Leaders aren’t born, they're made. Even great leaders like Malala, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Warren Buffet didn’t magically know the skills they would need to make a difference in the world. Through a combination of dedicated study, life experience, and a support network, they eventually developed their leadership skills to achieve the legendary status they hold today.  Let’s use Dr. King as an example. According to the Louisiana State University Library, he received formal training in philosophy, sociology, and theology from Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary, and B ..read more

Think back to when you were in middle school. Do you remember feeling anxious and overwhelmed when you tried something new? As adults, we sometimes forget that what seems routine for us is a scary new situation for our children. Many elementary schoolers and even middle schoolers get anxious or overwhelmed when facing a new challenge.  You can help your child feel more confident when facing a new situation with one simple strategy: planning ahead. The more you equip your child with solutions, the more confidently they’ll be able to tackle new challenges. Follow these steps to help you ..read more

Social media is a hotly debated topic among parents. From when you should allow your child to start using it to how much privacy they should have online, nothing is black and white. While social media has plenty of benefits, it also has risks, including interaction with potentially harmful strangers, the addictive nature of infinite scrolling, and modeling of unhealthy behaviors. According to the American Psychological Association, these risks are “likely to be greater in early adolescence—a period of greater biological, social, and psychological transitions, than in late adolescence and e ..read more

A new project or task can be exciting, but it often comes with feelings of nervousness and fear. The fear of failure, uncertainty about the outcome, and the size of the task can leave us feeling overwhelmed. But fear is a natural response to stepping out of our comfort zones. The key to overcoming it lies in a well-thought-out plan. It should addresses the practical aspects of the task but and use your soft skills. In this article, we'll explore some strategies to craft a plan that empowers you to approach your project with confidence. 1 - Acknowledge and Embrace the Fear Before diving in ..read more

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a group of skills your child can use to recognize and manage their emotions, find internal motivation, and manage relationships with family, friends, and teachers. People with high emotional intelligence can recognize how they’re feeling and use their feelings to make better decisions.  It’s a skill that will help them now and into the future. According to the Harvard Business School, “Employees with high emotional intelligence are more likely to stay calm under pressure, resolve conflict effectively, and respond to co-workers with empathy.” The best le ..read more

School presentations can be worth a significant part of your grade. Unfortunately, they can also be nerve-wracking and challenging. The key to acing your next presentation is to come across as a confident speaker with a unique approach and striking visual aids. Get an A on your next presentation by following these tips.  Present with Personality Remember, your teacher and classmates have had to watch many presentations by the time you get up to present. To keep them engaged, get creative with your approach. Prepare visual aids, or take a new perspective on an old subject. Share relevant ..read more

Some people think being the boss means ordering people around and taking all of the praise for their good work. These people don't understand the difference between bossy vs. confident. Here at LeadYouth, we teach our learners how to be good leaders, not bosses. We use the term “leader” instead of “boss” purposefully. Leaders are not bossy. They inspire, enable, and encourage their teams with emotional intelligence, confidence, and skill.  Our lessons in leadership are built on the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership created by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. Take a look at the differenc ..read more

Here’s some tips on how to narrow down your list of acceptances.  If you’re a high school senior who’s anticipating college decisions, congratulations! You’ve nearly made it through the entire application process. The difficult part, however, comes after you’ve clicked that submit button on Common App. If you’ve been staring at that pile of acceptances with dread, this article is for you. Today, we’ll be sharing three tips on how to choose the right fit for your next two or four academic years.  Define Your Priorities  Construct a roadmap for your college decision-making proces ..read more

Does your stomach sink when you walk into class and find out there’s a pop quiz? Many students think there’s no way to study for these tests. Actually, you can prepare for the unexpected. Follow these tips to be ready for anything.    Be a Diligent Student Homework is designed to help you practice what you learned in class. The more you practice, the more you learn, and the better prepared you’ll be for a pop quiz. Homework gives you the opportunity to review what you learned in class that day and judge how well you know the material. The better you do on your homework, the more lik ..read more

Build your personal and professional brand to get noticed.  When I was chatting with friends the other day, the topic of comparing ourselves to others on social media came up. Then, one friend quipped, “Try scrolling on LinkedIn for five minutes—the feeling gets worse!”  While it’s true that LinkedIn boasts a plethora of academically and professionally accomplished profiles, the reality is that you can create one that’s just as impressive. With just a few simple tips, we’ll show you how to transform your LinkedIn profile into one that stuns recruiters and friends online.  First ..read more