Attitude by Charles Swindoll

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.” 

This poem has worked marvellously specially with seventeen year-old teens since they are going through the process of finding their true being and are often asked to accept more responsibilities. 

First, we read it aloud till (. . . ) home." and we comment on its messages. Then, we read it all till the end and I ask my students to provide real life examples/ anecdotes connected with the different ideas displayed throughout the poem. Finally, I give the teens these questions below for them to asnwer individually in a written form. 

Try and then tell me. I can assure you it will be an amazing experience ;)   

• What is attitude to you?
• Do you agree that “attitude is more important than successes”?Why?
• How do the following attitudes influence you? what other people say about me/ what other people think about me/ what other people do to me. (Put them in order of how much they influence you)
• How can attitude break a home?
• How have the attitudes you took in the past changed you so far? (you may include some examples)
• What is your attitude towards someone who inevitably “acts a certain way” ?
• “I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. “ Do you agree with this phrase?

Adolescents. Why I choose to teach them.

"Why does LOVE hurt? "
"Do you like cheese?" (when discussing about slavery )
"Would you like to have children some day?"
"why do you even care to teach me?" 
"Why is your face a square?" 

These are some of the amazing, deep and sincere questions I have had the pleasure to be addressed to when teaching adolescents. . . I believe that when our soul is ready, we find the path we are to walk.
My path in teaching adolescents began quite a few years ago and It has not been easy just because life is difficult for an adolescent. . . They undergo so many deep and hurtful changes that they simply cannot help it; To that, we may add absent parents or economic issues and bingo!! 

After many stomach-aches, tears and self-discoveries, It dawned on me that if I opened my heart to their silent suffering in a compassionate way, I would be able to send a sign: "hey, I know. . . It is not easy but stay with me; I understand; It will be over. I promise." Once that intangible sign was sent, everything changed for good :) 

Yes, I know what you might be thinking: "despite a teacher's predispositions, adolescents insult, do not appreciate our classes, neither listen nor study!!" and that is sometimes true in fact ;) but I teach in spite of that; I go for that soul who is struggling to , at least, understand what is going on; to that wonderful being who after having said tremendous bad words to you , comes to you and asks if you could forgive him ' cause he is not actually angry at you but at his dad. . . 

But most of all, I choose to teach adolescents because I have faith in their future; whether they become an honest builder or an extraordinary astronomer. I trust them; I trust they will overcome that phase and become warm-hearted adults. That is why I teach adolescents.