KEYS TO HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS

By Travis Hardin
An Inspirational Speaker @ The Re-De-Fined Project

1. Successful High School Students Are Organized The successful high school student's papers may be all over the place right now, but chances are that they have dated them and put on a heading that will help easily identify the paper when they’re ready to organize. A successful high school student should also have a place where they can keep track of daily assignments, test dates, and other extracurricular activities.
2. Successful High School Students Ask Questions
Questions to clarify assignments...Questions about difficult concepts...Questions about how the material applies to life...Questions about where to get more answers...And more, and more, and more questions. Successful high school students use questions to create an education that is customized to what they need in life.
3. Successful High School Students Have Support
Whether it is a parent, another trusted adult, or a friend that is a phone call away, successful high school students have someone they can turn to when they need help with an assignment or just need someone to talk to about the stresses of school life.
4. Successful High School Students Focus on Learning, Not Grades
At the end of a homework assignment or study session, a highly successful high school student feels that he or she is successful if they understand the material. If the end goal of studying is solely to achieve a good grade the information is less likely to be obtained.
5. Successful High School Students Read Independently
School doesn't teach everything you need to know. The most successful students read additional material, at least 30 minutes a day. Any type of reading works, whether it is a novel for fun, the articles in their favorite magazine, or an online news site.
6. Successful High School Students Are Well-Mannered
Polite people get things done and win allies for the long term in their high school career and in life. From help on homework, to getting a letter of recommendation, to getting a foot in the door for a future career, successful high school students know that their good manners now will have people lining up to help them later on down the road.
7. Successful High School Students Have Fun in School
There's more to school than class, homework, and lunch. The most successful high school students are involved a few extracurricular-activities, including clubs, sports, community service, and student government.

At the end of the day, students who are involved in more than just what is asked of them trend to be more successful. We here at The Re-De-Fined Project encourage our youth to do more and for the adults to require much more. It begins with you.


Pay it forward

Travis Hardin

Olympic Gold

Would you be upset if you went to London to compete for a medal and came back to the United States without gold, silver or bronze?

With so much anticipation of the world’s greatest athletes to come together on center stage at the London Olympic Games for competition, I wonder what the thought process is for the thousands of athletes who will not return with a medal. They have trained for years, months, days and hours just like the winners, yet, they get no glory for their efforts.

Our youth are on the same stage day after day and we sit back and allow it to happen. Every young person who has breath should be encouraged, cheered, motivated, inspired and empowered to do great things. However, we sit back and select the more talented, more attractive and most outgoing youth to support and encourage. What about the D student or the less attractive young man/lady? They are on the same stage, yet we ignore their future potential.

I heard a sermon by Bishop Kenneth L. Robinson where he talked about a trip to a soccer match in Africa. He compared the enthusiasm of the tens of thousands of spectators to fans in the United States after a home run, a buzzer beater from 3 point range or a touchdown followed by a dance in the end zone. There was one big difference, no one had scored, yet the fans were all celebrating and yelling at the top of their lungs. The score had been 0-0 for more than 40 minutes of play. The score was not the reason for the excitement but the ANTICIPATION of a goal was.

“It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can do only a little. DO WHAT YOU CAN.” - Sydney Smith-

Every child is not destined to be the best at everything but every child should be encouraged as if they will someday bring home the gold. There are a lot of premier athletes, actors/actresses, business executives with a lot of money and promise in their respective fields but their character sucks. Let’s not allow another young person from our community make it to center stage without the proper training and guidance from the members of the community.

How awesome would it be to see a young person you know compete in future Olympic Games? Whether they win or lose should not matter. The real winners are not those at the top but those who have come the farthest over the toughest roads. Their victory may never make the headlines, but THEY will know about it, and that’s what counts.

Are you helping to prepare a GOLD medal mentality in a young person? I dare you to try.


Travis Hardin

“Pay it forward”

 http://theredefinedproject.org/speakers/travis_hardin.php

Don't Be A Such A Coward

Coward: A person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.; a timid or easily intimidated person.
How do we expect students to be courageous when they see us act like cowards? Why would they stand up to bullies when we don't? Why should they care if their classmates are hungry, or homeless, or depressed, when we don't?

