Many teens will be graduating either from the 8th or 12th grade.  Eighth graders will be moving onto the 9th grade which means high school.  This can be scary!  High school seniors are graduating from the security of high school and into the "real world" which can be scarier than being a freshman in high school!  Graduation day doesn't have to be scary; it's a matter of perception.

Graduating from the eighth grade is exciting because you're no longer in junior or middle school (depending on your part of the world) but moving onto high school.  Some teens are afraid of not being accepted because they were a "big fish in a small pond" and now they'll be a "small fish in a big pond."  Some may be afraid because they'll be around junior and senior teens that can be intimidating, especially if you're still growing!  Remember these teens were once in your shoes -- everyone was once a freshman.

Tips for 9th Grade

1.  Remember, everyone was once a freshman.
2.  Look at it as a new beginning to be who you really want to be.
3.  Forget about getting caught up in any "drama" because it will drain your energy.
4.  Immerse yourself in activities that bring you joy.

Tips for High School Seniors

1.  Take a gap year to explore the world before you go to college or university.
2.  Realize that your dreams will change over time so avoid putting pressure on yourself to choose the "right" career.
3.  Reflect on the past four years and see how you changed and how much more you can grow.

High school seniors will leave the comfort and familiarity of high school.  Perhaps you were king or queen of the school but that's about to change because you're going off to college as a freshman.  Yep!  You get to be a freshman all over again, except this time it will be a little different. 

When you go to college, you'll no longer have "status" on compass.  This can be scary.  First, you're at college to learn not to compete in popularity contests.  Second, you could become popular (if that's important to you) all over again.  Finally, your college professors won't hold your hand.  If your work isn't turned in on time -- you'll face the consequences.

Perhaps after high school you'll take a "gap year" to explore the world.  Students in the UK and other countries do this.  They put off college for one year to explore and find out what they really want out of college.  This is a fabulous idea because you may find out that you have no desire to go to college.  Maybe you'll start a business or learn a trade.  It's up to you.

Graduation means you've completed another chapter or book in your life and ready for the next adventure.  Live life to the fullest and pursue your dreams.  Allow no one to tell you what career, business, or profession to pursue.  Experience everything that life has to offer and enjoy the ride!

You probably don't think about your teachers that much.  Some of you may consider them to be a pain in the butt because they give you homework or push you to do better.  Did you realize that your teachers do more than teach?  They wear many hats such as teacher, counselor, coach, act like a surrogate mom or dad, and tutor in addition to other roles they play.  And, they're definitely not paid a salary that covers these other roles!

The next time you're inclined to give your teacher a hard time, remember they're doing their job which is to teach and prepare you for college and adult life.  If I were you, I'd enjoy the teen years for as long as you can because once you turn 18, it will be a different "game" for some of you.  You'll be off to college without mom and dad and on your own.  If you think your professors and instructors will "coddle" or "buy" your excuses why your assignments aren't complete, you're in for a rude awakening.  They're going to pass or fail you -- it's that simple.

Respect is a two way street.  You must first respect yourself before anyone else will respect you.  If you have teachers that give you a hard time, ask yourself "why?"  It could be that you don't respect yourself enough for someone to show you respect.  Demanding and commanding respect is two different concepts.  When you demand respect, it's like stomping your foot like a child and throwing a temper tantrum.  When you command respect, you hold your head high and walk into a room with your shoulders back.  You're groomed and look good.  You exude confidence which makes people notice you.

Teachers are doing the best they can.  They're usually given limited amounts of funds and end up purchasing supplies with their own money.  And you wonder why school levies don't pass.  It's not that people don't want to support local schools, they do.  It has to do with bureaucrats who mismanage funds.  This means teens suffer for it in the long run.

Make your teachers life easy and pay attention in class.  Forget about being the tough guy or girl.  Forget about being the comedian because people can see right through that.  If you're acting out that means there's something beneath the surface that needs to be addressed.  You aren't fooling anyone.  Do your best in school because it's the foundation you'll need to succeed in life!  So...the next time you walk into class, say "hello" to your teacher and be sincere about it.  Who knows, you could make their day!

