Vision Boards Improve Male Student Achievement

Michael Reist, author of “Boys and Girls Learn Differently”, proposes that boys (i) have lower aspirations than girls in grade 8 and 12, (ii) receive approximately 70% of D’s and F’s and (iii) use action to express emotions.

As a student success counsellor who has counseled thousands of boys, I have experienced the self empowerment, confidence and pride that male students gain by simply using the vision board to attain their dreams and goals. I have seen students who entered grade nine with C’s and D’s, focus and persist with the use of a vision board in high school and get accepted into highly competitive colleges and universities.

Jack Canfield, author of “Chicken Soup for the Soul” used this technique to map out how he would become a wealthy to support his family. He made it happen. While he was poor, Jim Carry, a world renown and sought after actor, made out a check for himself for a million dollars, put it in his wallet and looked at it every day. He determined a deadline for his accomplishment, persisted, did what was required of him to attain millionaire status in Hollywood, and made his dream come true within the deadline he had set for himself. You, too, can achievement anything you want.

Below are habits that you can begin right now to attain your goals.

The Benefits of Using a Vision Board:

(i) It’s all about YOU!

(ii) It will bring you optimism and hope for your future immediately.

(iii) You will create trust with your parents immediately by showing them that you have a plan to get a return on their investment (i.e. your job in school is to learn how to be the best student and person you are capable of so you learn to become independently wealthy).

(iv) Sessions with your guidance counsellor at school will become more focused and purposeful, keeping you on track with your academic focus.

(v) Your grades will improve immediately.

Work on Your Mindset & Make the Decision to Get A’s and B+’s:

(i) Ask yourself, “what kind of a student do I really want to be ?” Visualize your best student self and list the qualities on paper.

(ii) Ask yourself, “Why do I want this?”. The “why” has to be so great that it will keep you going when you feel defeated and want to quit. The reasons should both challenge and excite you. List these on paper.

(iii) Ask yourself, “How badly do I want this?”. You need to be willing to sacrifice family parties, family dinners, social life, March breaks, summers, etc.

(iv) The best revenge is doing well.  If you have strained relationships with your family, keep being true to yourself and strive to break generational curses.  Strive to be reach your best student self and bring honour to your family.

Create Your Vision Board:

(i) Purchase a bulletin board or get a piece of 8×11 paper. Or use your bedroom wall.

(ii) It can be as male oriented as you want (e.g. a golfer can create a vision board that emulates a golf course, using green paper (for grass), flags for deadlines, words for goals).

(iii) Put on your vision board magazine pictures that emulate the dreams you’re aspiring to attain (eg. a photo of an athlete receiving medal, first choice college, car you want to own, etc.).

(iv) Display your vision board in a place where you can look at it everyday to remind yourself of your goals (e.g.. in your bedroom, wallet (if it’s on paper),

Implement Your Strategy for Achievement:

(i) Look at your vision board every day to keep you from getting distracted.

(ii) Involve your guidance counsellors, teacher advisors, parents and siblings.  They’re rooting for your success and will help you stay on track.Check in with your guidance counsellor or teacher advisor every month to make sure you’re on track.

(iii) If you have setbacks, keep going.  Seek out teachers to reteach concepts you don’t understand, tutors and/or peer tutors for support and teaching content; and counsellors for support and guidance.

(iv) Reward yourself for staying on track (e.g. watch a favorite video, go to a party, etc.)

(v) Most importantly, feel proud of yourself that you are doing the honorable thing by being your best student self. Know that great rewards are still to come.

To reach your highest student self google thejayoasis blog and follow the steps outlined on the article, “How to Become an A and B+ student”.

 

 

 

 

Students: How to Access College Scholarships

Dr. Judy Osmond

College scholarships are easily available to students and are a great financial asset to anyone who is willing to pursue them.  Unfortunately, while students may find opportunities online or through their guidance counselling offices at school, many diligent students will not actually apply because of their fear and perceived inability to writing essays.

I know, from professional experience, that approaching the essay in an organized way will yield great results. As a student success coach, I have helped students earn thousands of dollars from scholarships and watched students attain highly competitive scholarships with great odds stacked against them. Here’s a way to succeed:

Start:

(i) Ask yourself, “How much scholarship money do I want?” Visualize your best student self and write your response on paper.

