One Surprising Reason Students Quit
Today, we hear from Andrew McPeak. Andrew is a writer, curriculum designer, and speaker who has served with a number of non-profit organizations (and has spoken to thousands of Millennials) over the last 5 years. He now serves as Program Excellence Manager on our team at Growing Leaders. I met two students recently who paint a perfect picture of the struggle we
What We’ve Learned as Generation Z Goes to College: Podcast #41
Today, I’m excited to share with you a conversation with Corey Seemiller. Dr. Seemiller has worked in higher education for more than 20 years in both faculty and administrative positions. Now she works at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She is also the author of “Generation Z Goes to College.” Here are some highlights from our conversation on her
Eight Steps to Take When Habits Become Hurdles
I have discovered two truths about myself in my career. First, like most humans, I am a creature of habit. Second, some of my habits are good and some, not so good. At times, my routines can become ruts. And the thing I need most is to get out of the “rut” and into the “groove” again. When I’ve practiced some
Top 3 Blogs: Five Destructive Parenting Habits We Must Replace
I appreciate all of you that are a part of the conversation around our blog articles. This week, I am posting the top 3 blog articles from this past year that have helped leaders like you. Today's article is "Five Destructive Parenting Habits We Must Replace." Now that my kids are grown adults, I feel more comfortable teaching both parents and
Top 3 Blogs: What’s Happening to College Students Today?
I appreciate everyone who joins in on the conversation through our blog articles. As mentioned in yesterday's blog article, I wanted to take this week to post the top 3 articles from this past year. Today’s article is “What’s Happening to College Students Today?” I have a sad story to tell you. On January 17, 2014, a beautiful, talented student athlete at the
Top 3 Blogs: The Day I Stopped Asking Students the Wrong Questions
I appreciate everyone who reads, comments, and sparks continued research through our blog articles. I wanted to take this week to post the top 3 articles that have helped leaders like you over the past year. Today’s article is “The Day I Stopped Asking Students the Wrong Questions." I want to make a confession. For years, I have spoken at high
Seven Ideas to Teach Students Work Ethic
I celebrate it whenever I meet hard working students. I see them on almost every university campus I’m on, and in almost every high school I visit. These adolescents just “get the system” and realize you can achieve almost anything if you work hard enough. On the other hand, I also see far too many students growing up in a
Change This One Perspective… Love Leading Kids Again
As I’ve kept my ear to the ground over the last few years, I have noticed a pattern in our adult population who work with students, including educators, coaches, parents and employers. The pattern became obvious when I heard statements like: “I’m getting weary of trying to manage my classroom.” “My kids take up so much of my time. I
How Adults Sabotage a Growth Mindset in Students
I just read some research that gave me pause. Did you know that parents who view failure as a “negative experience,” have kids who are more likely to believe that intelligence is fixed and can’t be increased? I don’t think that’s something we want to cultivate, is it? When my son was five, I fell into a trap many parents and educators
How to Remain a Healthy Teacher in an Unhealthy Educational System
When I began my career, teaching students, in 1979, my heart was in the right place. I didn’t know much, but I sure had altruistic motives. Not much experience but lots of passion. Over the next several years, I got better at teaching, at leadership, and at managing both students and staff. I had found my niche and my flow. But
Seven Steps to Ignite Change at Your School
Change is hard for people. In fact, people often don’t embrace change unless: They experience enough pain that they’re willing to endure it. They see the tangible gain for enduring the change. It’s their idea. Steve Jobs once said, “For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day
Five Gifts Students Need to Enter Adulthood
Last year, the results of a multi-year, nationwide study were released. It was a College and Career Readiness Survey of 165,000 high school students conducted by YouthTruth, a San Francisco-based nonprofit. Several discoveries were made, but one clear one for me was that a majority of young adults do not feel ready for life after school. One report said, “An