By L. Charles Fernandez

If math was your strong suit in high school and college, you might consider giving a career as a financial engineer a try. Leading brokerage houses such as Merrill Lynch are increasingly interested in hiring financial engineers to help guide their businesses. In fact, Merrill Lynch provided a grant to MIT to launch a financial engineering program.

Nowadays, a certificate in financial engineering is considered to be an express route to Wall Street and to the job security and financial rewards that it represents. Mathematical modeling is a hot property in the investment industry--and financial engineers can provide it.

An advanced degree is absolutely critical to obtaining a position as a financial engineer. Preferably, you should have a graduate degree from a highly reputable institution known for its advanced math and financial management programs. While there is some glamour associated with the term financial engineer, the work of such an engineer basically involves repackaging financial products. As a result, you not only have to have a mind for math, but you must also have solid judgment, since you will be handling other people's money.

In addition, you must be highly ethical in order to succeed as a financial engineer. You must demonstrate that you are honest and trustworthy and that you will not divulge sensitive information to the public. Likewise, you must have a good understanding of the law as it relates to financial dealings.

Interestingly enough, experts in the field say the best financial engineers are actually self-taught. That's because the work requires stellar problem-solving ability--something a graduate course cannot necessarily teach you. Once you master the work, though, you may be astounded at the financial benefits you will receive, since such jobs typically pay more than $100,000.

By Daneel Andersson

David Michael Navarro was born on 7 July, 1967, in Santa Monica, California. His childhood life came under a cloud when his parents separated while he was only 7 years old. Among all the tremors in his personal life, he started playing guitar at the early age of 7 after getting inspiration from the rock legend Jimi Hendrix.

The tragic murder of his mother and aunt had a lasting impact on his life and he moved in with his father. Incidentally, the murderer of his mother was caught with the aid of T.V. show America's Most Wanted and Dave remained one of the prime witnesses of the persecution of the murderer. His cousin Dan Navarro supported him and helped him grasp the basics of playing guitar. Dave created his first band in High school with Stephen Perkins, one of the founders of Jane's Addiction. It was Perkins who paved the way for Navarro to join Jane's Addiction in 1986 as the leading guitarist.

His time with this band was a roller coaster ride, at first, exposing Dave with instant fame and fortune, but subsequently he fell for drugs that eventually ended his journey with the band in 1991. Later he joined Eric Avery, to form 'Deconstuction', but the effort lasted only one album due to divergences. in 1993, after the departure of John frusciante, Dave joined Red Hot Chili Peppers for one album until he returned back to Jane's Addiction in the Jane's Relapse tour bringing with him Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Michael Balzary "Flea".

Navarro's different style of song writing and his approach towards life was leading to constant disturbances to his time in Jane's Addiction. Once when he arrived at a rehearsal under the use of drugs and fell down, that turned out to be the end of the road for him. In his next four years he played music with several solo singers and bands including Marilyn Mansen, Trent Reznor, Christiana Aguilera, Nancy Raygun and he also featured in the song 'Guns N Roses' for 'End of Days'. Finally in June 2001 Dave released his first solo album 'Trust No One'.

Like Dave's music career his personal relationships have also been unstable with three unsuccessful marriages. In 1990, his first marriage took place with make-up artist Tania Goddard and in 1994 he got married to Rhian Gittins. After two abortive efforts, in 2003, he bonded himself in relationship with famous model and actress Carmen Electra. But the pattern continued and both of them announced their divorce in 2006 to the Star Magazine.

In 2002, Dave continued his work with Jane's Addiction and accompanied the band with their world tours. While aiding other musicians in their work, in 2005, Dave started to host a reality show Rock Star: INXS and also featured in the next season Rock Star: Supernova. In 2006, Dave Navarro started to produce music with The Panic Channel that included his mates Stephen Perkins, Steve Isaacs and Chris Chaney.

Soon after Dave initiated his own radio station named Speed Radio Live where he co-hosts shows. In 2007, Dave stated that he wanted to use the internet to support emerging artists and prefers this media due to lack of censorship. Along the way Dave has been doing non-music work such as writing reviews, columns and making several appearances in comedy shows and documentaries. The music career of Dave Navarro has truly been a roller coaster ride just like his personal life, he has played with several bands and artists but has never strayed from is own style and continues to produce quality work.

