A friend of mine, and yes, I do have a couple, and I recently discussed the pros and cons of working with today’s youth. It is her belief that there is very little that can be successfully accomplished. Being teenagers, coming from, and returning to negative influences and environments, and the fact that the reasoning portion of their brain does not mature until the mid twenties is tantamount to failure.My twist is that maybe what is said to them is not relevant at this point of time in their lives, but, that maybe in the future, they will remember something that was said to them, and it will make a difference in their choices. Yes, there are times that trying to make a difference in their lives seems fruitless, but there are also times that one can see the small changes they are making that are the first footsteps in their ability to learn and grow. I tell them that, as all humans, we all will continue to make mistakes during our entire lifetime. These mistakes, if we learn from them are the lessons of life, and unless we accept these facts , we will never grow. Taking responsibility and learning from these mistakes is the supreme objective. It is a process, not an end goal. By taking accountability, we strengthen our character, our morality, and our self respect. No matter what is said or done, ultimately, it will be their choice to continue along the path that has obstructed their potential, or make the changes necessary to succeed. Any takers?
