Navigating Teen Life

So, today is our last podcast of season 1. We will take a short summer break and be back in September! Over the summer, take time to rest and recharge, while also thinking about making some goals for yourself. We want you to feel refreshed in the fall! Tune in to how to make and reach your goals (even if small) over the summer.  We would love your feedback, so please feel free to email us with any topics you’d like to hear or any questions you may have. jenniferlynbier@gmail.comkeliannabonn@gmail.com

Manifestation is creating something or turning something from an idea into a reality using your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. What you put out is what you will receive. Manifestation is a powerful tool that can help you create the life you want to live.Tune in to hear more about manifesting the life you want and take control of your happiness!

Most of our students are getting ready for their end of year exams, which could be a busy and possibly anxiety provoking time. We are here today to give you some tips and tricks to help you prepare.Tune in to how to prepare for exams, ease your anxiety, and get the most out of studying!

As a high school student or young adult, it is important to get involved with different activities. Sports, clubs, volunteer, work, etc- are all great activities to start to explore while a young adult. This will help you navigate what your interests are for future plans. Find something you are interested in getting involved inTry to stick with ascertain activity for consecutive yearsBe open to trying something out of your comfort zone- you never know what lies outside of that zone!Tune in to hear our tips for how and why to get involved!

This episode is geared towards Seniors in high school approaching graduation. It is normal to feel nervous about graduating- are you still going to see your friends, what is life going to be like, will you have to make new friends, should I go to college or get a job? All these questions can be flooding into your brain around this and as your high school times comes to an end. We are here to tell you that everything will work out. Every choice you make, will be for a reason and will lead you on the path you are supposed to be on. Tune in to hear advice on how to navigate this next chapter of life!

This episode is geared towards Juniors. Whether you are thinking about college, working, a trade, enlisting in the army, or whatever path you may choose- as a Junior, it is time to start thinking about your plans. This episode is geared towards those thinking about college because the process can be overwhelming and in-depth. We are here to help!Tune in to hear tips on what you should be doing as a Junior for the college process!

School Counselor, Lauren Giustino, joins us today to talk about happiness. Happiness is a great thing but understanding how to increase your happiness can be the key to living your best life. Lauren is here to talk to us about her research and experience working on increasing happiness. Sleep, movement, and will power are some of the keys to increasing happiness and living your best life.Tune in to hear more about happiness and how to achieve it!

It is never too early to start a resume! Listen to Episode 13 to hear why, when, where, and what to building a resume. We cover the fundamentals to building a resume and share the importance of having one (even as a teen)!- Make a list of activities you have completed- Find the areas where you can grow- Don't be afraid to start as early as Freshman Year with building your resume

Tragedies include: natural disasters, home fires, acts of violence, accidents, etc As you go throughout life, tragedies may occur and it is important to know strategies in how to cope.Reflecting / GrievingRemembering those who were lostHow can the community improve from this experienceWhat changes can be made to make sure the community is safeAre there steps you can take to minimize the same tragedy occurring again?Finding opportunities to serve your community: volunteer, help those in need, setting up Go Fund Me, fundraisers that could become annualCome together as a community Reach out to adults in your school or community to brainstorm ideas that could be positive for those affectedExample: There was a student who passed away in our community from an illness. The community has since created multiple fundraisers, scholarships, and sporting events to honor the students memory, while also raising funds to further research cures for the illnessIt is important to come together in times of tragedy and lossNo one can change what happened but understanding that you are not alone in your feelings can be comforting.Change moving forward can happen when groups of people get together and are motivated to make a difference Takeaways:When a tragedy occurs, take time to reflect and grieve as neededBrainstorm ideas to help better the community after a tragedy occursCome together as one

What do you do with your SATs?SuperScoreMany schools are test optionalFairtest.orgMany still need the exam for scholarship for merit aidThe top schools ask for SATSCould be used as a placement test for entry to collegeWhat does your night look like?Getting to bed earlyPreparing your clothes the night beforeCharging your chrome bookMaking sure you have your calculatorWhat does your morning look like?Waking up early, so you aren’t rushed for schoolEating a healthy and large breakfast to keep your energyBringing water with you to keep up your energyWhat to do if you have nerves before the test:Understand that this is not a reflection of the type of student you areThis is a test to try your best on, it will not make or break your future plansTake deep breaths - 5 in, 5 hold, 5 outThoughts confirming you have been preparing for this in your classesTakeaways:Try your best, it will be okPrepare yourself for the exam the night beforeLook into your list of colleges and better understand their requirements

Mistakes happen- some big, some small. As humans, we will make mistakes, but the actions you take after the mistake happens is what matters. Reflect on past mistakes and think about how you could have done things differently.It is OK to make a mistake. Be mindful of the same mistakes happening over and over again. If it continues to happen, it is no longer a mistake, but a choice. If this is the case- seek additional support to help you through this. Be honest with yourself and others. If a mistake happens, own it, learn from it, and be better prepared next time.