(ii) Ask yourself, “Why do I want this?”. The reason has to be so great that it will keep you going when you feel defeated and want to quit. The reasons should both challenge and excite you. List these on paper.

(iii) Ask yourself, “How badly do I want this?”. You need to be willing to sacrifice family parties, family dinners, social life, March breaks, summers, etc.

(iv) Write your goals on a vision board and remind yourself every day of your goals.

Your Mindset:

(i)  Practice patience. Know that this is a process that will take lots of time.It will take several drafts to get the essays right.

(ii) Practice optimism. Know that all successful people have doubts and insecurities but continue their path in spite of their own emotions. Listen to your heart and make it happen.

(iii) Practice persistence, focus and discipline. The combination of these three elements will lead to great success.  Be bold and courageous, my friend!

Timeline:

(A) 11th grade (junior year) in high school:

(i) Research colleges and prioritize a list of your top five colleges of choice.

(ii) Get organized.  Create a folder for each college you are applying to so that you may file scholarship applications, pamphlets, etc. for easy access. Make note of timelines.

(iii) Attend college sessions offered at your school and in your community.

(iv) Target your first and second choice schools and listen to university advisors about how to access scholarships in specific schools.

(iv) Begin creating your support team of counsellors and English teachers who will coach you through and help you edit your essay.

(B) Summer Going into Senior Year (12th Grade):

(i) Research books and watch YouTube videos to learn how others were successful in earning scholarship money.

(ii) Write one essay and one scholarship at a time.  Make note of timeline for each of them.

(iii) Seek the help of counsellors and teachers to help edit your work and offer suggestions for improvement.  They really want to help you succeed.

(iv) Repeat the steps above until all essays are completed.

 (C) 12th Grade (senior year) in high school:

(i) Three (3) weeks into the school year,  access counsellors and teachers  (when they have a little more time to help you) to help you complete any essays/scholarship applications.

(ii) Submit scholarship applications at least one week before deadline to allow for technical difficulties, emergencies, etc.

(iii) Continue being your highest best student self and finish the year strong.

Tips on Writing Essays:

(i) Research books and watch YouTube videos the topic of “how to write award winning essays”.

(ii) Follow directions.  Do exactly what the essay requires (e.g.. write  only 450 words or less if it asks for 450 words or less; double space if it asks for double space, etc.).

(iii) Read, read, read the topic and begin writing down at least three points you want to get across in the essay.  Ask yourself, “what impression do I want to leave the essay reader with”, and “what is it that I really want to say?”.

(iv) Seek the advice of your high school counsellor and/or English teacher.  Ask them if your outline is in line with the topic.

(vi) Begin your first draft.

(v) Continue writing, editing, reviewing, reading and repeat. When you’re ready, seek help and support from your counsellor and/or English teacher.

(vi) Keep going until you and your counsellor/English teacher have given you the  green light of approval.

 

 

 

 

From C’s and D’s to A’s and B+’s

Dr. Judy Osmond

Students who consistently earn A’s and B+’s in high school are often misunderstood. It’s easy for students who do not attain such high grades to think that getting good grades is a mystery, a stroke of sheer luck or a result of being born a genius.

As a Student Success Counsellor I have observed thousands of students, over the course of my career, who wanted to get into some of the most competitive schools in the world.  I have been part of many “miracles” in middle and high school where, through goal setting and vision  boards, I have experienced the accomplishments of students who have come to realize their college and career dreams.

Achieving high grades is an art that needs practice, repetition, and discipline. Having been a poor student, a mediocre student and an excellent student, I know that it is possible to be the top of your class, no matter the obstacles in your life. The habits are simple. If you really want to attain the grades to get into a top competitive  school, practice the following habits:

Work on Your Mindset & Make the Decision to get A’s and B+’s:

(i) Ask yourself, “what kind of a student do I really want to be ?” Visualize your best student self and list the qualities on paper.

(ii) Ask yourself, “Why do I want this?”. The reason has to be so great that it will keep you going when you feel defeated and want to quit. The reasons should both challenge and excite you. List these on paper.

(iii) Ask yourself, “How badly do I want this?”. You need to be willing to sacrifice family parties, family dinners, social life, March breaks, summers, etc.

(iv) Write your goals on a vision board and remind yourself every day of your goals.

Show Your Best Self in Class:

(i) Impress your teacher at the beginning of each semester by getting your work in on time, taking notes, contributing to class discussions, making appropriate comments, etc.

