A Businessman’s Straight Talk On Helping Inner City Youth

One of the biggest problems facing today’s youth is the fact that they are bored beyond belief by the “education” they receive in under-funded public schools. As a result the drop-out continues to climb in America’s poorest school districts. Many, including Mr. Cardone, a self-made multimillionaire agree that the answer to many of today’s most pressing social problems is to provide our youth with alternate educational opportunities that can lead them to brighter futures.

In an ideal utopian society all children may attend University and go on to enjoy careers as gainfully employed professionals, but let’s deal with reality. The reality is that most of these kids you see rioting in the streets will not be attending college any time soon. Instead of throwing up our hands, perhaps the answer is to provide them with skills they can use to go out and make a life for themselves without spending time and money on a second rate education that will leave them ill-equipped to thrive in today’s extremely competitive knowledge economy.

Using The Power Of Obsession To Install A Sense Of Purpose

Obsession, it’s a powerful word that can conjure up all kinds of different sorts of images and emotions in different people. Often times when we think about obsession we think of an unhealthy preoccupation with something – an all consuming obsession that takes over one’s life and leads to no place good.

However, obsession, and obsessive feelings can be used for both good and bad, particularly when it comes to finding meaning in one’s life. A lot of people talk about how apathetic today’s youth is, and how so many young people seem to be just aimlessly drifting through life with no real sense of direction of purpose. This is certainly a sad state of affairs, and I agree that this is indeed a wide spread problem that really does need to be addressed. That said, what if there was a way to use the power of obsession to motivate young people to put down the video game controller and to get up of the couch and make something out of their lives? Certainly we can all agree that this would be a miracle.

That said, I think it is very important that we define what we mean by obsession. Of course two of the first things that come to mind are the often over diagnosed condition known as “obsessive compulsive disorder” and what is sometimes referred to as “sexual obsession”. For some reason the idea of obsession is often thought of in terms of sexual or romantic obsession, and there are even those who would attempt to create this kind of obsession in another person in order to get them into a dating relationship using something called an obsession formula an obsession formula. While this is certainly an interesting idea, that is not the kind of obsession I’m talking about.

Instead, I am referring to obsession as a sort of a driving force in one’s life, a “reason to get out of bed in the morning” if you will. So long as one’s obsessive drive is centered on taking some kind action that will improve one’s situation (and hopefully the larger world that one inhabits) then certainly this power of obsession can be a force of good. Perhaps one’s obsession could be the need to educate themselves in a particular field, so that they are able to provide a good life for their family, or maybe one could get obsessed about fitness and losing excessive weight so that one cam live longer and do more fun activities with their loved ones.

Of course the danger here is the fact that obsession can go to far, and interfere with other parts of one’s life. We have all heard about workaholics who get so obsessed with their jobs that they end up neglecting their health, their families, and everything else in their life. In the end, I think that the real is showing our young people how powerful the force of obsession can be, and how much positive change it can bring about when used constructively, and aty the same time warn them not to let their healthy obsessions stop them from nurturing other areas of life and aspects of their being.

A Look At The Most Serious Social Issues Facing Today’s Youth

homeless-youthThe youth of today face a myriad of societal problems. As in previous generations, the social issues facing today’s youth can have significant effects on how these young people will eventually turn out as they reach adulthood.

In this post we will look at some of the most serious social problems facing the youth of today, and consider some solutions to help our youth to course correct before its too late.

Drug and alcohol abuse continues to be among the more serious problems confronting modern society. In previous generations, smoking topped the list of growing social issues. However, recent public efforts to curb the smoking habit have somehow effectively addressed this particular social problem, although it remains to be totally resolved.

In its place, however, is a more dangerous social threat with more extreme repercussions. The growing proliferation of alcoholic drinks and illegal drugs has led many young people down a losing path. The problem is getting worse in recent years with kids in their high school years becoming unsuspecting victims. The drugs of choice among today’s youth includes a variety of new designer drugs that have been popping up at an alarming speed. In fact, it can be difficult for law enforcement to keep up this all of the new dangerous substances that continue being introduced on the black market.

Another social issue that has been giving negative effects on the youth of today is early sexual activity. Unlike in previous generations, sex and sexual issues are openly being discussed these days even when youths are within hearing range.

The problem is not exactly limited within a given circle as this has been unwittingly magnified in several channels. In media for example, notably television, movies, and the internet, young people are exposed to different content and images that carry sexual suggestions. Adults are often not around to supervise the actions of their offspring either because they are working or dealing with their own personal problems like alcoholism or divorce.

In this regard, single parenthood is one other growing social concern that modern youth has had to deal with. With only one parent available to look after them, children have had to seek emotional and material support from other people including their peers. This exposes them to a variety of risks especially when no other responsible adult is willing to help them out.

Given these diverse social issues, the future would appear bleak for the youth of today. Still, authorities should take heart in the belief that given proper attention, young people can be nurtured to become competent national leaders.

What are the best solutions to these vexing problems?

Certainly education can help our youth to avoid dangerous drugs and to stay on the right path. In addition, sports teams, tutoring, Sunday schools and other religious and community groups can keep young people occupied and engaged in positive character building activities which will keep them from going astray.

One of the best things we can do is to invest in today’s youth my giving donations to organizations like Stand Up For Kids that work to help the young people of today get out of bad situations and to reach for a bright future. Those of us with less money and more time can also give of ourselves through groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters which allow us to work directly with youths to provide them with exemplary role models.