Discover how our team explored curiosity at the VSAC 2025 Conference and how it shapes our approach to student transition planning and post-high school support.
Our team attended the 2025 VSAC Transition & Career Planning Conference, where keynote speaker Erik Shonstrom sparked new ideas on using curiosity to support students as they plan life after high school. We left inspired, energized, and ready to put curiosity to work in every transition conversation.
Curiosity in Action: Our Team at the VSAC 2025 Conference
On May 2, our team traveled to Vermont to attend the VSAC 2025 Transition & Career Planning Conference. The highlight of the day? A keynote from Erik Shonstrom, a professor at Champlain College and a self-proclaimed “curiosity connoisseur”.
Shonstrom reminded us how powerful curiosity in education can be — not just for students, but for educators and transition professionals too.
We left the conference inspired by new ideas and excited to bring them back to our schools and programs.
What We Learned About Curiosity
Shonstrom described curiosity as something wild and untamed — a natural human drive we can nurture but never fully control. According to his research, curiosity helps us learn better, stay mentally sharp as we age, and connect more deeply with others.
He broke curiosity into four types:
- Perceptual Curiosity – Sparked by confusion or something unexpected
- Epistemic Curiosity – A desire to understand how things work
- Interpersonal Curiosity – An interest in other people’s feelings, stories, and experiences
- Sensory Curiosity – Seeking new sounds, tastes, and physical experiences
These different forms of curiosity can all be used in student transition planning to help students explore life after high school in ways that feel real and exciting.
Our Team’s Top Takeaways
After the keynote, we gathered as a team to reflect on how to apply what we learned. Here’s what stood out most:
- Let students ask more “What if?” questions. Curiosity starts with wonder.
- Turn planning into storytelling. Use interpersonal curiosity to help students share their dreams and fears.
- Create space for exploration. Encourage activities that let students experience new things — music, art, field visits, hands-on learning.
We realized that engaging student curiosity doesn’t require a huge shift. It starts with small, intentional changes that open the door to deeper learning.
Why Curiosity Matters in Transition Planning
Students preparing for life after high school often feel uncertain or overwhelmed. That’s where curiosity comes in.
It turns fear into fascination. It makes unfamiliar options feel worth exploring. And it encourages collaboration — because when students are curious about each other’s goals, they offer support and ideas.
At the VSAC 2025 conference, we saw how curiosity is more than just a teaching tool. It’s a mindset that transforms how we approach supporting students after high school — whether they’re heading to college, a career, the military, or something else entirely.
The Value of Attending Together
Attending the conference as a team made the experience even more valuable. Each of us — whether a counselor, educator, or transition coordinator — brought a unique perspective.
Together, we built a shared understanding of how curiosity can shape our programs and services. We’re now working on ways to bring this thinking into our workshops, advisory sessions, and family meetings.
When a team grows together, the students benefit the most.
What’s Next for Our Team
We’re already integrating ideas from the VSAC 2025 conference into our next round of student support plans. From revamping lesson plans to rethinking how we ask questions, we’re committed to engaging student curiosity every step of the way.
As Erik Shonstrom said: ‘Curiosity is our human superpower.’
We’re excited to help students tap into theirs — and to keep building spaces where curiosity leads the way.
Let’s Make Transition Planning More Curious
Want to learn more about how we’re supporting students after high school using curiosity? Contact our team to explore collaboration opportunities or to schedule a planning session.