By Jeffrey Reeves

1776 - 1789...

Brave men came together in Philadelphia in 1776 to write and publish the Declaration of Independence. Many of them were ideologues. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston were appointed to draft the Declaration.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were at decidedly different points on the ideological spectrum. However, they wrote an amazing document that, based only on its content, emancipated the United States of America and millions of people since.The question is, "How did Jefferson and Adams overcome their ideological differences?" The answers are many, but one can sum them up in two words: ideas and ideals.

The third major force on that committee, Benjamin Franklin was a man of ideas and ideals. He was not an ideologue. Benjamin Franklin was a man of principles - just as John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were. However, his principles grew from ideas and ideals, not from an ideology.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were familiar with Benjamin Franklin and his patient ways from years of interaction. They both respected his wisdom. As they were also men of ideas and ideals, they willingly laid down their ideological swords and took up the battle for American Independence with ideas and ideals as their primary weapons.

About fifty-five new Americans met in Philadelphia in 1787. Among them were James Madison, George Mason, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin. Their goal was to debate the Articles of Confederation and draft a new constitution for the fledgling United States of America.

Almost every participant came equipped with an ideology about what the U.S. Constitution should look like. Over an arduous two years (1787-1789), those clashing ideologies lost their power. Ideas and ideals won out and young America adopted the purest governing document ever devised. It included the first ever Bill of Rights that guarantees individual rights over government control.

What's Wrong With Ideology...

Ideologues claim leadership by self-reference. They demand rigid adherence to self-proclaimed dogmatic declarations. These are pseudo-leaders. They don't encourage ideas and ideals. In fact, they legislate against them and sometimes even punish them.

The history of 20th century Europe, Russia, China, Japan, South Africa, Afghanistan, and others clearly demonstrate these facts. If that doesn't convince you, do you remember reading 1984 by George Orwell and Lord of the Flies by William Golding in high school and college?

Ideologues only masquerade as leaders. They are not interested in the wealth and well-being of We the People. They adhere to a set of principles regardless of how their ideology affects the rest of us. They accomplish their goals just because they are their goals.

Act I - Enter The Federal Government

The National debt is almost twelve trillion dollars - that's 12,000 x $1,000,000,000. There are only about 310,000,000 Americans to pay that debt. That's about 100,000,000 American families. Many calculators don't have enough digits to even figure out how much each American individual and family owes based on these numbers. You can find out the details if you visit bigredcalculator.com.

This massive debt is the result of an ideology of profligate spending in Washington DC. The U.S Congress abandoned the American ideas and ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Our government is corrupt. The oligarchy that resides in Washington DC is more interested in power and personal wealth than in the wealth and well-being of Americans.

Act II - Enter a Model of Personal Economics

Individual American citizens and citizen families are the only hope to resurrect those ideas and ideals that are the foundation of our country and of our personal economies.

A model for personal economics allows Americans to create and manage their money. It does not address the addiction of the Federal Government to power and money. Political action will dethrone the self-appointed gods of government, but individuals practicing money management based on American ideas and ideals will survive and succeed.

Americans need a model that empowers individuals and families to thrive regardless of the foolishness in DC. Americans need a model that embodies the laws of personal economics and incorporates the simple steps that assure financial success.

Act III - Americans Take Action

Millions of Americans have tested and proven the ideas and ideals that the Founding Fathers laid down over two hundred years ago. They have shown that those simple ideas and ideals work in good times and bad: Industriousness, frugality, prudence, humility, saving money instead of risking it to every quick money scheme or hot mutual fund or investment that comes along.

Americans have proven millions of times over that personal effort and free markets are the surest and best way to insure and preserve individual liberty. It's time to demand that the government and the Behemoths of big business, big unions, big Pharma, big everything get the heck out of our way and let us grow rich without risk and secure wealth without worry.

By Paul Davis

My dad is a lot of fun. He's always had a great sense of humor, a playful nature and a love for adventure. Growing up I had the good fortune of working with my dad as a paper delivery boy and a contractor's assistant.

