Comments on: Teens Consequences for Bad Grades

By: Rex

Rex — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:16:33 +0000

@ kidsRTC

Thanks much. I just checked my email and got offered a freelance position for a big gaming company… so I am totally stoked right now.

@ Shelli

Where you are at and where your daughter are at are indeed parallel situations. My recommendation to both you and your daughter is to start partaking in something you enjoy, and do it on a daily basis. Whether it be working out, reading a book, drawing, becoming a movie buff for a certain genre… there are just so many ways to further yourself as a person. Yoga.. if I tried to list everything, I’d never leave! haha.

By: Shelli

Shelli — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:56:35 +0000

Thanks for the comment Rex. I have been really trying to get into my daughter’s head, and it has been very difficult. As I reflect back on my own teen years, I did everything by the book, and was sort of the model kid (I am making up for my past sins by being a screwed up adult now ). I think the main difference between my daughter and me is that she does ponder the big questions, like what is the purpose of her life, what is all this angst about, etc. Maybe I was just a clueless teen, but I never really pondered my future, or thought about why I am here, and what do I want for my future. I just rolled with the flow. Now that I am sitting at the half century mark, and my former career is essentially over, I am now pondering what to do with the rest of my future, and I can’t help but feel sort of paralyzed by it all. Perhaps that is what is in my kid’s head; I honestly never thought about it as parallel to my current situation. Ironic, huh? Best of luck to you with your career. There is so much more available for your generation than was the case for mine.

By: kidsRTC

kidsRTC — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:22:33 +0000

Hi Rex, Thanks for your advice and I think you are pretty right on with your comments about how impossible it is to see the big picture for most teens. I think it is great that you are passionate about art and going into gaming. I agree with you there is a lot of potential and it may be the stepping stone to even greater things later. Good luck to you!
TTB

By: Rex

Rex — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:51:25 +0000

Lots of good advice here. As someone who is only 23, I think that my insights on the matter might help out.

At that age, the real issue is not being able to see the bigger picture. As many of you likely do, well, those who didn’t do well in High School, I wish I would have taken it more seriously.

However… for some reason, at that age, it’s nearly impossible to see the bigger picture; unless you’re hanging around older people with successful lives.

A lot of the time, not doing schoolwork can be considered ‘cool’ to one’s peers. Think outside the box in matters like these; what is really going on will always surprise you.

I think it’s because at that age, you have no real purpose for living. You hang out with friends, do stuff with your parents, and are expected to do well in school.

You should have your kid meet some people who are 30 years old, but work at a fast food joint because they didn’t take High School seriously. I’m lucky that I’m an art major and my portfolio will get me into a good game development school.

Don’t knock it, it’s a bigger industry than the movie industry these days. Multi-billion dollar and what not.

By: Jennifer T

Jennifer T — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:13:50 +0000

Hi Greg,
If Teacher’s only knew what impact they have with their words. My son is approachin 15 he is a Freshman and for the last 2 years I have been so worried as he has done poorly in math. His 8th grade Teacher didn’t grade his paper and would just give him an “A” or “B” the awful part is my son did not have the right answers. I tried to get many different family and friends to Tutor him and. Nothing until this past November I decided to email the Math Dept at his High School and I got a District Tutor, although it is more expensive (30@hr) than a peer Tutor (like a NJHS student who will do it for free as part of their community service)I went for it. He finally had a Math Teacher one on one who cared about him. I met her first as my son has had depression over math and grades. She started back from Chapter 1 and tutored him 2 times a week, and now they are at Chapter 6 Tthis is where his class is). The goal was to get my son pass his mid-term. He had a 50-56 all semester. He passed his mid-term and now has a low “C”. The point I’m trying to make is he is getting confidence back because his Tutor knows how to structure the material and believes in him. Maybe you can find someone in your school district that has a good reputation with teaching kids and contact that person and ask if they tutor or someone they know. Do not get me wrong we are not out of the woods yet, however progress is being made. I wish you good luck as I understand your frustration!

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:52:17 +0000

I have a 15 year old daughter who is a sophomore this year. From the time she hit 7th grade she has struggled tremendously with math. Her 7th grade instructor was known to be a horrid instructor best fitted to college level studies and had a snide way of making things more difficult than they needed to be. Early in her 7th grade year he told her that math just wasn’t her thing and she would never be any good at it. From that day forward she has been convinced of this and her grades show it. My child was not the only one to have been told that over the years with the same result. My question is how can I even begin to convince her that the attempt at a good grade is worth the effort. So very frustrated…