(ii) Choose to sit in class near students who are focused and will help keep you on track.

(iii) Ask your teachers what you need to do to get an A in their class, listen to their suggestions and and practice doing what they require.

(iv) Have a great attitude towards teachers and administrators.  Think that they only want you to succeed and that they want to help you.

Seek Help from Teachers, Tutors & Peers

(i) Get a support team behind you whom you can call on to help with homework and motivation.  Students who achieve great results in school have tutors and students that help them through their challenges and failures.

(ii) Be brave and take notice of your mistakes and weaknesses. Relearn material, if that’s what it takes to get better results in the future and seek the help of your teacher and/or tutor.

(iii) Observe the “A” students in your classes, watch their study habits (e.g.. how they take notes, how they focus, whom they sit with, etc.) and begin role modeling their academic behavior.

Become Efficient When You Do Homework

(i)  Ask the “A” students how they get through homework and model after them.

(ii) Meet with teachers during lunch or after school to clarify any questions you may need answered for homework or test purposes.

(iii) Find “hidden” time during school hours to do homework, such as during lunch, in study halls, time during class.

Choose Your Friends Wisely

(i)  Surround yourself with peers who have the same academic goals as you and will support you.

(ii) Choose to do homework with students who are better students than you so you can learn from them.

(iii) Find peers who make you feel great about your accomplishments.

(iv) Find people who are ethical and have integrity.  They will influence you to make wise choices, work hard and strive for excellence.

Whether you actually attain your goal and get accepted into a competitive school or not, one thing is for sure.  When you know that you’ve done your personal best to attain a goal you will experience more pride and confidence than you can dream. Accomplishing personal goals on your own terms is not only satisfying but it will bring out the very best character in you.  This, my friend, will lead you to greatness in both your personal and career life.  You know you’re destined to be great. Now show yourself what you are really willing to do to make it happen!

Reinvention: How to Become an Interesting Person

Dr. Judy Osmond

Don’t you just love being around people who are interesting? There’s just something about the their company that leaves us feeling more positive, energetic, optimistic and hopeful. We feel great about ourselves, the world and the life we live.

Those of us who live a conscious life and actively seek to make ourselves interesting reap the benefits of having terrific and unique experiences, memories and stories that make for great conversations, and attracting more job opportunities, customers and wealth to our lives.

Wouldn’t you love to have people make comments about how you made them feel better about themselves or encouraged them to make positive changes in their lives or be a better person? What a great legacy to live and leave behind!

After years of being in the company of people who live interesting and fulfilling lives, I have observed and learned that we possess certain qualities and mindset that includes  

(i)  being conscious about living an interesting and fulfilling life.

(ii) being curious about life and all its adventures.

(iii) believing that we can create our own world.

(iv) having a desire to adore our life.

(v) having a desire to experience life fully in the moment.

(vi) having a desire to reach our higher self.

(vii) being the CEO of our own lives, presenting ourselves as an asset to conversations.

The habits of interesting people include

(i) being decisive about what we want.

(ii) taking the chance of putting ourselves out there in spite of fear.

(iii) opening ourselves up to getting to know people with the same interest.

(iv) striving to bring out the best in everyone else in every situation.

(v) making others feel comfortable and at ease in our company.

(vi) listening to and respecting what others have to say in the conversation.

(vii) saying “yes” to interesting opportunities present themselves to us.

The art of becoming more interesting is, in and of itself, an acquired skill.  Begin this moment to make it a practice to do something today that will make the day more interesting and memorable.  Adore your life. You only live once and, if you live it right, once is enough!

Self-Invention: How to Deal with Doubt

Dr. Judy Osmond

As we go through the process of self-invention, our defeated self will often think the worst. Will I ever laugh again? Will I ever feel normal again? Will I ever reach the goals and dreams I’ve set for myself? We will also catch ourselves thinking, “clearly, I must be out of my mind to be doing this! Why can’t I be satisfied and just put up with my lot in life?”. While we may experience hours, and days or weeks of hopelessness and fear, this doubt and fear may be used to serve as a catalyst to motivate us into action and move us towards our goals.

Yes we will laugh again, feel normal again, and we will reach our goals if we are persistent, focused and disciplined.  And no, we are not out of our minds.  Had we stayed in our former situation we would surely lose a little more of our mind every day. Once we come to terms with the fact that the consequence of staying in our past situation would have been detrimental to our happiness and evolvement of our higher self, we need to keep going in the direction of our dreams.

