2009 and Creating Your Own Path To Success!

http://www.youthspeak.blogspot.com

2009! Its almost here and with it comes a flurry of New Year's resolutions, declarations, observations, and promises, with most of them never actually happening for one reason or another. However, I say to you, it does not have to be that way! 2009 can truly be a year of happiness, excitement, and a rejuvenation for your life. Instead of making the old fabled resolution, why not simply just ACT! A resolution is clearly not a verb--which could be why no one actually ever keeps that first, second, or third resolution to the end. How many people do you know have actually succeeded in doing anything in life by sitting there and just hoping it comes true by virtue of just writing it down? Sure, writing it down is an important step--write three goals down for 2009-post them in a visible spot that you will see everyday and create a game plan on how you make those goals a reality.

Secondly, make sure you have lots of support! Support from friends, family, or even strangers--anyone who can check you on those goals and make sure you are keeping that sacred bond between yourself and yea yourself! Instead of just saying I am going to lose 10 pounds--know why you are going to lose 10 pounds and how! i.e. I am going to lose 10 pounds so I can fit into that nice, tight dress I've always wanted to wear or so I can a reduce my chance of heart disease. And know how you are going to achieve those goals, i.e. I will lose 10 pounds by running 30 minutes everyday and eating healthier. Whatever your reason is, you need to know why you are aiming for your goal and how you are going to achieve it.

And the most important thing to remember is you must be willing to ACT to make those 2009 goals a reality and be happy-love what you are doing. You can't just simply hope they will magically come true, because chances are they will not. If you have a dream of starting your own clothing line--but you actually never work towards that goal, then what's the point? Successful people throughout history have been prone to their success by a will to act and the will to succeed. They were and still are individuals who are determined, idealistic, and unrelenting in their quest for success--i.e. Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah, and of course my favorite--Jesus just to name a few! Wake up everyday fighting for those goals, visioning yourself succeeding, and in the words of Gen. Colin Powell, "Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence."

Good luck and I wish you all an amazing and inspiring 2009!

http://www.youthspeak.blogspot.com

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Jesus Christ

"The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure."
Sven Goran Eriksson

"A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position."
John Maxwell

"You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else."
Albert Einstein

"I believe that if you show people the problems and you show them the solutions they will be moved to act."
Bill Gates

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
Jesus Christ

Living in a Facebook World.

The magical confluence of information, communication, and personalization. That is my description of Facebook and social networking in general. Creations such as Facebook have opened up a new paradigm for our generation and has completely altered the idea of what is expected from us as individuals. Firstly, the mass amount of information that social networking has brought upon us is quite amazing. Users are able to not only place their whole life for others to see, but also are allowed to view others lives--friends and enemies alike. There was a time when talking to strangers was not the best idea, however in today's world as long as it stays within the realm of social networking it's seen as an advantage--you meet new people, make new connections, and find out more information than you really ever needed to know. Our society today is driven by information--what people know, what they want to know, and how it benefits them. We live in a 24 hour news cycle society, touch screen communication devices, constant e-mail/texting, blogging, wireless/web communications, and a complete link to our international counterparts that was unforeseen even 10 years ago.

I will not even attempt to argue if this is good or bad--I think with anything, especially technology, it lies in the eye of the beholder. Secondly, social networking has brought about a new means of communication--to go along with our cell phones, crackberries, e-mail, IM'ing, and whatever else is out there. The fact that I can communicate with someone in Japan, just as fast as I can with a classmate across the room, is quite astonishing. Communication today is the direct result of a powerful need--mostly due to globalization--for consistent creative discussions back and forth between companies, entrepreneurs, government, and the like. We as a people, are lucky enough to see innovation at its best made for civilian use so we too can partake in this unique and 21st century journey. Many of us fret when we misplace our cell phone or lose Internet due to a storm--as if its the end of the world. We have been so spoiled by the new technologies of our generation, many of us clearly could not live without. However, we see our grandparents and even our parents living gracefully and peacefully without them.

