Teens Can Make It Happen: Nine Steps to Success

I liked this book because the author clearly respects the teens he is addressing. Too often these days references to teens are negative. Or teens life plans are pigeon-holed by an author's implicit assumption that "What do you want to be when you grow up?" has only one answer. From my coaching practice, I have seen that many teens are Renaissance Souls (people who have too many interests to pick just one.) To limit advice to how to pick the one right career path or college or job is to leave them hanging and frustrated. Fortunately Graham's advice does not fall into that trap.

I am a high school English teacher and I found the book to be very helpful and motivational for high school students who need to be pointed in the right direction. So many kids need to have a vision and clear goals for themselves and this book helps to guide them in the right direction as well as making the proper choices.

Excellent! I teach middle schoolers, and I know teenagers! This is written right down there on their level and offers sincere and practical advice. They'll read it--they'll like it--and that's half the battle!(...)

Stedman Graham's book is both powerful and practical.He meets teens on their own turf, and seeks to empower them by helping them believe in themselves. Mastering the "rules of the road" is essential. His tips include discipline, good attitudes, working hard on the things you are passionate about, overcoming procrastination, and understanding who you are. He emphasizes the value of who you are is how people identify you. He warns of the pitfalls inherent in today's society; that is, people telling you what you can't do, - and people inflicting their pain on you. He understands that there are people who will always try to "knock you down", but stresses that you can be successful based on yourself. "Sometimes the things you don't do are more important than what you do do", he offers, and further implores teens to do what adds value to you. Mr Stedman's concept of a responsible partnership between parents, the system and the child is commendable. After you finish this remarkable perspective, read "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff", by Richard Carlson. Both books are survival fare with a focus on teens, but anyone of any age wcould benefit from the information they contain.

This is a great book! It talks about all of the important issues that I wish I thought about while I was a teen. I have recommended this book to several of the students at the high school where I teach. For students that are college-bound the DayStar Guide to Colleges for African American Students, by Thomas Lavist is a perfect companion to this book. This book will help students to get your "head right" and help you to figure out what you want to do. And then the DayStar College Guide will tell you how to do it.