My dad taught me how to play baseball, pitch, field ground balls, hit a baseball and steal bases. Though I did not have the best speed on the team, my dad taught me to cleverly steal bases. He showed me how to catch people asleep on the field and properly time a steal. Because of my dad's coaching my little league teams which I played on came in first place twice. Though I didn't have the size of other kids, I had the smarts and talent thanks to my dad's skillful coaching.

My pop's went to Delaney Elementary and Boone High School when he was a youngster. He apparently acquired the nickname "Bo Dad" during his high school days. He played football for the Boone and was a linebacker. One of his high school year books called him the "monster man."

My dad took me on a few fishing trips when I was younger. We once got a canoe and journeyed down a river. Another time he took the family out deep sea fishing where we caught lots of trout, which was quite fun. One thanksgiving day we sat out at our little lake adjacent to the state park and filled a basket with brim which we caught off of the dock.

One funny story I recall is when my dad wanted to show me how he could pole vault. We were out in the country by the state park (during our time living in a mobile home, which we call "the trailer"), when dad said, "You want to see me pole vault?" I was a bit dumbfounded not knowing what he was talking about.

Then he showed me an old tree stick that he was preparing to use to go over a barbed wire fence. I was a bit puzzled and tried to discourage him, but good old dad was "feeling his oats" that day. He got a running start, put his pole (tree stick) in the ground and prepared to thrust off it to maneuver himself over the barbed wire fence. It was then the stick snapped in half and "Bo Dad" was tumbling down on the barbed wire. It was a hot day and dad wasn't wearing a shirt. He got some pretty deep gouges that day and drew quite a bit of blood too. I won't tell you what choice words he shouted when he came barreling down on the barbed wire and hurt himself. Yet I can tell you this, being around my dad is never boring. You can always count on him to entertain you by what he does and says.

I best remember my dad with a happy-go-lucky smile on his face. I see myself to be quite a bit like him, with a positive attitude and uplifting disposition. He gave me the gift of laughter which I cherish to this day.

Paul Davis is author of Breakthrough for a Broken Heart a book telling us "How to overcome disappointments and blossom into your dreams!" He is a life coach (relational & professional), popular worldwide keynote speaker, creative consultant, humor being, adventurer, explorer, mediator, minister, liberator and dream-maker.

Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has also brought revival to many in war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His nonprofit organization Dream-Maker Ministries is building dreams and breaking limitations.

By Regina Bernardo

You always watch this goody goody demure girl snuggle up to Clark Kent on the hit tv series Smallville. And now, Kristin Kreuk is sure to warm up the big screen as this hot and sexy young actress plays the lead role of tough chick Chun-Li in the upcoming Street Fighter film.

Born in Canada, 25-year old Kristin is of Dutch and Chinese descent. Her first television appearance was in Edgemont, a teen soap opera set at a Vancouver-area high school. After shooting its first season, she landed the lead role in a television movie Snow White: The Fairest of Them All, which aired on ABC in 2002.

Kristin's biggest break came when her agent sent an audition tape to screenwriters who were putting together the cast of a new show entitled Smallville, which revolves around the life of teenager Clark Kent before he becomes Superman. The hot and sexy actress was originally unsure about auditioning for Lana Lang's role, but was impressed upon reading the graveyard scene from the pilot episode that when she was offered the role, she immediately accepted it.

In addition, the hot and sexy actress is also the spokesmodel for Neutrogena's new worldwide ad campaign, thus following the footsteps of fellow teen stars such as Jennifer Love Hewitt and Mandy Moore. In 2005, she renewed her contract for another two years, making her the company's longest-serving model spokesperson.

Aside from Smallville, hot and sexy Kristin made her first feature film in 2003, which was a cameo appearance in Eurotrip. In 2004, she took the role of Tenar for the Sci-Fi Channel's two-part miniseries Legend of Earthsea and signed on to the independent feature film Partition in 2005. In the summer of 2006, she starred in a short film called the Dream Princess, which was a modern sci-punk retelling of the tale of Sleeping Beauty. Her next film is Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li.