There are basic necessities as part of your daily routine, but listen to this episode for ways to enhance your daily routine, which will ultimately enhance your life! Did you know it takes 21 days for a habit to form and 90 days to make a permanent lifestyle change? This weeks episode talks about ways to help you form a habit and offers personal advice that has helped us!Takeaways - Think about 1 morning and 1 night healthy habit to incorporateWhat would you like to incorporate into your day to make you feel goodStay consistent for 21 days and re-evaluate how you feel

As a teenager, you are often asked questions about what your life is going to be like after high school. What college are you going to? What are you going to study? Are you going straight to work? Where are you going to live?Listen to this week's episode to hear about Aubry Dove's journey to becoming a School Counselor! Would you believe us if we said she once had an Internship in Hollywood with recording studios! There is valuable information in this week's episode if you are thinking about your future path!

We will cover an array of topics on navigating friendships as a teen:- How to build friendships by getting involved - Quality over quantity- Characteristics of a good friend - Reflection of self Listen to Episode 7 for some tips on how to navigate friendships.

There are positives and negatives to social media. Listen in to hear about those positives and negatives, our struggles with social media, and tips to make it a more positive experience!Make sure you are following and surrounding yourself with positive people- in person and on social mediaIf you are experiencing negative thoughts while on social media, take a break from the apps- disable your account for a few days and see if you feel betterSet limits on the amount of time you spend on social media. In your settings, you can put a timer on how long you spend on each app a day. Ex: I have 1 hour for social media apps. After I hit that hour, I get a notification, which makes me reset and think OK I’ve spent my time on social media today now let me channel my energy and time elsewhere. Listen to episode for our three takeaways!

Why is sleep important? How do you improve your sleep? Do you have a bedtime routine? Do you prepare for the next day at night?Tune in to hear some answers to the questions above. Sleep, especially for teens, is so important to live a healthy and productive life. These days, teens are so busy with school, extracurricular activities, working, and so on that having a proper sleep schedule and routine is vital to being able to be successful in all areas. 86% of teens are not getting the recommended 8-10 hours of sleepSetting your goal of when you need to go to sleep and understanding the importance. You have to want to make a change, not just do it because you think you should. Identify your sleep time by counting backwards from your wake timePutting away electronics an hour before bedtimePrepare for the next dayIncorporate a sound machine or listening to music Calm AppInvest in a weighted blanketKeeping your sheets clean and changing them oftenMaking a to do listListen to episode for our three takeaways!

Episode 4: Gratefulness Why is it important to be grateful? There are  many benefits of trying to live a life where you appreciate everything, even the smallest things.Improve sleep, improve mood, stronger immune system, decrease anxiety/depression, feel hopefulThe more positivity you put out, the more you receive *Watch the movie The Secret*Starting your day with 3 things you are grateful for/proud of/looking forward to to create a positive vibe right in the beginning of your dayIt could be as simple as: grateful to be alive or as detailed as: I am proud of completing all of my homework the night before so I am prepared for my classesBeing more aware of the good things/people in your life. If you’re struggling with this, maybe reevaluate who you let into your lifeRemember the 3 things you started your day with and/or remind yourself of a positive in your life Call or talk to someone your close with to work through the negative experienceRemind yourself that the negative you’re facing is temporary and fixable. Ask yourself what you can do to make it better?Listen to episode for our three takeaways!

We all have our unique strengths and weaknesses. It is so much easier to concentrate and notice our weaknesses. Why is that? Our negative thoughts on our actions create negative feelings, which tends to create a longer lasting experience. What if we gave the same amount of attention and energy to the positive things we do? If we took time to create positive thoughts about what we did well, we would then create positive feelings and the overall result would be more positive. So how would you recognize your own strengths?Listen to this episode for some tips on how to recognize your strengths and be comfortable with our weaknesses.

Tune in to hear from Rachel Pangu, a teacher at a high school in Milford, CT. She teaches a variety of courses relating to Child & Human Development & Interior Design and also runs our Child Learning Center. Rachel is a well-respected teacher and colleague. She offers some great ideas and advice for our teens!

Happy New Year!Welcome to our first episode. We are starting a new year and semester at our high school and what a better time to chat about goal setting. We discuss how we best create long term, short term, personal and academic goals for the new year. We share how we hold ourselves accountable and who we share our goals with. What are your goals for 2023? Listen here for some ideas!