Prepping the High Schooler: Why Creativity Helps High Schoolers Succeed (second in series of four)

In my last blog, I wrote about how the disciplines of Math, Communications, Leadership, and Mental Health play an important role preparing high school students for college. In this blog I will share my views on the importance of creativity in teenagers and why the more creative your teenager is, the more value they can offer in the marketplace, both pre and post-graduation.

Through my decades of experience delivering camps and workshops focused on youth empowerment, I have observed that the most creative students often took the most calculated risks and were not afraid to try new things. I have learned that the earlier our children can discover and unleash their genius, the more able they are to leverage their skill sets and creativity towards a better outcome. It can also be said that with a more engaged and involved parent, the more successful your child will become—especially when that parent is helping foster creativity.

I am listing below 3 tips to help youth (or adults) ignite creativity. These tips are useful for both parents and teenagers. By starting early and innovating at a young age with creativity, your child will develop a growth mindset that will set them up for their future success.

Tip 1, Think Beyond the Rigorous Academics: Don’t assume that to be creative you have to have a high IQ or be academically superior. Frank K. Barron, a psychologist who pioneered the study of creativity in the 1960s, says, “that to understand creativity you must look beyond the IQ test.” In prior blogs, talks and teaching moments I refer to society placing too much emphasis on measuring success solely on academics. For example, I’ve taught many students that were, at best C students, yet they were some of the most creative students I’ve ever met and taught. I am not saying that academics are not important, but rather is not the only measuring tool that we use to measure our student’s success.

Tip 2, Be Willing to Experience New Things: In BIZNOVATOR’S DISCOVER workshop I encourage students to discover their purpose. In order to get the ultimate outcome for your purpose, it’s important to focus on creativity in how to accomplish your goals and objectives. To grow as an individual, you must be willing to pursue interests that you have never tried before – -trying new things. In addition, you must be driven by curiosity and willing to take risk even if you “fail.” When Albert Einstein was asked, “what are the talents that make you so smart?” He responded by saying, “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”

Tip 3, Mindfulness and Meditation are Good for Creativity: I highly encourage young people and adults to better understand and implement the practice of meditation and envision what it is your trying to create. When we take time for ourselves, to reflect on what is most important to our lives, we become mindful and we ignite the creative flow that can lead to ground breaking thoughts and ideas. Carve out “quiet time” daily to increase your ability to focus on the things you want to achieve through creativity.

So, why creativity for High Schoolers? Author Ken Robinson recently stated, “creativity is now as important in education as literacy and we should treat it with the same status.” Today’s high school graduate is entering a workforce that has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. We know that companies who are staffing the next generation workforce are looking for creativity as it plays a major role in how well an individual can lead in todays complex business environment. We know for sure that creativity is highly coveted in all industries including, technology, retail, manufacturing and of course social entrepreneurship and innovation. Having creativity as a skill in your talent stack will pay huge dividends as you progress in your career.

2 of 4 in a Series – Previous Series 1 – Series 3 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.