By David Bryan

Matchbox toy cars have never gone out of style. These diecast collectibles are hotter than ever in toy collecting world. The Matchbox car toy series was created in 1952 by Jack Odell when he cast a small metal miniature of a Road Roller and inserted it in a matchbox container so his daughter could take it to school with her. More than 50 years later, the Matchbox brand is still known to collectors and children alike for its high quality, model diversity and affordability. In many retail outlets, Matchbox cars are still sold for around a dollar a car and each year more than 100 million of them are sold to collectors and kids alike.

The first Lesney series of Matchbox toy cars measured up to eight inches long. It was during the 1950's that the Lesney Company began to focus mostly on miniature sizes of the diecast cars. The No. 1 Diesel Road Roller, No. 2 Dumper, and No. 3 Cement Mixer were first released in 1953. Lesney then decided that the vehicles in this beginning series, known better as the 1-75 series, would be limited to only seventy-five different makes and models. Though new models and makes were made each year, when a new car came out, an older one was removed from the series. This same practice is still in place today with the toy car series.

The Mattel toy company started to compete in the die-cast car market in 1961 when the production of their Hot Wheels brand was introduced. The Lesney company went bankrupt in 1982 and sold the rights of the Matchbox brand name to Universal Toys. In 1992, the the Matchbox brand name was then sold to Tyco Toys whose toy division was ironically bought out by the Mattel toy company in 1997.

Throughout all the years, Matchbox toy cars remained widely collected and traded. With the birth of the internet and the start of eBay in 1995, it opened up a wider outlet for collectors all over the world to buy and sell cars in their collection. On any given day, their are thousands of the toy cars available on eBay and the Wal-Marts of the world too have a very large selection to choose from.

Matchbox toy car collecting is both fun and profitable and a great hobby for both young and old. It is never too late to start collecting both new and rare Matchbox cars.

By Jacques Sprenger

Few experts in education would disagree that modern children lack proper discipline. One of the many causes lies in the new role that women play in society. They work outside the home and spend little time with their children as compared to traditional women in the 50's. Some mothers will argue that when they get home, they are too tired to really enforce the rules. They will also state that they have no choice: The cost of living has risen so much that one salary will simply not suffice; finally, they argue with some justice that they are entitled to a career just as much as men.

So how can we obtain the necessary discipline from our children nowadays? As a high school teacher I have observed that most students fail academically because they simply have no idea how to organize their time. When they leave school, they leave everything behind, including their learning. Their free time is spent with buddies, watching TV, or partying with the girlfriend. Homework has become an anachronism. Studying outside of the school is simply not done and the main cause is the lack of discipline. Parents don't have time to check or simply don't have the skills to help with certain subjects.

The consequences of a lack of self-discipline can be catastrophic. What kind of job will tolerate coming in late and/or not being prepared to deliver projects on time? The only way a teen will learn self-discipline is in the military, where sergeants have all the power to impose their will, unlike parents and teachers. So it stands to reason that the learning process must start in childhood, preferably in pre-school with the support of parents. Since they don't have the time to impose discipline, the teachers must take over with the parents' consent. But on many occasions, irate mothers complain about schools' punishments, especially toward small children. They fail to see that they themselves have created a spoiled little brat.

There are other causes for the the lack of self-discipline in children: Television fare is hardly conducive towards role models. The main message is Buy, Sell, Make Money, Have Sex and Be Self-Indulgent. What kind of society makes a spectacle out of eating hot dogs and applauds the 'winner'? What kind of society glorifies two men beating each other to a pulp inside a cage? What kind of society watches with perverse delight the Jerry Springer show?

We are creating a new generation of obese, lazy, and self-indulgent individuals who refuse to take responsibility for their actions. They sue the tobacco companies for their own addiction, as if somebody had put a gun to their heads to start smoking. They sue McDonald's for being fat after years of gorging themselves with fatty food. The nutty judge sues the dry cleaner for millions for a lost pair of pants. Pretty soon children will sue their parents for giving birth to them!

We must return to the old values of the 50's:

1.Enforce your threats of punishment. There is nothing worse than a mother who constantly tells her kids that she will take away television time and doesn't come through.