Personal Note #1:  My grandfather used to stutter when he was a young boy.  The reason for his stuttering was due to his step-father who repeatedly hit him on the left side of his head.  My grandfather eventually left home and was on the streets at the age of 11 (this was back in the day around 1922), but that's another story.  My grandfather used to be embarrassed because he stuttered, but he eventually overcame his stuttering.  He was one of the smartest people I knew; he educated himself.

Personal Note #2:  I used to have a speech impediment.  I couldn't pronounce certain letters of the alphabet.  When I was in elementary school, I went to speech classes a few times a week to work on my speech.  At the time I felt ashamed and embarrassed.  I didn't know that my speech classes would help me in my adult life.  Here's an FYI:  when you attend college, you may have to give presentations which means you'll be speaking to a crowd of 30 or more.  My speech classes helped me to annunciate and pronounce my words and it helped me to listen closely to others.  I love public speaking (most people fear this) and enjoy giving presentations and teaching others.  You never know what gift you'll find from an adverse situation!

What's a communication disorder?  It deals with speech and language disorders which can be as simple as delays or problems with oral motor function.  Some teens may have issues with sound or may not understand or use language.

Examples of communication disorders

1.  Autism*
2.  Aphasia
3.  Asperger syndrome
4.  Dyscalculia
5.  Deafness
6.  Blindness
7.  Dyslexia

Examples of speech disorders

1.  Cluttering, a speech organization disorder
2.  Stuttering
3.  Speech sound disorder
4.  Oesophageal voice
5.  Specific language impairment
6.  Dysarthria

Autism seems to be the most prevalent communication disorder.  There's is hope if you're autistic.  With behavior therapy and social education, you can live a fulfilling life.  It may be necessary to really work at it, but with time and perseverance, you'll be able to make great strides that will take you into adulthood.*

As I mentioned, I love public speaking.  Most people are absolutely terrified if they have to get up in front of big crowd and speak.  Not me, I could speak in front of 10 or 10,000 people -- it doesn't make a difference to me.  My communication disorder as a young kid pushed me to develop my speaking skills.  I still get "butterflies in the stomach" before I speak, but that's just nervous energy; it burns off as I begin to speak.

If you have or know someone that has a communication disorder, it's nothing to be ashamed of and you can overcome it.  I know it will sound cliché to say that you'll realize your communication disorder can make you stronger and develop your character, but it's true.  Whatever adversity you face, even a communication disorder, can and will make you a stronger person.  Allow nothing and no one to stand in your way -- go around adversity with your head held high.  Here's to your success!

You, your sibling, or friend may have a learning disability.  This is nothing to feel ashamed about and it doesn't make you stupid.  Most people will face some type of adversity in their lives.

The most common learning disabilities are dyslexia and ADHD.  I'm not sure I agree with the diagnosis of ADHD because half the U.S. population seems to have attention deficit!  Ask someone to listen to an one hour teleseminar or watch a 15-minute video and they'd probably faint!  Anyway, if you have a learning disability you can overcome it and live a successful life.

Learning disabilities

Dyslexia is inherited and it means you have difficulty with sounds, reading, writing, and spelling; it's a neurological based disorder.  Most teens have difficulty with letters and numbers -- you see information backwards.  Dyslexia has nothing to do with your intelligence and if someone tells you it does, ignore them.

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder which means you can't focus on studying and learning.  You're easily distracted and can't concentrate.  You may be more active than your peers and act on your impulses all of the time. Symptoms of ADHD include but are not limited to the following:

1.  Have trouble waiting your turn.
2.  Restlessness.
3.  Organization is difficult.
4.  Get distracted even if you're enjoying what you're doing.
5.  Go from one activity to another (some people call this multi-tasking)
6.  Can't pay attention to details which causes avoidable mistakes to occur.
7.  Forgetful.