And Finally, social networking has brought about personalization of our own identities, likes & dislikes, personal beliefs/philosophies, and has allowed us to share them with the rest of the world quite freely. If you have the right tools and knowledge you could quite possibly find out everything you ever wanted to know about an individual just by looking at their Facebook profile or their Myspace, or Friendster, or any of the other myriad of social networking sites. This personalization has quite amazingly cut done the fist question most of us ask when we meet someone for the first time either subconsciously or out loud: who are you? We can figure that out before the first hand shake and dive right into the fun stuff. It is especially quite useful for employers in the 21st Century--they can determine if you are a right fit for their company and its long-term vision just by looking at your online profile. And most importantly you can to--so in a way it cuts out the middle man and connects both user and employer simultaneously.

In conclusion, living in a Facebook world clearly has its benefits-the ability to link up with friends old and new, to communicate with a far away world, to show society who you are and what are your own hopes, dreams, and fears, and the ability to bring change from your desk. If used for good, this new found congruence of networking can usher in a new era of innovators, social entrepreneurs, thinkers, and inventors all from your own personal workspace. I would challenge you to take advantage of this unique time in our history and use it to make a positive difference in the lives of others--find out what makes you churn creatively, your own talents and gifts, and to meet others who share those same faiths, ideas, and indebted values to change the world, so a future generation can live in a cleaner, safer, and even more innovative society than we do today.

The BIG Picture of Education!

Every morning before I head to my school I pick up the free daily newspaper in DC called the "Express". Little did I know there would actually be an article in the back that immediately caught my attention and really inspired me. The article was titled "Big Picture schools let students direct their own curricula." Part of the mission of Big Picture Schools is " to lead vital changes in education, both in the United States and internationally, by generating and sustaining innovative, personalized schools that work in tandem with the real world of the greater community." Big Picture Schools are a truly innovative and amazing new educational institution created to motivate and teach at-risk young people. There are "no teachers, no homework, no tests, and no grades"--students are in control of their curricula and their future plans for life after high school and there is no cost to attend one of these schools, as they are funded by that school district in which the Big School resides.

Instead of being called a teacher, the class instructor is called an adviser, who works with the same class for all four years of high school and coordinates all of the lessons. During the school week, students spend two-days of that time working at real-life internships that fit their career goals and ideals. Each student must apply to at least one college after graduating and be accepted. Big Picture schools "emphasize work in the real world, portfolios, oral presentations and intense relationships between students and advisers". Students are seen first and foremost as creative individuals, who excel when challenged and given a chance to pursue their own dreams and goals. Big Picture schools are "now about 7,500 students in 16 states" and have "a 92 percent graduation rate--sending nearly 95 percent of their students for post-secondary learning".

This innovative and unique approach is a complete 360 away from traditional teaching, which is focused on standardized testing and placing every student into different categories--such as proficient, basic, or above proficiency. However, by this over done method of teaching, our school system's are not treating students as idealistic individuals and giving them a chance to dream big and truly reach for their goals and dreams. As a City Year corps member I see everyday the plight of students who feel as though they are being left out in the cold and not truly being given a chance to learn and be creative. Students deserve the best education possible and to be treated as individuals, not as delinquents. Young people deserve innovative learning mixing technology, in-class instruction, caring adults, real world experience, and independent learning as a means to improve their futures.

According to the Silent Epidemic Summit that was held in DC last year, "80 percent of students who dropped out of school said they would have likely graduated if their schools had provided them with real-world learning opportunities". Our country needs more innovative school models like Big Picture schools to infuse a new energy and spark in the minds of our young people. Every child deserves a chance to learn and succeed, no matter how poor or rich he or she may be. I truly hope and will work towards seeing to it that our education system is left better for our children, then the system we learned from today.


*information for this blog was gathered from Express a publication of the Washington Post-Thursday, December 18th, 2008.

"It has always seemed strange to me that in our endless discussions about education so little stress is laid on the pleasure of becoming an educated person, the enormous interest it adds to life. To be able to be caught up into the world of thought -- that is to be educated."

--Edith Hamilton

Please visit http://www.bigpicture.org/
For more info on Big Picture Schools and their amazing innovative method of teaching our young people.

Be the Change.

