What I Thought I Knew About Myself — Until I Took the Highlands Ability Battery™
- amytrinn
- Jan 7
- 3 min read
As a career counselor, I’m used to being the one holding the flashlight—helping students and adults see their strengths, connect the dots between interests and abilities, and make informed choices about their futures. But during my certification process for the Highlands Ability Battery (HAB), I had a moment where the light shined right back at me.
“You Must Be a Musician”
My evaluator looked over my results and smiled. “You must be a musician.”
I laughed. Hardly! I was the girl who blew air through a clarinet in middle school band and never made a sound worth listening to. But the HAB revealed I have high tonal memory, rhythm memory, and pitch discrimination—the abilities in the test’s “music cluster.”
Apparently, I can remember tones, rhythms, and pitches with ease—something that strongly correlates with musical aptitude.
When Strengths Surprise You
It caught me off guard. But it also rang true.
I remembered I had taken piano lessons with Mrs. Gotwald for years. I was never a prodigy, but something about the patterns and rhythms stuck with me. I’ve always loved listening to music—especially complex harmonies—but never thought of that love as an ability. It turns out, it is. And it’s hardwired.
People with high tonal memory often have a fine-tuned ear for language, emotion, tone of voice, and even how stress sounds in others. This ability can influence how you learn, communicate, and respond to the world—often in subtle but powerful ways.
The Way I Thought I Learned
For me, it helped explain why certain voices captivate me. Why I can recognize a song after just a few notes. Why classical music and soundscapes help me focus. But even more interesting? It helped explain how I learn best—and how I don’t.
Another insight from the HAB? While I’ve always gravitated toward reading, it’s not actually the most effective way for me to absorb or retain new information.
Why the HAB Is So Different
The HAB focuses on natural abilities, or what it calls “hardwired aptitudes”—the talents you're born with that remain remarkably stable after your mid-teens. Unlike skills or interests, these are innate strengths that shape how you solve problems, communicate, and grow—whether or not you’ve had the chance to use them.
In my case, my auditory channels are more powerful than my verbal-conceptual ones. When I hear something—especially with emotional tone—it sticks with me far more than when I simply read it. That one insight changed the way I approach learning, coaching conversations, and even how I run my business.
Why This Matters
We all make decisions—about school, careers, and even personal development—based on what we think we know about ourselves.
But sometimes, what we’ve always done isn’t actually what we’re best wired to do.
That’s what the Highlands Ability Battery offers: a fresh mirror. A chance to look past habits and assumptions, and understand what you’re truly built for—how you think, communicate, learn, and thrive.
It’s Not Just a Career Test
It’s not a personality test. It’s not just a list of career matches. It’s a data-driven, performance-based assessment that reveals the foundation of how you operate. And now, I use it with both high school students and professionals as a cornerstone of exploring what’s next.
What Would You Learn About Yourself?
Whether you’re a student choosing a major, an adult navigating career change, or simply someone curious about your potential—I’d love to help you find the answer.
Taking the HAB changed how I see myself. It gave me clarity, confidence, and a few good laughs. Most of all, it reminded me that there’s more to each of us than meets the eye.
And yes—I’m learning to play the dulcimer. Maybe I am a musician after all.
Ready to get started?
About the Author
Amy Trinnaman is the founder of Amy Trinnaman Educational Consulting, LLC, where she provides personalized guidance to students and families navigating the complexities of college and boarding school admissions. With over 20 years of experience in education, Amy is dedicated to demystifying the admissions process and alleviating stress for her clients. She focuses on crafting tailored strategies that help students discover their strengths, set achievable goals, and present authentic, compelling applications. Amy's commitment is to connect students with educational opportunities that align with their academic aspirations and personal growth.
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