If you have a learning disability, you'll be able to overcome it with perseverance, dedication, and time.  Avoid giving up because you'll let yourself down.  You can overcome any obstacle in your life as long as you're determined to do so.  Allow no one to bring you down because chances are they're just insecure.  Stay strong and love who you are no matter what!

Some teens may go to college or university and some may not, the choice is yours.  If you have a strong desire to attend college or university then you'll want to be prepared and make sure you meet all of the requirements.  This includes excellent grades, extracurricular activities, and much more.

Getting into your favorite college or university doesn't have to be a stressful experience.  Make sure you research the college and if possible visit the campus.  Speak to current and former students and ask them questions that will help you make your decision.  You could ask:  What did you like about the college?  What were your favorite classes?  How are the teachers or professors?  How tough is the school?  Asking these and other questions will help you make your decision.

Not every teen wants to go to college and that's okay.  You may decide later in life that you want to go back.  This is totally fine and normal.  When you're 18 years-old do you really know what you want to do with the rest of your life?  Heck, most people in their 40s don't know what they want to do!  Take your time to discover your passion then go to college.

Tips to getting into college/university

1.  Apply yourself in school and receive excellent grades.
2.  Make sure you're involved in extracurricular activities such as sports, band, student council, etc...
3.  Volunteer at your favorite not-for-profits.
4.  Make sure you know who to write because you'll have to provide a personal statement about why you want to attend the college or university of your choice.

Forget about stressing over your major.  If you know what you passion is then follow it.  If not, you may want to explore different career paths and speak to people who are successful in their career.  Ask if you could "shadow" them at work.  This means you'll go to work with them and see what they do five days a week.  It's the best way to find out if you really want to be a nurse, entrepreneur, accountant, veterinarian, web, graphic, or fashion designer, electrical engineer, biologist, or what it is that interests you. 

Getting into college or university doesn't have to be a tedious process.  You won't have a problem as long as you follow the instructions given by the college.  Remember that it's your life.  If you have NO DESIRE to attend a four year college or university then don't go.  Allow no one, even your parents, to pressure you into something that you're not interested in at this time.  You'll be wasting time and money along with the time and money of the college and university.  It's not fair to the other students who really want to be there or those students who didn't get in because you took their spot.  Be considerate and honor your feelings.  If you don't want to go just say so!  Good luck!

Being a teenager can be challenging.  One challenge is making friends.  Some teens have an easy time making friends while other struggle to make one friend.  The key is to make the "right" friends.  Avoid getting caught up in the "popularity" contests of schools because it's not all what it's cracked up to be.  Remember, all that glitters is not gold!

Many teens long to be part of the popular clicks in school.  Why?  Sometimes they're not the nicest teens in school.  What would make you want to be part of a group of people who may cause others pain?  In fact, that's a sign of weakness and insecurity.  Are you weak or insecure?  Think about that before you do whatever it takes to become part of the popular crowd.

Make friends that are right for you.  Find other teens that you share common interests with and eat lunch together and hang out after school.  These friendships are real and authentic.  Cultivating these types of friendships will serve you now and in the future.

Become friends with other teens who understand the meaning of friendship.  Being a good friend means you'll be there through the good and bad times.  You won't bale if you hit a rough patch.  These are friends who'll have your back no matter what.

A true friend will not ask you to do something illegal or something your uncomfortable doing.  Yes, all teens face peer pressure at some point in time, but a true friend will not ask you to put yourself in harm's way just to have a good time. 

Forget about outer appearances.  A person may look nice on the outside but the inside is another story.  Did you know that the most beautiful people in the world can have the ugliest personalities?  It's true.  You may believe that a teen is good and kind because he/ she is handsome or pretty, but he/she could have a personality that can send you running for your life.  Ouch!  Do you really want to hang around another teen that isn't that great of a person?  Your life could become a living hell!  Is that what you want?

Teens make friends that are right for you.  Surround yourself with like-minded teens and those who are positive.  Being around other teens that are known as "Debbie Downers or Negative Nick's" can drain your energy.  Choose your friends wisely!

