Carrie and Danielle - Latest Comments in Can teenagers find their life purpose in school?

Re: Can teenagers find their life purpose in school?

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Re: Can teenagers find their life purpose in school?

pearl_mattenson — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:15:30 -0000

So now what we want is someone to get curious about that (rather than judge it) and help him get curious enough to wonder what the fascination is for him. My guess is it is only the beginning of a journey that he will never get to take if it is ignored or rejected!

Re: Can teenagers find their life purpose in school?

rachel dicker — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:55:22 -0000

Hi Pearl,

"Igniting the spark", as you put it, only works when the school deeply understands each student well beyond their GPA and when the child is either receptive to this kind of "outreach" or when they actively seek it out.

And lets face it, some interests are really obscure or are the interst of the month.

For example, my 13 year old, is bored in school and isn't motivated to work hard, likes to build rubber band balls and stack playing cards.

So now what?

Rachel

Re: Can teenagers find their life purpose in school?

lifecoachsandy — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:35:33 -0000

Hi Pearl,
I love the flavor of this post. Tal Ben Shahar is a favorite of mine. He is right on about the rat racer attitude of so many of us. Thanks for inspiring me to listen more than lecture, and to check in with the aliveness rather than the end product.
Sandy

Re: Can teenagers find their life purpose in school?

pearl_mattenson — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:26:14 -0000

I guess my recent reading was my 10 year reminder! Don't lose that curiousity and excitement. It is so precious to both of you.

Re: Can teenagers find their life purpose in school?

pearl_mattenson — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:24:52 -0000

Hi Jess- so glad you posted! I guess the question for yourself (while you are still in school) is to notice, what is the stuff that you get so interested in that you are spending lot of time learning more about without anyone asking you to? It may or may not be something that comes from school. Good luck!

Re: Can teenagers find their life purpose in school?

Jess — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:46:56 -0000

Thank you. This was an interesting article, some nice food for thought. As a teenager myself, and in high school, I'd like to say that no, you can't find 'life purpose' in school, you're not even in charge of your own life yet, you don't have much choice over anything.. That comes later, with moving out, to work and uni :) That's what it feels like to me...

Re: Can teenagers find their life purpose in school?

Suzyn — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:32:51 -0000

Thank you, Pearl. My sons are now 1 and 3 -- can you call me in ten years to remind me of this??

All kidding aside, I can already see and hear the resonance with my older son. I can't wait to see what the little guy is into.

Re: Can teenagers find their life purpose in school?

Laura Neff — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:08:48 -0000

Thank you so much for this article! Although I don't have kids myself, many of my close friends do, and I've already sent this on to them. You can bet I'll be listening for the resonance when I hang out with my family-of-choice nieces & nephews, and encouraging those sparks with attention, enthusiasm and love!

Your words also speak to the value of coach-like listening and inquiry when we're with kids...not being attached to what comes up, but truly wanting their truth to come out and be nurtured. Is there anything more important?! (At the very least, it's in the top 3-5 things kids truly need to grow up and be fulfilled, engaged, thinking people in the world!)