Meet Teaching Teens
Six Tips for Teens to Avoid a Life of Poverty
Get an Education
A high school diploma is no longer enough. Teens today need to know that at least two years of learning beyond high school are virtually mandatory. It doesn’t have to be college; it can be vocational training, an apprenticeship, or even self-study. However, the first two years of any new career need to be viewed as a period of learning.
Remember, you must spend time planting seeds before you can expect to harvest fruit (which is also why the more time teens spend pursuing their education after high school, the more likely it is that their eventual career earnings will increase dramatically).
Wait to Have Children Until You Are Old Enough to Drink Alcohol Legally
This is not moralizing. This has nothing to do with religion. The simple fact is that babies are extremely expensive and they can be a financial weight that forever prevents people from escaping the perils of poverty because of the nonstop financial obligations all kids inevitably bring with them.
Look, I love kids, but waiting to have them until there is a foundation in place to be able to afford them (and thus, better enjoy them, serve them, and raise them) is extremely prudent.
Don’t Break the Law
America loves to send people to jail. As a matter of fact, we have done so more than any other society in the history of civilization. But going to prison is like putting a grape juice stain that never comes out on the T-shirt of life. It might fade, it can be covered up, but once it’s there, it taints a person’s existence—in a decidedly negative manner—for practically forever.
Employers in every industry frown on people with criminal records, and time spent in prison often limits future possibilities.
Choose Friends Who Are on the Road to Somewhere Positive
Friends are like moons with an irresistible gravitational pull. Good friends will pull a teen in positive directions; bad friends will pull a teen into low, undesirable places. Teens draw so much strength from their friends that choosing wisely becomes incredibly important. And as most adults know, true friends are often few and far between . . . so they must choose wisely.
Feed Yourself Mentally in a Consistent, Positive Manner
Put something positive, uplifting, informative, fun, or inspirational into your brain every day. Nothing better explains why it is so critical than this old Cherokee tale:
The Two Wolves
One evening an old Cherokee was telling his grandson about
the battle that goes on inside of all human beings.
“It’s a battle between two wolves,” said the old man. “And
they live within us all. One is evil,” the old Cherokee warned.
“It is made of anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed,
arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, lies, false pride, and ego.”
The young boy looked up with wide, fearful eyes.
“The other is good,” continued the old man with a warm
smile. “It is made up of joy, peace, love, hope, humility,
kindness, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”
The young boy sat silently for a minute, considering the
story. A moment later, he raised his eyes. “But Grandfather,
which wolf wins?” asked the child.
The old Cherokee replied, “The one you feed, my son. The
one you feed.”
Be Willing to Work Hard
The easy path often leads to hard-to-swallow destinations. I tell students, “Roll up your shirtsleeves, do what needs to be done, give a complete and total effort, and be willing to work your way to the top from the ground up.” It’s a simple formula that reaps direct, simple consequences because everyone loves a hard worker. And hard workers, no matter how high the odds are stacked against them, always find a way to make their own breaks in life.
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