘maybe you could do this, or I know somebody who does that,’” said Wendy Rose, the Career Center liaison to the College of Liberal Arts and a facilitator of one group.

The program, “Discover What Drives You,” is focused on providing an open-minded environment where participants can be open and honest with each other. That way they can talk about issues in their lives, anxieties about the future and their dreams in a supportive, confidential environment. Facilitators are the supervisors of the group, but they are on the same level as the participants.

Through the group’s conversations and activities, participants learn more about themselves.

Talal Howaishel, an undeclared sophomore interested in the mechanical engineering major, said that he plans to attend the group for all five weeks to learn how to accomplish goals.

“I will try hard to overcome the fear of making a decision,” Howaishel said. “To make a goal and try hard to accomplish it.”

Elissa Buxbaum, the graduate assistant of Career Counseling Services and a facilitator of the group said that the group helps students “find the ways that passion can fit into a career that gives them satisfaction.”

A diverse group of students use the program each semester. Groups typically consist of freshman all the way to graduate students, of many different backgrounds, interests and majors.

“We won’t just target undecided, undeclared students because the group is so much bigger than figuring out your major or what you want to do as a career,” said Andrea Karapas the associate director of the Alumni Career Counseling Center. “It’s about really helping you discover more about your own interests and your passions and your strengths and your values.”

The groups have become close-knit in the past and have great potential to be this year, according to Karapas. The friendly environment creates a dynamic to foster friendships and usually does.

“They’re making connections, they’re finding things in common with one another, and they’re building relationships,” Karapas said.

“Discover what drives you” has two meeting times. Participants can come either on Monday from 1 to 3 p.m. or Tuesday from  2 to 4 p.m. They meet in Room 26 on the lower level of the Lory Student Center.

The group is free to join, but a confidentiality agreement is required.

“Sometimes the ‘a-has’ don’t happen in the group; they happen after you leave when you’re processing that information… we’re planting seeds,” Karapas said.

Collegian writer Matt Gabriel can reached at news@collegian.com.