One core piece of the challenge in
education is so transparent, so straightforward, and it's been right in front
of us for so long that we haven't seen it. The answer is summed up in this question: "How can most
students possibly choose a career when they don't even know their
options?"
Our adult society must be responsible
to our youth by showing them the relevancy of school. We must make that connection between what they are doing
now, or not doing, to how such actions will affect their future. We must let them know that, ultimately,
only they are responsible for how their life unfolds. Beyond the academics, it's each community's job to show them
why school matters, to let them in
on the rules of the game. We owe
it to them.
This prior model is no longer
enough. The new model, and one
that is self-sustaining, is for us to inspire our students and motivate them
from inside themselves. They must push
themselves forward. How do we stimulate the development
inside students to become their own self-sustaining engines to move themselves
forward?
The answer is found in one word: Reality. No tricks are required. We need only lay the realities on a platter of what life
holds after high school, in a way that students can hear it, and let them see that
the choices are theirs to make.
Ultimately, regardless of our personal backgrounds and the unique
challenges of each of our upbringings, we know that only we are responsible for
how our life unfolds. We know this
as adults. Why are we keeping this reality a secret from our youth?
Your personal effort to speak about
your real career path to students
will increase their knowledge of options and can make a real difference in
their lives.