Adolescents and teens today are required to navigate a complex landscape in their most formative years.  The responsibilities of home, school and extra-curricular activities, the relentless influence of social media and the never ending peer pressure to fit in are a daunting influence on young people. 

As a classroom teacher and assistant principal for both middle school and high school, I was witness to these challenges and the impact they can have on our youth.  To support them in their social and emotional growth, I developed the Be Your Greatness Program.  Participants are given the opportunity to engage in dynamic, highly interactive learning activities that promote self-reflection and increase self-awareness.  Through these experiences, students build an intentional container of trust and authenticity.  It is in this arena that they are able to examine the filters through which they see the world and the influence of these filters in their decision making process.  Once they recognize the origin and impact of these filters, they are able to remove them so they can see their true potential.

In a world where social media prevails, and young people are constantly comparing the number of “likes” they get to those of sports and movie celebrities, it is easy to understand how their self-esteem and confidence can be affected.  The Be Your Greatness Program creates the opportunity for participants to examine the judgments they carry and how these judgements reinforce the perceptions they hold of themselves.  The interactive team building activities and the authentic sharing of the day allow the participants to see the greatness they have within and to claim their confidence.  By the end of the experience, participants recognize that they, as opposed to circumstance, can decide the direction of their lives. 

I am grateful that the Be Your Greatness Program has been a positive influence in the lives of many young people since 2009.  Through this program, many young people have been able to gain clarity and realize dreams they did not even know they were allowed to dream.  I am blessed to continue my work so more young people can step into their greatness.