When consumed in self doubt

(1) get plenty of exercise and eat well.  It’s imperative that we stay healthy.

(2) read books and listen to YouTube videos on all things business and inspiration. The more we listen to voices of reason and develop a support of authors and speakers, we will begin to feel part of a larger company and world.

(3) get in the habit of writing ideas on paper every day.  The more we practice this habit, the closer we get to having access to more and more ideas. It becomes easier and faster to write.  When this day does finally arrive, you will feel as though we’re on the verge of a  breakthrough.  We will feel like our hard work is beginning to pay off. It took me eight months to get to this point this time around, but I made it and am feeling positive and reassured.

(4) have a routine and keep to it. This will give us a feeling of control.

(5) make sure to have at least one thing to look forward to such as a club, support group of friends, sports, volunteerism, dancing, etc. We need a balance of friendship, love and support.

Self-Reinvention: How to Reduce Anxiety

Dr. Judy Osmond

In our quest of the intervention, it is easy to feel worried, get worked up, and  get into a state of anxiety. The easy part of our journey is setting our goals, creating our vision board and reading books to support us along the way.  The hard part, however is to manage our emotions and anxiety.

Scenario: Katie awakened three hours ago and began to think about the phone call she received yesterday from a Human Resources Department wanting her to do a video interview. She began to get stressed out at the very idea of video taping herself. She also decided to spend two hours of her morning redesigning her Facebook page which cost her time. This activity alone triggered terrible memories and thoughts of all the family drama that exists in her mind, sending her into a downward spiral immediately.

In this moment, her life became smaller. The magnitude of  both situations together became one big blur of impossibilities. The longer she thought about all the things in her life that were going badly, the more her world was looking darker and hopeless. Katie began to feel defeated and miserable.  She began to get teary-eyed and managed to  work herself up into a state of anxiety.

Five things that Katie can do to reduce her anxiety immediately: 

(i) seek out a coach/mentor/friend to help manage her emotions.

(ii) write down the people/events/thoughts that serve as triggers to her anxiety and focus on avoiding them in the future.

(iii) create or attend a mastermind group with people who are reinventing themselves and get support.

(iv) seek out books and/or YouTube videos that give ideas on video interviewing and begin to write ideas on paper that she can start implementing immediately.

(v) spend five minutes or less per week on Facebook. Redesign the page with only one outcome in mind:  to improve her professional online presence that supports her job application.

 

Self-Reinvention: How to Navigate Through the Process

Dr. Judy Osmond

Self-reinvention takes an active strategy. The art of making changes in one’s life is a commitment to oneself that begins every day with making the decision to get up out of bed, access all that the world offers in terms of its support of the quest, and move towards your goal.

Here’s a list of active things that you can begin immediately to navigate your path towards excellence and reinvention:

(1) First and foremost, get healthy and stay healthy! Eat well and exercise.

(2) Self care is key. We have to do whatever it takes to stay emotionally healthy. Make sure you pursue the very activities that breathes life into you and makes you feel alive.

(3) Establish a routine that gets you out of the house and into the community.

(4) Increase your professional online presence on social media.

(5) Get into the habit of recording ideas every day about how to improve your situation.

(6) Read a minimum of three books or listen to several podcasts per week that gives you ideas about your business and inspires you to keep going.

(7) Join organizations and/or volunteer to make connections.

(8) Access the library. It’s free and full of books, ideas and interesting people.

(9) Reach out to your friends. They love you and want to help you succeed.

(10) Begin doing the things you promised yourself you would always do but couldn’t find the time. If not now, when?

(11) If you’re searching for a job, be patient. Know that you will have to do an online profile for every job application. Also, even though you will never receive a response from many of these employers, you must never take it personally.

(12) Keep working on and polishing your resume and cover letter. Customize for every job application.

Congratulations! You’re well on your way to reinventing yourself. It will all be worth it! I know. I’ve done it.

Self-Reinvention: The Benefits

Dr. Judy Osmond

Having reinvented my life several times, I have come to embrace the power of reinvention in all its glory. While we may experience stress, fear, self doubt, and humility, we will most certainly experience more joy and fulfillment than we had ever dreamed.

I have a lived a life that many will only dream about and revel in the share delight of its power to liberate and transform me to heights of greatness. You can reach this same level of fulfillment and joy as well.

