Prepping the High Schooler: What Can Stifle High Schoolers from Succeeding with their Education (third in a series four)

Albert Einstein hated education in the traditional school setting. He found it too rigid and too dependent on memorization. “School failed me, and I failed the school,” he said in an interview with the author of:  Einstein and the Poet: In Search of the Cosmic Man. Eventually, Einstein dropped out of school at the age of 15. Fortunately for all of us, Einstein did not give up on learning. He eventually enrolled in the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, and the rest was history.

In this blog, a third in a series of four blogs focused on prepping the high schooler for their future; I would like to provide some insights for parents, students and school teachers and administrators. We keep hearing about innovation, creativity, social-emotional learning and mindsets, and how all these buzzwords and methodologies have weaved their way into education.  From my teaching experiences and observations of thousands of students, I have discovered the following:

5 Ways to Stifle Students Learning:

1. Education not being relevant enough to the learners’ interest.
2. Not uncovering or connecting with a student’s passion and purpose.
3. Being bored and not engaged in the learning process.
4. Missing classes and skipping school.
5. Thinking that the problem is your own, and not someone else’s.

Proactive Decisions You Can Make to Come up with Solutions:

1. Speak Up! Let others know what’s happening before your situation gets worse.
2. Don’t assume you’re alone. Many high school students share your struggle.
3. Set up meetings with teachers and parents.
4. Request more hands-on/experiential learning options.
5. Request an evaluation; Assess how you work best.
6. Observe and talk to peers that are having similar challenges.

Clearly, there isn’t only one way to learn, so it is important that each student and their parents are proactive to determine how each child learns best and can thrive in the school setting. At BIZNOVATOR we believe that learning should be a fun, meaningful and challenging experience. Unfortunately, many school systems have not yet identified the widening gaps that exist between the institution and the student and the high levels of disengagement many students are experiencing. We encourage school administrators, teachers and counselors to engage frequently with high school students and their parents to empower young people beyond the academics.

3 of 4 in a Series – Previous Series 2 – Series 4 Next Week!

ABOUT BIZNOVATOR:
BIZNOVATOR is a youth empowerment platform that offers a year-round experience for young people interested in entrepreneurship, social innovation and global leadership. Through our seminars, workshops, summer camps and in school Academies, BIZNOVATOR helps young people to DISCOVER their purpose, TRANSFORM their mindset and CONNECT to their future.  We have recently launched our Online Learning Platform, www.mybiznovator.com which enables young people from all over the world to experience our unique BIZNOVATOR programs. We invite you to join us!

Juan Pablo Casimiro is Founder and CEO of BIZNOVATOR. With more than 30 years of empowering youth and adults globally, Casimiro never misses a moment to teach, coach and challenge his clients to live their dreams. Casimiro was born in Dominican Republic and grew up in New York City.