Teens, do you know what you want to be when you grow up?  If you don't, there's no need to worry about it.  However, you may want to give it some thought.  Whatever you choose, make sure it's your passion.  Don't choose a career because your mom and dad want you to follow in their footsteps.  Do what you want to do!

Some teens may be entrepreneurial.  This means that you'll be the boss!  You'll have most of the responsibility if you don't have a partner, but you'll receive plenty of tax incentives.  And, you get to make your hours, decide when you take lunch, go on vacation when you want, and make other decisions.

Tips to finding your career

1.  What makes you smile?
2.  What are your passions?
3.  What are your talents?
4.  What do you like to do?

Teens it's never too early to think about what you want to do when you grow up.  You may as well do something that you'll enjoy doing.  If you choose a career for the money, you may be disappointed and resent your career.  Choose a career that you'll love!

Teens, how well do you write?  Can you read your writing?  Did you know that your proficiency tests are being scored by people who may have difficulty reading your writing?  The good news is there are "checks and balances" to ensure you receive a fair score.  However, this doesn't mean that you couldn't improve your writing in more ways than one.

Whenever you take a test, make sure to write legible.  Write a cohesive, well thought out answer.  Before you respond to a question, take a moment to think about it.  This way your answer will sound intelligent and you may score some points for effort.

Tips to improve your writing

1.  Get tutoring.  There's nothing wrong with asking for help.  Your teacher could help you after school or you could attend a Sylvan Learning Center or some other learning center.
2.  Read fiction and non-fiction books.  Read the classics such as Charles Dickens and pickup a couple of writing books that will help you improve your writing.
3.  Ask your teacher for examples of exemplary papers from previous years.  Your teacher may have copies of papers from past students who did extremely well.  Ask if you could review those papers so you can see what a well written "A" paper looks like.
4.  Just write.  Journaling can help improve your writing.  Writing every day will improve your writing skills.

Writing is imperative because it shows how well you digest and comprehend information.  If your writing is not that great, ask for help.  Find a tutor or ask your teacher for extra help after school.  Read books and improve your writing skills any way you can.

Teens, it's imperative that you know how to write.  When you fill out a college application, you'll be expected to write a personal statement.  Not only will this letter show a college's administration "why" you want to go to college, it will show them how well you write.  Believe me, you will write many papers in college.  It's best to be prepared now so you'll be prepared when you go to college or run your own business.

Improving your writing skills now will serve you later in life.  Someday, you may be required to write reports that will be given to the CEO (chief executive officer) or CFO (chief financial officer).  Even if you want to own your own business, you'll be required to write a business plan.  If you want investors to back you then you'll need a well written business plan. 

Writing well will take you far in life.  Now is the time to hone your writing skills.  Get started by reading a book or two and educating yourself.  Write every day and you'll be a writing pro in no time.  Your grades will improve which means your chances of getting into your favorite college or university will go up.  Good luck!

Many teens are not well prepared to take state proficiency tests, especially when it comes to the reading and writing section.  If you can't read and write, how do you expect to function in the "real" world?  You can't function in the real world without knowing how to read and write.

I have been given the opportunity to see firsthand how deplorable some teens read, write, and spell.  Do you even know what the word deplorable means?  If not, go to Dictionary.com or grab a dictionary and look it up!  As a scorer of proficiency tests, it saddens me to see that some teens in one particular state have the reading and writing level of a 4th grader (or lower) when they're in the 9th grade.  Teens, what's going on in school?  How the hell did you get into the 9th grade?  That one is not your fault.  Our educational system in the U.S. is not one of the strongest in the world.  Administrators pass kids just to get them out of high school and out of their hair or to save money.

Teens, how serious do you take your education?  What problems do you have with reading and writing?  What extra help have you been given?  How well do your teachers teach?  How well do you pay attention in class?  This is your life and you are responsible for it. 

