The Power of Purpose: Lessons from Justin Pickens on Navigating Burnout, Building Resilience, and Empowering Educators

Motivational speaker and educator Justin Pickens joins the Generation Youth Podcast to share personal stories and practical strategies for teachers and youth leaders seeking to thrive—not just survive—in today’s challenging educational landscape.

Breaking Cycles and Building Futures

One of the greatest joys of hosting the Generation Youth Podcast is getting to sit down with leaders who have walked through adversity and come out stronger, using their story to inspire and equip others. In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Justin Pickens—a man who calls himself a “preventative medicine specialist.” By day, he’s an elementary P.E. teacher, and by night, a motivational speaker who pours into both students and educators.

Justin’s story is remarkable. Both of his parents dropped out of school. They faced incarceration. He spent time in foster care. With an ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) score of 9 out of 10, the odds were stacked against him. Statistically, he wasn’t supposed to graduate college, much less earn two master’s degrees.

But Justin refused to be a statistic. He credits the teachers and coaches in his life for pointing him toward a different future. As he shared on the podcast:

“For me, I was going to break cycles and I was going to build futures.”

That’s the power of influence. Educators may never know in the moment the impact they’re having, but years down the road, those seeds of encouragement often bloom into new possibilities.

Understanding the ACE Score and Its Impact

During our conversation, Justin broke down the meaning of the ACE score. While many parents and teachers are familiar with the ACT or SAT, the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) score measures trauma such as neglect, abuse, or family dysfunction and correlates it with long-term outcomes like health, behavior, and learning.

The higher the score, the greater the risks—shorter life expectancy, increased health challenges, or struggles with addiction.

But here’s the hopeful part: statistics aren’t destiny.

Justin said it best:

“I am so blessed that I was blissfully ignorant growing up to not know what a cycle of poverty was… my teachers and coaches consistently pointed me in the direction of college.”

His story is a living reminder for educators: never underestimate the seeds you’re planting in a child’s life.

Addressing Burnout: Human First, Teacher Second

One of the biggest takeaways from Justin’s message was his perspective on burnout. We often hear about “teacher burnout,” but Justin challenged us to step back and ask:

“Before you can handle the teacher burnout, what is your human burnout?”

That question hit hard. Too often, teachers—and youth leaders—give everything they have until they’re running on empty. But the truth is, you can’t pour into others if you don’t first protect your own well-being.

Justin shared practical ways he manages this: leaving his phone in his truck so he’s not constantly connected, setting boundaries with technology, and giving himself permission to be “above average” instead of striving for perfection in every area.

The reminder is simple but powerful: you are human before you are teacher, coach, or parent. Take care of your humanity first.

Small Shifts that Make a Big Difference

Justin also shared practical tips that any of us can apply:

• Spend 70% of your time on what energizes you, and only allow the draining tasks to take up 30%.

• When facing tough moments in the classroom, become “a motivational speaker for 10 minutes” to lift the energy—even if the lesson feels dry.

• Reframe your self-talk and interactions. A smile, a high five, a positive word, or a short note of encouragement can shift the entire atmosphere.

Burnout may feel inevitable at times, but small intentional shifts can restore energy, joy, and purpose.

The Ripple Effect: Your Impact Will Outlast You

Perhaps the most inspiring part of Justin’s story came when he shared about stepping away from education for a season. Even while working in other fields, former students continued to call him “Coach.”

That title, and the influence behind it, followed him. It was proof that the ripple effect of a caring educator doesn’t stop—it only multiplies.

“When I was gone from teaching, former students would still call me coach… I will never have the ripple effect like I saw tonight… in any other profession.”

What a reminder for all of us who work with young people: the impact we make today will outlast us.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or youth leader, Justin’s message is clear: take care of yourself, embrace the seasons of life, and never underestimate the power of your encouragement.

As Justin reminded us:

“You have an awesome job. It is hard, but it’s hard for a reason... Your why won’t always be enough, but you’ll never have a bigger ripple effect than the kids in your classroom.”

At the end of the day, you are a superhero.

Watch the full episode with Justin Pickens here 👉 https://youtu.be/fQ4HVsq1P8g