Posted CGGS Newsletter 37 - 5 December 2008
YEAR 7 IN 2009 CAMP
This is a reminder that all forms for the Year 7 in 2009 Camp are due. If you have not already returned your form please do so as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Briggs, e: tim.briggs@cggs.act.edu.au
Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 12 - 9 May 2008
Helping our Teens find Passion in Life
Last year I had the opportunity to listen to a taped presentation of a workshop entitled helping Breaking through to Teens by Dr Ron Tafel, a New York based adolescent Psychologist. Tafel forwarded a number of ideas about the importance of helping teens find a passion in their life. Tafel has written extensively on the role of the second family ie the peer group and popular culture in the lives of teens. He observes “the kiddie culture has defined passion - to be enthusiastic about learning - to mean that you are not cool. TV, magazines, movies, music lyrics and middle and high school cliques typically portray kids with passion as geeks; they are rarely in the cool crowd”.
Tafel strongly advocates the importance of teens having a passion to buffer against the more destructive elements of the second family culture. He argues that a passion generally requires teens to have an ongoing relationship with an adult mentor, such as a coach or teacher and it necessitates pre booking large blocks of time and a willingness to stick with rigid rules. This all runs counter to the second family culture, which is often predicated on notions of spontaneity, loyalty only to the second family group, and disconnection from adults. It also requires teens to work with a diverse group of kids who share the same passion, thereby teaching them qualities of openness, cooperation and tolerance for difference.
Tafel also discusses the importance of passion in the development of the teen’s sense of identity and maturity. Passions often allows kids to express aspects of themselves which may otherwise lie dormant. It provides avenues for kids to define themselves in healthy, socially acceptable ways and to develop an identity and reputation for themselves around the pursuit of their passion. Developing competence in their area of passion increases self confidence and esteem, and of course, strength and confidence in one area of life carries over to other areas. The other significant benefit of passion in the lives of teens is that it generally gives their family a shared focus and an avenue for connection. Parents are often required to transport, assist and be an audience to activities, and this provides then with an invaluable opening into the lives of their teen children. This again, runs counter to the popular culture notion for teens that if they are to be cool and independent, adults should have limited or no access to their lives.
Common sources of passion and interest for teens are sports, the performing arts, art and technology, writing, debating and speaking, hobbies, a social cause or volunteer work. Often these are interests which teens have picked up in childhood and continued to pursue into adolescence. Anecdotally, however, we know that the transition from primary to secondary schooling often marks a time when many children drop off interests or activities they have enjoyed in childhood. Many parents feel discouraged and disappointed when they see this shift in their child. They often feel helpless to do anything about it and in the end accept it as a part of their child growing up. As parents and adults we need to remain firmly committed to guiding teens towards their passions, and model for them the importance of commitment and persistence.
Carol Adrienne author of The Purpose of Your Life suggests the following activities to help teens identify where their passion may lie.
1. Write down several things you love to do. If you had the choice of what kinds of things you would do for a day what would you pick.
2. Finish this sentence “When I was a little kid I always loved to………”
3. Finish the sentence “I shine at…..”
4. Pay attention to you thoughts, daydreams and interests. Write down everything that interests you for a week.
5. Finish the sentence “I am most myself when….”
6. Review your high points. What activities or situations in the past really excited you?
7. Describe someone you admire.
8. What do you keep being drawn to?
We need to listen to teens and what they are expressing about their interests. We need to ensure they have opportunities both within school and outside to pursue their interests and celebrate their achievements. We need to make time to find out about their passion and be an audience to them. Finally, we need to recognise that their passions will not always be our passions, have a tolerance for this difference and a willingness to be curious and interested in aspects of their lives that they are passionate about.
Julie Smith
Senior School Counsellor
