Life Skills in Education

About one month ago I went to go present to a board of education as to how important life skills are to be taught in the classrooms. Although many students learn life skills at home, many students do not. The select few of the board that showed up at the meeting told me not to use the words “life skills,” as it relates to education because it has a negative connotation. As an educator, it is my opinion that avoiding life skills in the way we act in the classroom and in the way in the way that we teach is unavoidable. Students, whether in the classroom or outside of it, will encounter changes, decisions, LIFE. Yes, I know wholeheartedly that skills need to be taught. I have had too many college students come into the classroom without basic reading and writing skills. But we cannot just point fingers as to whose responsibility it is to teach what. It takes all of us – parents, educators, mentors, life coaches, guidance counselors, neighbors, etc. The list can go on and on. Instead of pointing fingers, jump in and lend a helping hand to anyone – including yourself. We are all lifetime students.

Bring the Confidence Back to the Students

When I was a little girl, I used to talk to my father on the drive to school about what I wanted to do when I grew up. At that time I wanted to be a lawyer. Although I didn’t become a lawyer, I was always instilled with the confidence that I could do ANYTHING I wanted to do. And I found it. I decided to become a life coach, focusing on education. It take confidence to put your own business together. It takes confidence to make business deals and really believe in what you are doing. Why are there any dropout rates at all? Some students don’t take the education seriously and don’t realize the impact that a lack of education will have on their lives. Some don’t have the confidence that they can do what they really want to do with their lives. Some don’t have the confidence to even be in school because they keep hearing that there’s no jobs out there for them, even is they excel with their education. Teachers, parents and students, create an environment where students can dream again and know that they can do anything they want to in their lives.

Obama Speaks On Education in Florida

Obama Speaks About Education

Judgement

In the second week of this teleclass I’m doing with Jana Fleming, we’re practicing non-judgement. It is a practice that allows us to not judge anything that occurs. Since we were children, we were always taught to judge that something was good or bad based on beliefs we were taught from out family, friends, society, etc. Believe me, it’s easier said than done.

In the nine years I worked as a professor, I’ve observed judgement all of the time. Students would judge themselves as stupid if they got even a B on their assignment. Being as though I was teaching basic skills courses, students were very judgemental about how they did not needed the course.

For others not to judge us, we grow up trying to fit into certain circles of friends. This creates us to loose who we really are and who we really want to be. We judge other people to fit the roles we expect them to play.

Today I encourage you to be the observer in your classrooms and when you are hanging around your social circles. What are you saying about yourself? What are you saying about other people? The more you judge yourself, the more you judge others.

If you catch yourself judging, don’t judge yourself for that. Just be mindful that today you are setting an intention to not judge anything that occurs throughout your day. The more you practice this you’ll be less judgemental of your teachers. You’ll be able to communicate with your teachers and your social circles much better. Because you have made the decision that right and wrong don’t exists. All that exists is the story being played out in front of you.

Take the non-judgement challenge today!

USTREAM is Coming Back

USTREAM shows will be coming back Tuesday, March 22nd at 4 p.m. The show will continue each Tuesday at 4 p.m. Get ready because the show will be bigger and better! I look forward to seeing you then.

To Your Success,

Collegiate Career Coach Mignon Brooks