2.Establish a timeline for every activity: Home from school means homework time, no ifs and buts. To bed at 9:00 o'clock does not mean 9:10 or 9:30. On week-ends parents must limit their younger children's TV time to 2 hours a day at the most. Find constructive activities for them outside the house.

3.Make sure you and your husband agree on discipline, so kids won't be able to divide and conquer.

4.If you leave the kids with grandma or a maid, ask them to enforce the rules.

5.Kids love discipline, believe it or not. They know you are doing it because of love, not anger.

6.Punishment must be immediate or as soon as possible. They must understand that you won't tolerate bad behavior. But it must also fit the 'crime'; excessive or unfair punishment will cause resentment and will only drive them to more bad behavior. Above all, do not rule by fear; it is extremely destructive to the self-esteem of children.

7.Support your teachers' decisions, even if you don't agree with them. If you don't, your child will use you as a weapon against the teacher.

8.Be fair with all siblings; any sign of favoritism will cause internecine wars inside the family. The same 'crime' must derive into the same punishment.

9.Most important: Reward good behavior as often as possible. "Since you behaved very well all week, I am going to take you to x spectacle, or buy you the video game you want so bad." Of course, not every reward has to be material. A gesture of affection, a kiss, a hug, they all work very well.

10.Listen to your children; what they say is important to them if not to you. They deserve all your attention. Forget the phone for a moment or the TV. Concentrate on what they want to confide. A good communication is essential in rearing children.

By Grant Griffiths

For 30 years, JKCP Programs has been dedicated to providing stimulating and enriching experiences for children and teens through diverse, innovative programs in tennis, golf, academic enrichment, business, fitness, internships, cooking, the arts and much more. Students from over 35 states and 30 countries attend our programs at the University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Cabrini Colleges and the Shipley School.

Kids and adults love Julian Krinsky. And, yeah, he's a lovable guy--especially when he's behind the wheel of the company, er, school bus. No doubt about it, Krinsky has found the secret to entrepreneurial success: Find something you enjoy and do it with passion. And that something keeps multiplying.

Since coming to Philadelphia in 1977, the mastermind of Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs has amassed a business empire that encompasses property management services; resort ownership and operations; and staff recruitment for sports academies, clubs and events. Not bad for a South African immigrant who opened up shop with little more than $1,200.

A tennis star in this late teens who was ranked as high as No. 7 in his home country, Krinsky played in Wimbledon and the French and Italian opens. A scholar as well as an athlete, he earned degrees in both accounting and law. When he first arrived in the United States, teaching tennis full-time was not something he even considered--let alone entertained the prospect of doing so here. He'd merely stopped in the area on his way to North Carolina to make good on an invitation to play at Merion Cricket Club. But he fell in love with the natural beauty of the Main Line and never made it to the new job in Carolina.

Money was tight in those days, and teaching tennis was a good way to make a few bucks. Krinsky quickly compiled a roster of students from all over the region, some traveling two hours for lessons. Within three months, he'd forgotten all about becoming an accountant.

Krinsky's commitment to practice matched his pupil's determination to improve, but distance was becoming a problem. His solution: a weekend camp at his home in Wayne so students could spend less time in the car and more time fine-tuning their strokes. He set up bunk beds, pitched a few tents and hired a couple of local chefs to cook meals. During the day, it was tennis, tennis, tennis; evenings involved field trips to places like Woody's driving range, Hershey Park and Great Adventure.

"They were great days," recalls Krinsky. "There were kids everywhere. I couldn't get a shower because they would use up all the hot water."

At times, there were as many as 20 students staying at Krinsky's home. He realized he was onto something--and that he needed to take that something to the next level. So he leased space at Haverford College, hired an assistant, and he Julian Krinsky School of Tennis was born in 1978.

By today's standards, such an unorthodox approach might have raised a few eyebrows. Krinsky was young, attractive and a bit capricious, but his integrity and enthusiasm were never in question.

"We knew the parents and we knew the kids," says Plymouth Meeting's Jim Talbot, whose children attended JKST for five years. "We had no reservations. Julian was developing solid tournament players, and the kids were having fun."