I have been driven by the quest of the greater consequence.  I asked myself the question, “what do I fear most – the consequence of making the change or the consequence of staying the same?”  Clearly, in all the times I have reinvented myself, I knew that staying in the same situation would only lead to sadness, hopelessness and discontent.  Life is too short to take the chance.

The consequences of making a positive change and reinventing yourself will yield

(1) a happier and more content you, keeping yourself positive and optimistic. Other people are attracted to positive and optimistic people.  We will grow a greater support group.

(2) a more interesting you. Joining a bridge club and ballroom dance, for example, will provide the opportunity to learn new skills and become more competitive.  You will be invited to partner with many other interesting individuals.

(3) more positive and memorable experiences. You will get invited to great events and people’s homes.

(4) optimal professional growth.  We experience different leadership models, increasing a repertoire of skills and abilities.

(5) a more satisfying and fulfilling life, one that is full of more possibilities and successes than we could ever dream.

(6) a more resilient you. The more you stretch your limits, the more confidence you will hone for the next big surprise or opportunity that comes your way.

Be bold and courageous, my friend!

 

Self-Reinvention: The Mindset

Dr. Judy Osmond

People who have experienced the process of reinventing themselves have the mindset of a warrior, a never-give-up mentality of simply being focused, persistent  and disciplined.  There is no magic. Other people may call it “luck” that you’re so happy and fulfilled.  We call it “hard work and intentional living”.

As you begin the journey of self-reinvention, strive to live this mindset. . .

(1) give yourself credit for having the courage to make a change in your life.

(2) be grateful for the support of family and friends who are helping you live your dream.

(3) remember to always put your oxygen mask on first before putting it on anyone else (i.e. attend to your own life of excellence and fulfillment first before allowing yourself to be dependent on anyone else).

(4) reflect on past experiences where you’ve made a positive change in your life and conquered your circumstances.

(5) keep in mind that this situation is temporary and will get much better in time.

(6) be bold and courageous, my friend! This moment is all we have. The rest is an illusion.

 

 

Self-Reinvention: The Timeline

Dr. Judy Osmond

Recently, I made a big move and returned to my home country. It wasn’t easy.  In fact, this was probably the most difficult transition I’ve experienced to date, both professionally and personally.  I was living the dream and had every reason to stay. I had a great career in a top tier international boarding school, an extraordinary support system, and a breath taking address.Ultimately, I made the decision to reinvent myself and take my career to another level.

Our past experience reassures us that the future looks bright and this will most certainly be the best experience ever.  As counsellors, we want keep making a difference in the lives of people whom we serve and adore more of what life has to offer.

It is with the spirit of love and best wishes for your happiness that I share things I’ve learned about self reinvention. I hope you this will help you take the leap of faith and reinvent yourself as well . . .

It has been my experience that the act of reinventing oneself, to really give oneself the full chance of success, takes approximately five (5) years:

Year 1: You may feel like you’re starting at zero again. You will experience self doubt, frustration, anger, self pity, regret, hopelessness, etc.  You will make new friends and learn how much work that job search actually takes. You create your new vision board, filled with new goals and dreams that you wish to pursue.  You know, deep down inside, that you will accomplish these goals with a lot of work and persistence (as you’ve done in the past).

Year 2: You begin to see light at the end of the tunnel.  You begin to see the fruit of your labour and feel the support of your new friends. You get that new job, begin to decorate your residence and surround yourself with all of your personal things.  You have a routine that works for you and begin to focus on making a difference in your career.

Year 3: You feel excited at work and your social life begins to really take off. You’re getting really busy with all the invitations to social events.  You feel like you’re not only coping – but thriving.  You’re beginning to feel happy and contented with your life again.

Year 4: You’re intentionally looking for ways to improve your office/organization.  You’re expanding your horizons and are making a significant and positive difference in the lives of everyone around you.  People comment on how much they love your company.  You’re thriving and shining your positive energy everywhere you go.  You join community groups, serve on leadership teams and are a vital member of every community you’re involved in.

Year 5: You’ve made it.  You’re at the top of your game and are looking around to see if there are any more improvements to be made to the communities and companies in which you’re a member.  You have seen and done it all! You’re beginning to ask yourself if you should stay or if you should go. The decision to stay or change is one that can only be made from within.

In the words of the great Shakespeare, “To thine own self be true”.