In a world where traditional college is often seen as the default next step after high school, an increasing number of students find themselves overwhelmed, directionless, and uncertain about their future. They face immense pressure to choose a major, commit to a career path, and justify the high cost of a degree—all before they’ve had the opportunity to explore who they are or what they want to do.

But what if there was another way?

At Unbound, we believe there is. Our Ascend program was built specifically to serve students in this critical season of life. It’s designed to help them unlock their potential by shifting the focus from having all the right answers to asking the right questions. Ascend isn’t just an alternative to college—it’s a launching pad into adulthood that equips students with life purpose, clarity about what’s next, and real-world, job-ready skills.

The Real Problem: Directionless Students

We work with hundreds of students every year, and the most common issue we see isn’t a lack of intelligence or motivation—it’s a lack of direction. Many students enter college not because they have a defined goal, but because it’s the next socially expected step. They’re told they can be anything, do anything, go anywhere—but with so many options, they freeze. The result is analysis paralysis, overwhelm, and often apathy.

They don’t know what they want to do. And with tens of thousands of dollars and years of time at stake, that uncertainty becomes crippling.

The Cultural Myth: You Need an Answer Now

Our culture perpetuates the myth that the way to succeed in life is to figure out what you want to be—and do it. From childhood, students are asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” By the time they graduate high school, that question becomes a demand. Choose a major. Pick a career. Plan the rest of your life.

But this approach is flawed.

The reality is that very few people follow a straight-line career path. Most adults don’t end up doing what they thought they’d do at 18. Instead, they discover their calling through a series of experiences, questions, and decisions. Careers evolve. Interests change. Opportunities come from unexpected directions.

That’s why Ascend is built on a questions-based paradigm rather than an answers-based one.

The Power of Asking “What’s Next?“

Instead of pressuring students to find “the answer,” we train them to ask better questions. The most powerful of these is: “What’s next?”

What are my current opportunities? What problems am I equipped to solve? What skills do I want to build? What kind of person do I want to become?

These questions help students break down the massive, overwhelming “What should I do with my life?” into manageable, actionable steps. When they learn to ask these questions consistently, they develop the clarity and confidence they need to move forward—even when they don’t have everything figured out.

What Makes Ascend Different?

Ascend is a 1-3 year, hybrid learning experience that combines intentional Christian community, practical, hands-on projects, and team-based mentorship. Here’s how it works:

• In-person events: Students attend four live events throughout the year—APEX, Basecamp, Ridgeline, and Capstone. These immersive gatherings are where community is formed, ideas are tested, and growth is accelerated.
• Online content: Between events, students work through a carefully crafted series of courses. These include Navigate, our foundational decision-making framework, which trains students to define problems clearly and ask the right questions to find wise solutions.
• Team collaboration: Students are placed in teams at the beginning of the year and collaborate on real-world projects throughout the program. This structure encourages accountability, communication, and creative problem-solving—all essential life skills.
• Optional academic credit: For those who want to continue on to college, Ascend also offers a track where students can earn up to 90 transferable college credits while still benefiting from the full Ascend experience.

Ascend isn’t anti-college. In fact, some of our students use it as a springboard into programs like engineering or nursing, where a traditional degree is necessary. What Ascend does is give students the clarity to know whether college is the right next step, rather than just the assumed one.

What Students Say

Over and over again, students come out of Ascend saying the same thing: “I came in feeling overwhelmed by all the pressure to figure out my life. Now I know I don’t have to figure everything out at once. I just need to take the next step.”

That shift alone is life-changing.

When students stop looking for a final answer and start building a process of wise decision-making, they gain the confidence to act. They stop drifting. They stop waiting. They move.

And in the process, they start to discover who they are and what they were created to do.

Why This Matters Now

The need for programs like Ascend has never been greater. Since we launched in 2020, demand from employers for Ascend students and alumni has increased by over 1900%. Why? Because students who know how to think critically, solve problems, and adapt are exactly what the modern workforce needs.

The traditional college pipeline no longer guarantees job readiness. But young adults who have learned how to ask good questions, collaborate in teams, and take initiative? They’re standing out.

That’s why we’re offering a special enrollment opportunity this year. Due to the overwhelming demand for Ascend-trained students, we’re expanding our capacity—and that means now is a great time to enroll in the program.

Take the First Step

If you’re a student who feels stuck or unsure of what to do next, or a parent who wants more for your young adult than debt and uncertainty, we invite you to explore Ascend.

Start by listening to the latest episode of the Unbound Podcast: Unlocking Students’ Potential through Ascend. It dives deeper into the ideas explored here and gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the heart of the program.

Then head over to beunbound.us/ascend to learn more and apply.

Your future doesn’t have to be defined by a single answer.

Instead, it can be unlocked one good question at a time.