Institutional Change Vital for Social Change.

http://generationwesolve.com/

Recently I participated in a exercise meant to show the great divide amongst our social classes in America. Those classes were lower, middle, and upper--with each class tasked with purchasing buildings for their new community, such as houses, hospitals, and schools. However, the twist was that each group did not know immediately which class they belonged to. The wealthier the social class the more money they received, the poorer the less money obviously. I was a "permit employee", so I was tasked with selling building permits to each class or community. I was told to make it extremely hard for the lower class to purchase building permits, somewhat hard for the middle class, and extremely easy for the upper class. Although it was just a fun experiment that myself and fellow co-workers participated in, it really showed the divide in our social classes, which our nation has been based on since our existence and the powerful effect of institutions on providing or in this case halting social change and class mobility.

We always hear our leaders preach how government is suppose to work for the people, not against them, and even in our Constitution where "all men are created equal." But, sometimes I'm not too sure that is exactly what has happened or is happening today. Our nation has clearly lived by a different set of standards when it comes to reality. Those who live in poor, debilitated neighborhoods, have a much higher chance of engaging in illegal activity and being caught, then those who live in upper-class communities. The chance for economic opportunity and success are greater for those who live in communities that are safe, clean, educated, and modern. However, we should not see that as a means to become angry at those individuals, as most people do not ask or determine their social class. That is why we must do all in our power to create a society in which the lack of social justice and equal opportunity is not just a rallying cry for a couple of election days out of the year, but a long-term fight for the rebuilding of a nation and its people.

I have always believed that the failure of one of us, is a failure for all of us. An uneducated child in the streets of DC or a rural family in the hills of Tennessee deserve the same opportunities that we all have been so greatly blessed with. Creating this vital social change is not just about volunteering or donating to a homeless shelter or building a school here and there, its about changing the fundamental purpose and structure of our institutions here in America. Institutions ranging from our prison systems--which need to focus on rehabilitation, rather than in and out incarceration and our education system, that is too focused on standardized testing, rather than treating each and every child as a human and individual that has his or her own dreams and hopes for life and our health care system, which is sorely unable to provide basic education and health care for all Americans, regardless of race or income--the inequities in our health care system are staggering, considering we spend more than any other industrialized nation, but provide health care that ranks in the middle or close to the bottom compared to other wealthy, developed countries.

I believe that our institutions can be better--does that we mean we need a socialist, government controlled society--NO! However, government's task is to work for the people--to ensure fair and equal treatment in all realms of policy, to protect and defend us, and to seek solutions to national epidemics and problems. We can truly do better than the statistics and realities have shown us--I believe we are a better and stronger people. In order to bring about the social change our people so greatly desire and require for long-term survival, we must first look long and hard at our institutions and get rid of what is not working and strengthen those programs and policies that are working. Change can be very hard for many people, but change is vital for the survival of our nation and all of our futures. The moral compass of America and its leaders has been quite lost over the last decade as far as I'm concerned and I believe has contributed to many issues and problems plaguing us today. How we treat our fellow neighbors is essential to the lives we live today and the lives we hope our children will have down the road.

How do we bring about true institutional change, resulting in real social change?

We now understand that institutions are vital in social change, as they provide the mechanisms in which all people are able to move up in social class and mobility. The bigger question is how can we cut the red tape and simplify/reform the bureaucracy in which we live in today? First and foremost educate yourself. Learn about issues and institutions that are important to you. If you care about reforming our education system and philosophy of teaching, become not just a teacher, but a principal--learn policy in and out, create your ideal school. Later on, become a superintendent so you can then create a bigger model for change. Or if you want to reform health care, don't just become a doctor and treat the symptoms, become a health care policy adviser for a senator--so you can directly effect the laws and policies in which determine the future of health care. I believe that educating ourselves empowers our own thinking and helps to create a foundation of solutions and ideals that will last a lifetime and give us a true means to create true social change, we all know we dearly need. The battle won't be easy, nor will it always be fun--but just remember, your fight, your struggle today for social justice and institutional change will create a new beacon of hope and idealism for a new generation tomorrow.


“No real social change has ever been brought about without a revolution - Revolution is but thought carried into action”
-Emma Goldman

“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”
--Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Interdependence is and ought to be as much the ideal of man as self-sufficiency. Man is a social being.”
--Mahatma Gandhi

“Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment”
-Albert Einstein

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
--Mahatma Ghandi