If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going…

Guest blog post provided by
Jalen Law of TheJalenLawCollection.com

Guiding Students Toward Self-Discovery Through Storytelling

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”
— Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Recently, my students embarked on a creative journey centered on self-awareness. Through writing and art, they were asked to tell the story of their past, present, and future selves. Unsurprisingly, many were able to reflect on their past or describe who they are today. But when it came time to imagine the future? Silence. Hesitation.

That’s when I introduced a conversation from Alice in Wonderland—an exchange between Alice and the Cheshire Cat that offers an enduring truth about direction and intention:

Alice: “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
Cheshire Cat: “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”
Alice: “I don’t much care where.”
Cheshire Cat: “Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go.”
Alice: “…so long as I get somewhere.”
Cheshire Cat: “Oh, you’re sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.”
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This exchange sparked a rich discussion about purpose, decision-making, and the importance of envisioning a destination—however flexible that vision might be.

Why Direction Matters

Direction isn’t about having your whole life planned at age 14. It’s about learning to identify what matters, and how our present choices shape who we might become. Without a sense of direction—without imagining what “there” might look like—we’re simply moving for movement’s sake.
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For students, having even a tentative destination creates internal motivation. It gives meaning to effort. It becomes a compass for choices both big and small.

The Self-Dictionary:
​Naming Your Identity to Shape Your Future

When one student asked, “How do I define my destination?”, we paused and created a tool I call the Self-Dictionary—a personal inventory of values and traits that influence future direction.

How to Create a Self-Dictionary

On paper or in a journal, create three columns:

1. Words I Use to Describe Myself
2. Words Others Use to Describe Me
3. Words I Want to Add to My Story

This exercise helped students reflect deeply. It gave them a framework to name who they are, how they’re perceived, and who they want to become—essential pieces to mapping a meaningful future.

From Identity to Action

Once students had a clearer sense of self, we brainstormed possible future paths that aligned with their values and aspirations. Some paths were academic. Others were creative, spiritual, or community-centered. What mattered most wasn’t the “career label”—it was the process of matching direction with identity.

Here’s what we encouraged students to do next:

• Ask curious questions
• Research ideas that resonate
• Find people living lives they admire
• Take one small, courageous step forward
  
  

“Even if the steps are small,” I reminded them, “you’re still moving—learning, revising, growing.”

Bringing This Into Your Classroom or Homeschool

This approach works beautifully across disciplines—art, ELA, advisory, or SEL blocks. Here are a few ways to integrate it:

• Use literary prompts (like Alice’s journey) to launch reflection
  
• Pair journaling with visual storytelling or collage
  
• Hold small group “vision shares” to normalize dreaming aloud
  
  

Revisit the Self-Dictionary monthly to reflect on growth

Related Resources

If you'd like to explore tools that help students define direction, here are a few helpful links:
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• CASEL’s SEL Competencies
• Yale’s RULER Approach to Emotional Intelligence

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Final Reflection

Knowing where you're going doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means listening to your inner compass and daring to imagine a future that reflects your values.

When we help students define even a rough direction--by reflecting on who they are and who they hope to become—we equip them with something powerful: a reason to choose one road over another.

Because when you know where you're headed, every step becomes more than movement.
It becomes momentum.

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 Jalen Law is an interdisciplinary artist and educator whose work explores the intersection of storytelling, emotional intelligence, and youth empowerment. Through The Jalen Law Collection, he creates spaces for students to explore their identities and build futures grounded in vision, voice, and value.

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How do your students typically respond to future-focused journaling?

Have you tried storytelling as a self-discovery tool in your classroom?

What prompts have sparked the most meaningful reflection for your learners?

How might you adapt the Self-Dictionary for younger or older students?
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What small step can your students take this week toward their imagined future?
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​Please leave your comments below.  
Your feedback is always appreciated.

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