It's a serious matter when you can't read and write.  No one will hire you for a top level position and you won't be able to receive a bank loan if you want to purchase a car, home, or business loan when you're older.  You must be able to read and write in order to understand what it is you're applying for.  You must understand the terms and conditions of the paperwork put in front of you.  If not, you could wind up like most of the people who applied for housing loans only to be scammed!

Teens, reading and writing are essential tools.  You must be able to fill out an employment application in order to get a job.  If you can't read and write, how will you fill out the employment application?  You must be able to read a college application to attend college.  How will you go to college if you can't understand the college application?  You will NOT go to college!

Some teens say they don't like to read.  Why?  Do you think your brain will explode from the knowledge its absorbing?  Do you think that it's not cool to read?  What's holding you back?  Are you afraid your family, friends, or community members will make fun of you and call you names like "bookworm" if you learn to read and write?  Here's a tip:  stop thinking about what others think and focus on YOU and you alone.  If you learn to read and write and find an awesome job or start your own business, the people who made fun of you will be  asking you for a handout!

Teens, pickup a book and READ it today!  There's nothing wrong with expanding your mind outside of the classroom.  In fact, you're probably better off.  Find a tutor who can help you.  Ask your librarian for help.  Ask your guidance counselor for help.  Ask your parents for help.  Take reading and writing seriously because it will open up a world that you didn't know existed.  Start today so tomorrow you'll have a brighter future!

Cliques are nothing new.  No matter if you're in elementary, junior, or high school, you'll find cliques.  What is a clique?  A clique "is an exclusive group of people who share interests, views, purposes, patterns of behavior, or ethnicity.  Membership in a clique is often, but not necessarily, exclusive, and qualifications for membership may be social or essential to the nature of the clique" (retrieved from Wikipedia on March 9, 2010).

Sometimes cliques can make you feel like crap.  That's just how it is.  You may think that something's wrong with you if you're not part of a clique.  There's nothing wrong with you.  Besides, would you really want to be part of a group that excludes people?  How much fun is that?  What if the teens in the clique are rude or mean to their fellow peers?  How bad do you want that reputation?  Being part of a clique is not what it's cracked up to be.

Most cliques thing they're so important that they can't be bothered with certain people.  These teens need to get over themselves.  When you apply for a job, the hiring manager will not care if you were part of a clique in high school. 

How to handle cliques

1.  Ignore them.  They may dress in clothes from Abercrombie and Fitch, Jimmy Choo, The Buckle, or whatever store is popular.  Who cares!  The clothes are made in other countries for dollars.  They're shipped to the U.S. and slapped with a significant markup.  Jeans with a price tag of $250 jeans were probably made for $2.00 in another country.  That's a brief "economics" lesson for you!  Remember that the next time you go shopping or you overhear someone bragging about their new pair of $250 jeans!

2.  Stand your ground.  Cliques sometimes like to intimidate their fellow teens.  Don't think about it or give it attention.  Stand up for yourself when it's warranted, but consider the source when someone harasses you.  Most people who bully or harass others are insecure.

3.  Go with the flow.  Cliques are nothing new.  If you really want to be part of a clique, ask yourself "why" you want to be part of the group.  What's so great about them?  What do you admire about them?  You may change your mind after you answer these and other questions.

4.  Don't get down on yourself if you're not accepted into a clique.  Being in a clique may seem like a big deal right now, but when you graduate you'll get over it.  You probably won't see these people again, don't fret because the "popular" teens didn't allow you in their clique.

Cliques will come and go.  The popular group today will not be the popular group tomorrow.  If you have true friends, be grateful for them.  Who cares that you're not part of the so called "cool" group.   Just be you because there is no one like you. 

Teens who are desperate to be part of the popular group will most likely continue looking outside of themselves for happiness.  Everything you need is inside of you.  There's nothing outside of you that will make you happy or fill a void.  You must figure out why it's important to be part of a clique.  There's something inside of you that's lacking.  Once you figure out what it is, you will not have the desire to be part of the "in group" at school.  What a relief that will be!