Seven Ways to Help High Schoolers Find Purpose

How do we bring engagement, real-life lessons, and a sense of meaning into teens' lives? Patrick Cook-Deegan discovered after years of experience and research that the most fulfilling and useful real-world lessons are not being taught in typical high school classrooms -- like collaboration, passion, and learning from failure. In a system that values extrinsic rewards over internal values, students are likely to become bored and disillusioned. On top of this, teens are reporting that they are not developing meaningful relationships with adults at school, an important aid in finding purpose. In this age of technology and distraction, Cook-Deegan has found that the answer begins within, an idea that makes sense not just for teenagers but for all of us. Whether you have teens or not, you'll appreciate these concise, insightful suggestions on how to bring meaning to your life -- and help others find purpose for themselves.

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