Back then, JKST was cutting-edge. By the time Nick Bollettieri began building his world-famous tennis-camp empire, Krinsky was already organizing training trips to Bollettieri's Florida stomping grounds. "The parents went, too," says Talbot.

Soon enough, Krinsky introduced golf and squash instruction into the mix. From there, he moved into cooking, art, music, drama, SAT prep and more. JKST went from summer camp to a summer academy with a new name, Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs, and new locations at the Shipley School, University of Pennsylvania, and Cabrini and Bryn Mawr colleges. New there are a dozen different programs available through JKCP, with enough variety to keep kids active and interested for throughout childhood.

Ultimately, Krinsky's keen awareness, flexibility and adaptability have served him well. Today JKCP is one of the most recognized and respected organizations in its field, attracting kids from all over the world. With such global reach, it's really no surprise that one of the newest programs being developed is "Model U.N." Aimed at high school students, it will provide a forum for instruction in political science, international relations, public speaking and debate. "Ten percent of our campers are from the Far East, the Middle East, South Africa and almost every city in Europe," says Krinsky's business partner, Adrian Castelli. "Most of it is word of mouth."

Older campers have an innovative array of programs from which to choose, including a summer internship, a Wharton business program at Penn and another program specifically for observant Jews. A current favorite is the Canyon Ranch wellness program, designed to educate teens about nutrition, fitness, relaxation and getting the most out of sports.

A holistic approach is what sets JKCP apart--that, and Krinsky's commitment to connecting with the campers and their families. "My greatest challenge is getting to know every one of them," he says. "I have to make sure my team is taking care of the details so I can be freed up to be with the kids."

And that's not small feat, seeing as JKCP's residential program hosts 3,500-4,000 campers a year (overnight campers make up 80 percent of the business; day camps the remaining 20 percent). That requires 35 year-round employees and more than 400 seasonal staffers.

"I have a year-round relationships with many of the kids who come to me," says Krinsky. "I see most of them from the time they're 3 until they're 17. Some [of them] are now bringing their children to me."

By Ruth Wells

We have so many interventions that sometimes even some of our favorite devices can be forgotten. These techniques used to be regulary included in our popular Breakthrough Strategies to Teach and Counsel Troubled Youth Workshops but not so often now,though perhaps they should be. So, here are some old but golden strategies that should be used not forgotten.

If you love these solutions, and want more, our web site has information on our workshops and books plus hundreds more attention-grabbing, ready-to-use interventions to turnaround troubled youth and children. You can find our site at http://www.youthchg.com/live.html.

** FOR YOUTH WHO DISRUPT THE CLASS OR GROUP

To teach hand-raising, wave your arms all around and name that "windshield wiper arms" or "helicopter arms." To show students correct hand-raising technique, hold your arm in the air and still and call it "flagpole arm." Using these images may work better than conventional approaches.

** FOR YOUTH WHO CAN'T IMAGINE EVER CHANGING

Have the youth create before and after ads, similar to weight loss commercials. You can even photocopy weight loss ads from magazines and let students insert their own pictures or art work
that portrays their own personal before and after. This device is especially good with withdrawn children who dislike talking.

** FOR YOUTH WITH LOW SELF-ESTEEM

Have the kids create a magazine about what they do well over the next month. The magazine can feature a picture of the student on the cover and highlight successes that the student
has. Name the magazine "Esteem Magazine," with a motto of "for students who know that Esteem is more than hot air." The magazine may also contain articles on self-worth and lists
such as "The Top 10 Things People Like About Me."

** FOR YOUTH WHO THINK SCHOOL IS A WASTE

Here are the very latest numbers that show once more that education pays and pays and pays! These new numbers make an old intervention even more profound and even more powerful! Use play money to illustrate or put this information in a chart on your board, or do both. Follow up by having students experience how much money is worth by visiting a store, car dealership or reviewing housing classified ads. As of January, 2000, drop-outs can expect to earn just
over $16,000, based on 1998 dollars. High school grads earn nearly $23,000 and college grads almost $45,000. Ask your kids to pick their salary for the new millennium.