If we tell them that winning is more important than reporting the abuse of a child how do we expect them to behave? If they only see us not wanting to get involved, they won't get involved either.

You say that wasn't you. You never acted like a coward. You never did these things. 

What about the time you saw that student wearing the same clothing for three days and did nothing to stop the teasing. You never even asked if everything was alright. And let's not forget the time when you overheard the young people "jonesing" on the little "nerd" and you laughed along with them.


When we allow others or even ourselves to be pushed around, abused, mistreated, we are telling the next generation that it is okay. It's alright to lack courage. Change takes courage! If we are unhappy with our world, our community, then we must have the courage to change it. If we exhibit courage, then so will they.

Courage is the ability to do something that frightens oneself.  It is acting on one’s beliefs despite danger or disapproval.Courage originates from the word heart. Love comes from the heart! So it is safe to say that courage takes love. Love for others. That is a message worth sharing. Tell others, tell students.

Don't Be A Coward!

Jody McPhearson

Impacting Communities, Encouraging leaders, Inspiring Hope

http://theredefinedproject.org/speakers/jody_mcphearson.php

It’s None of Your Business

“It’s none of your business!”


Thinking back to when you were younger, how many times did you hear a grown use this expression? I think I heard it a thousand times…. in 6 months. I would hear it and then try to find out from somewhere else. Fortunately for me, I never did run into the wrong situation while asking. Not all young people will be so lucky.

As tomorrow’s leaders, our young people need to know their thoughts and opinions matter. We cannot “close the door” on them whenever they come to us. It is as easy as opening a door or slamming it shut.

If opening a door, the conversation will include the following responses to a teenager:

• "What do you think?"
• "Would you like to share more about that?"
• "That's an excellent question."
• "I don't know, but I'll find out"
• "I'm interested in what you are thinking or saying."
• "Do you know what that means?"
• "That sounds important to you."
• "Would you like to talk about it?"

If closing a door, the conversation will include the following responses to a teenager:

• "You’re too young to understand."
• "If you say that again, I'll..."
• "That's none of your business."
• "I don't care what your friends are doing!"
• "We'll talk about that when you need to know."
• "That's just for boys/girls"
• "Why are you asking me that?"
• "You don't need to know about that."
• "Don't come to me if you mess up."

We need to encourage, not discourage.

Are you an “OPENER” or are you a “CLOSER?”


Travis Hardin

Pay it forward

I fought a teenager...How embarrassing!

How will my peers respond when they learn I had a fight with a 17 year old young man? How could I allow my emotions to get the best of me? I should have known better. Let me explain this unfortunate incident.

It was a 112 degree day in June of this year (2012). I was on my way to grab lunch when I decided to go inside a downtown Phoenix restaurant for a meal. I was in no rush as the sweltering heat was keeping the pace of everyone to a crawl. My thought was “This will be quick as there are no lines in any of the restaurants and not many people walking around downtown because of the heat.”

I approached the counter of the restaurant to place my order and had been looking up at the menu for 30-45 seconds when I looked down to see a young man standing next to me with his pants hanging halfway down his legs. I thought to myself, “He needs a belt, this is a little much.” Only to observe he had a belt on.

I then thought, “I will leave it alone because if I say something, he may take it the wrong way and react like a typical teenager.” When I say typical, I mean disrespectfully reply to my question regardless of how polite I speak to him. All of this going on in my head and the young man was simply preparing to place his order just as I was.

I looked down again and realized I had to say something no matter the outcome because there were people all over the restaurant staring and making comments regarding the young man’s pants. I had the worst outcome made up in my mind before speaking. It ran across my mind, “If this young man takes a swing at me I will have to physically respond to his threat against me.”

I said hello to the young man and he responded with a very polite “How are you sir.” I acknowledged with a smile and said I am fine but was wondering why in the world he was showing me his rear end below the shirt.

He responded with a child-like laugh and told me it was just the way his pants fit. I told him how much of a distraction it was as people were trying to eat and his pants were noticeably hanging too low below his waist. He smiled and said immediately “I will pull them up and tighten my belt.” He then went on to thank me for respecting him and asking nicely for him to pull his pants up…… WOW! Not the outcome I had in mind

I thought to myself, “That’s it! All I had to do was politely ask for him to pull up his pants?” I had already played multiple scenarios in my head as to the outcome of asking him to pull up his pants and he nicely pulled them up without hesitation.

