Hi to all,

My friend Jeff Leiken who is the trainer that leads the EMPOWERED Life for Teens workshops has said recently that the vast majority of teens are perfectly content with their lives as is, even when the path they are on is one of mediocrity...Things are predictable for them: parties on weekends and studies on weeknights, with a little social drama, TV and Instant-Messaging and Facebooking thrown in for good measure... They get their grades and trust the system will guide them to have everything else fall in place, as they’ve been told and convinced it will.

What Jeff and I have learnt in marketing the Teen Workshop over the last 2 years in the UK is that for teens that are comfortable with their life there has been little point reaching out to them. This may sound elitist but that's only if you think what is good for the masses is good for all!
(Jeff was reminded of a teacher of his years ago once said “You can’t tell people the truth before they are ready to hear it” ). His experience consistently is that it is just not worth the effort since their only reason for having the discussion with you is to prove you wrong and convince you – and themselves – that there is nothing of value in this for them...

Remember we live in reactive cultures that typically only do things for betterment when things are not well, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” is a common saying around these parts...
In contrast, I begin with “If it is good but could be magnificent, why settle?”...


Yet for those people who share this value and are the ones who demonstrate one or more things like:

• Ambition to be better than average
• Discontent with the social life they have, particularly as they are growing into a stage beyond who they were when they befriended these people
• Have dreams of things they want to do with their lives that are considered “unrealistic”
• Seek confidence to do what they’ve always wanted
• Curious to really understand themselves and others better
• Need to make significant decisions about direction to be going with their lives
• Ready to grow up their relationship with their parents and stop feeling like little kids so often!

A learning experience for teens where they learn to get this with precision is not taught in schools. YET this is what is vital to leading a successful life in whatever endeavour and becoming who you most want to be.

To get an outsiders view there has been some nice press for the EMPOWERED LIFE For Teens program in the UK!(Too bad the reporter didn’t stay to the end because as she was leaving she made a comment to me about how this applies just as much to most adults...!)

To view the article, Check out:
http://www.lemagazine.co.uk/display.var.1794210.0..php

So what do you think?

Is the education system preparing sufficiently the youth of today for thier future? After they pass their exams with flying colours how much remains relevant? Where do they get input for their readiness take their own lead in their life and based on what?

Cheers
Des Barry
Heropath

HI Des

Having just spent a few days with a 13 year old who was in trouble with her parents and playing with some pre teens locally I am amazed by them.

I may get some strange responses to this but talking to the 13 year old I let her uncover her ambition and when she did we went to the library and explored the types of exams she would need to do the university entrance requirements and sorts of interview questions and interests that add weight to an application.

We talked of communication and responsibility and, I think more importantly for her, making decisions and following through.

One area we covered raised questions from her and that was goal setting (entrance requirements are a minimum of AAB at A level). The higher you aim the more successful you will be.

It is all too easy, imho, to treat someone of this age as a child.




All I can say is keep up the good work.


Be well and wonderful

Shirley

Oops !

Forgot to mention that the young person said that the people who talk to the kids about the future had no idea about things like this. They only talked to people about a very limited range of things according to her older friends.

We also uncovered a possible opportunity for a work placement connected to what she wants to do.

Shirley

Des

As an ex sixth form college tutor I have been convinced for many years now that the public education system, in the UK at least, is deliberately (if not consciously) designed to produce mediocrity.

And is it surprising?

Would a nation of well-educated people put up with the rubbish politics we have?

Would they put up with the rubbish Press we have?

Would they put up with the rubbish media we have?

Would an educated nation have put up with our entry into the Iraq war, the ongoing immigration fiasco, the rubbish criminal justice system?

Would an educated nation put up with what currently passes for an education system?

(Sorry for all the nominalizations )

The fact is there are a LOT of people who have a lot to lose by creating genuine improvements in the education system (i.e. one that puts a value on what is taught and how it's taught, NOT just on meaningless exam results).

So let's get out there and start knocking a few heads together, 'cause "they" aren't going to do it by themselves!



Be well

Andy B.

I entirely agree,what seems to be being taught is that obedience and conformity are right,and individualism and innovation are wrong.

When you let her uncover her ambition, did she tell you why she wouldn't show her ambition to her parents?

Hi Paul

Apologies for the delay in replying.

The young person had spoken to her parents and she said they thought it was "just a phase she was going through" and would change her mind next week she also said that her parents were treating her like a child.

Hope that answers the question.

Be well and wonderful

Shirley

Here is a link to Sir Ken Robinson talking at the TED conference on the subject 'Do Schools kill Creativity?'

The Heropath Empowered Life for Teens Workshop is very much related to how the whole body mind informs the young person or student to the way when they are creative and willing to follow what fascinates them. The converse is unwittingly follow the lead from others .. expectations .. or do something out of a confusion, the young person not knowing what they want. More and more the education system is NOT preparing young people for a safe path or career! Today more than ever there is benefit to be prepared to take opportunities when they present themselves WITHOUT hesitation and continually update. This is in relation to other as well as self!

This way, when ever you look back, regardless of the times that were tough and brilliant, their will be a sense of fulfiilment, nothing missing.

Enjoy the video.

Also you can access the March 2008 FOOTSTEPS newsellter by following the link ..... http://www.heropath.co.uk/pdf/March2008-Footsteps.pdf

Cheers
Des Barry
Heropath

Here is the link!!
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66

ENJOY.

Des