** FOR ABSENT YOUTH

For kids who are frequently absent, bring in a lot of legos or lincoln logs. Ask the students to copy a model you create out of the legos. The students
will easily do it and discuss that with the class. Next, begin to make a second model but this
time, part way through the building process, ask some of the students to leave the room, then
hide several legos inside the model. Recall the students and ask them to compare their model
to yours. Assist the class to notice the poorer quality that resulted from the absences then discuss if being absent matters.

** FOR YOUTH FACING PEER PRESSURE

Peer pressure to use drugs and alcohol is nonstop but here is a quick device to chip away at the power of the pressure. Divide your students into two groups. Give one group bags of M&Ms and give the other group bags of litter. Allow the students to mingle. The students with the litter will try to get others to take their bags while the students with the candy will want to keep their bags and will not force others to take the M&Ms. Relate this phenomena to peer pressure to use substances by discussing that people seldom need to pressure people to do good things, only bad.

By Jacques Sprenger

Are we teaching our children to exercise self-discipline or are we fomenting instant gratification? Are we, ourselves, good role-models for children, whether our own or as teachers? Is our nation beginning to feel the pinch in finding highly qualified workers or is immigration the solution?

As a teacher of high school students, I receive the result of eight years (10 if you count kindergarten) of a great variety of teachers and learning experiences. One factor stands out however above all the others that contribute to effective or ineffective learning: Self-discipline. It is a very rare case indeed to see a student who is organized and willing to learn and work hard.

Is it the area's Mexican-American culture? Is it the climate, hot and muggy most of the year? Is it the proximity to the border with Mexico, which many students cross on a daily basis? Or is it the teachers in elementary who failed to instill the desire to succeed in the children in their care?

Before analyzing these questions, allow me to give a contrasting example: We occasionally receive Asian students who are part of an exchange program; they arrive with very little English and within a year they have mastered the language sufficiently to perform well in every class.

Of course, they possess two great advantages: one, their own language is much more difficult than ours, which means that they learn another one more easily than we do. Second, they bring self-discipline unmatched by our local students. So why the difference and where does it come from?

I do not pretend to present this paper as scientifically based, it is not. It is simply the result of personal observations and opinions derived from daily contact with students from different parts of the world during many years. I will therefore offer conclusions that will hopefully shed some light on the problem.

Let us discard to begin with the notion that hot climates tend to reduce the motivation to work; first, because all classrooms are air-conditioned. Second, because people who move to colder areas up North do not suddenly become hard workers; they are or they are not long before the change of climate. Look for example at undocumented aliens from Mexico, a hot country by definition. They are usually very hard workers, very ambitious and very much self-disciplined.

Is it the culture then that favors a laid back attitude? I can testify from personal experience that Mexican-Americans are proud of their Latin roots and that they pursue the American dream with all the energy at their disposal. Yes, they seem to enjoy life more than other subcultures in the country; yes, they have more children per couple than other minorities. Their music is proof that life is beautiful and worth living to the fullest. That doesn't mean that they don't take their responsibilities seriously, even though they have experienced some discrimination and racial profiling by some white groups.

The teachers at the elementary level I have talked to are totally dedicated to their mission, which is much more than just teaching the 3 R's. They teach the need to succeed in modern society and the required social skills as an adult. You cannot be a teacher of young children and not love your job; kids tend to notice hypocrisy right away and they would make you pay the price if you just pretended to enjoy their company.

The problem is the families and their extreme poverty. Many parents work two jobs to make ends meet; quite a few are single parents (mothers) who struggle to maintain a large family, which means that the kids come back from school and find an empty house. And so they go out in the street and hang around with their buddies, who quite often introduce them to drugs and violence.

The last element that contributes to failing students in high school is low self-esteem. These kids have been told since birth that they would never amount to anything; that they did not have the necessary skills to succeed and that society was geared to prevent them from ever emerging from their humble condition. And so, Hispanics in many cases do not perform well in the classroom as compared to other minorities, thus perpetuating the belief that they have no chance of succeeding in modern society unless they use illegal means to do so. They never had a chance to learn and exercise self-discipline.