How often do you refrain from speaking to our younger generation for fear of their disrespectful response? All it took was for me to SAY SOMETHING. I actually sat down and had lunch with the young man and he shared with me his thoughts and ideas about his future. He wanted to go to college. He had dreams of a family. He aspired to be the best father he could be once he was ready to have kids….. And I had in my mind we would be fighting in the restaurant. Boy did this young man bless me on this day.

I ask you to simply take the time to STAND UP and SAY SOMETHING the next time you are in this position. You may be able to destroy some personal stereotypes you have of our younger generation and be blessed like I was. There are some disrespectful youth and adults out there but if we give respect, it typically comes back in return.

Travis Hardin 
Pay it forward

We've Got Your Back

The federal government estimates that 2 out of 10 high school students experience bullying each year, and the problem is typically worse for middle school students.

If you are a victim of bullying, you’re not alone. Obviously others are victims of bullying. That's not what we are saying here. What we are saying is that We've Got Your Back.

We want you to know that we are willing to stand with you. We will not laugh and point with the bully. We will not look the other way. We will be there to hear you when you ask for help. We will be get teacher's and parents involved.

You are not alone. We've Got Your back. We are a community, and a community listens to and addresses the needs of those in the community.

We know that having to endure bullying usually affects your self-esteem and your ability to learn and be successful at school.You may lose sleep or feel sick. You may want to skip school. You may even be thinking about suicide. You have a purpose and we want you to fufill that purpose.

We've Got Your Back.

Will you join us and help prevent our future leaders from being bullied?  If so, simply respond with We've Got Your Back.

Then, make a commitment not to support bullying in any way. Do not harass, tease, or spread negative gossip about others. Respect others, value differences and try to broaden your social circle to include others who are different from you.

Jody McPhearson
CEO/President
Impacting Communities, Encouraging leaders, Inspiring Hope

The Pain of Pomp and Circumstance

Who can I trust when I am days from graduation and hours from death? This is the inside voice of many graduates during this season. Think of the child who is being promoted from 6th grade to the junior high level. Consider the 8th grader who is in the teenage years and moving up to high school. And let us not forget the high school senior preparing for the next phase of life.

All happy occasions but inside they are hurting. The worst part is, no one knows why. Each of the above referenced scenarios are examples of young people who suffer from unimaginable circumstances at home, yet, no one in the COMMUNITY cares to ask questions about the signs that have been evident for months. Young people are being abused at home on a daily basis and WE as the COMMUNITY do not stand in the gap. Mothers and fathers are taking out their anger on innocent children and we are so elated about our kids graduating we do not take the time to stop and think about anyone else. Is this the value of COMMUNITY?

I remember my high school graduation day as if it were yesterday. A warm and sunny Saturday afternoon in June, all the graduates gathered together for what would be our final assembly as one unit as the class of 1995. Many were laughing and many more were crying at the thoughts of not seeing each other again. Of course, you had a few that did not have a clue as to what they would do next. But what about the tears that were coming down because they knew this was the end? They knew this would be the final day and the plans of suicide would be carried out immediately following the ceremony in the parking lot. No one cared that the father was beating; raping and then urinating on her night after night....the COMMUNITY did not exist.

Immediately following the commencement address, she got up from her seat and ran outside to her car. People wondered why in the world she would bypass all of the cheering and hugging to come. All she wanted was a way out of the struggles and the pain caused at home. All she thought was "if I die then I no longer have to endure this anymore."

How many graduates felt like this when you crossed the stage? You are probably like me and do not know the answer. On this particular day in June, the suicide was prevented by a young kid who asked her what she was doing when she went to open her car door. As I sat and listened to the story in 2007, I tried to reflect on why I was walking by the car and spoke up to ask her what she was doing. I couldn't remember but what I do remember is graduating and wanting to make a difference in the lives of young people. I simply ask you to join me.


Pay it forward

Travis Hardin