when I was in seventh grade I received a letter from Duke saying by my score on
letter from Duke saying by my score on
letter from Duke saying by my score on the SAT qualified me for Duke summer
the SAT qualified me for Duke summer
the SAT qualified me for Duke summer programs called Duke tip at tip unique
programs called Duke tip at tip unique
programs called Duke tip at tip unique courses are offered to teenagers all
courses are offered to teenagers all
courses are offered to teenagers all across South East they’re seeing me
across South East they’re seeing me
across South East they’re seeing me something for everyone from foreign
something for everyone from foreign
something for everyone from foreign policy to advanced math courses from
policy to advanced math courses from
policy to advanced math courses from anthropology to misson legends from
anthropology to misson legends from
anthropology to misson legends from science an Appalachian Trail to
science an Appalachian Trail to
science an Appalachian Trail to experimental science I found my nation
experimental science I found my nation
experimental science I found my nation psychology I had always been interested
psychology I had always been interested
psychology I had always been interested in the inner workings of the human brain
in the inner workings of the human brain
in the inner workings of the human brain and I took a course taught by a
and I took a course taught by a
and I took a course taught by a psychology major who is just as
psychology major who is just as
psychology major who is just as enthusiastic as me in my classmates
enthusiastic as me in my classmates
enthusiastic as me in my classmates about the course material I had a great
about the course material I had a great
about the course material I had a great time both in the classroom as well as
time both in the classroom as well as
time both in the classroom as well as doing more camp-like activities what’s
doing more camp-like activities what’s
doing more camp-like activities what’s most important to note I felt way less
most important to note I felt way less
most important to note I felt way less stressed out at tip than I did during
stressed out at tip than I did during
stressed out at tip than I did during the school year there are no great at
the school year there are no great at
the school year there are no great at tip as long as you take steps towards
tip as long as you take steps towards
tip as long as you take steps towards understanding the course material and
understanding the course material and
understanding the course material and put an effort during class you get a
put an effort during class you get a
put an effort during class you get a positive evaluation at the end of the
positive evaluation at the end of the
positive evaluation at the end of the term many of my fellow tipsters loved
term many of my fellow tipsters loved
term many of my fellow tipsters loved tip yet dislike school and not everyone
tip yet dislike school and not everyone
tip yet dislike school and not everyone at tip is the kind of person you’d
at tip is the kind of person you’d
at tip is the kind of person you’d expect to drop all their summer plans of
expect to drop all their summer plans of
expect to drop all their summer plans of sleeping in goofing off to go to a
sleeping in goofing off to go to a
sleeping in goofing off to go to a college and take a course just for fun
college and take a course just for fun
college and take a course just for fun yet they all really love the experience
yet they all really love the experience
yet they all really love the experience because they were studying things that
because they were studying things that
because they were studying things that they actually had an interest in the
they actually had an interest in the
they actually had an interest in the wide range of teenagers both in ability
wide range of teenagers both in ability
wide range of teenagers both in ability and background that participating tip
and background that participating tip
and background that participating tip suggests that in spite of what we all
suggests that in spite of what we all
suggests that in spite of what we all assume teens actually do love to learn
assume teens actually do love to learn
assume teens actually do love to learn shopping I know this experience this
shopping I know this experience this
shopping I know this experience this freedom of choice this idea that kids
freedom of choice this idea that kids
freedom of choice this idea that kids could love learning as long as they’re
could love learning as long as they’re
could love learning as long as they’re studying what they want to study got me
studying what they want to study got me
studying what they want to study got me thinking about how he could give
thinking about how he could give
thinking about how he could give students the same freedom in school in
students the same freedom in school in
students the same freedom in school in order to investigate this I surveyed 350
order to investigate this I surveyed 350
order to investigate this I surveyed 350 students at Mount burg junior high about
students at Mount burg junior high about
students at Mount burg junior high about their outlook on school when asked what
their outlook on school when asked what
their outlook on school when asked what the purpose of school is most said to
the purpose of school is most said to
the purpose of school is most said to learn to better prepare for life to
learn to better prepare for life to
learn to better prepare for life to become educated but when I asked why
become educated but when I asked why
become educated but when I asked why they came to school every day most said
they came to school every day most said
they came to school every day most said because I have to because it’s the law
because I have to because it’s the law
because I have to because it’s the law because my parents make me this attitude
because my parents make me this attitude
because my parents make me this attitude toward school is really concerning if
toward school is really concerning if
toward school is really concerning if these students are feeling forced in
these students are feeling forced in
these students are feeling forced in school now how will that impact them in
school now how will that impact them in
school now how will that impact them in higher levels of education where they
higher levels of education where they
higher levels of education where they have more freedom I also asked them what
have more freedom I also asked them what
have more freedom I also asked them what extracurricular activities hobbies or
extracurricular activities hobbies or
extracurricular activities hobbies or interest they had outside of school and
interest they had outside of school and
interest they had outside of school and I got a lot of different answers from
I got a lot of different answers from
I got a lot of different answers from various sports singing to writing most
various sports singing to writing most
various sports singing to writing most students said that school and homework
students said that school and homework
students said that school and homework in particular prevented them from
in particular prevented them from
in particular prevented them from devoting time to these pursuits in
devoting time to these pursuits in
devoting time to these pursuits in addition most students said they put in
addition most students said they put in
addition most students said they put in much more effort in classes they were
much more effort in classes they were
much more effort in classes they were interested in than once they weren’t
interested in than once they weren’t
interested in than once they weren’t regardless of what kind of attention
regardless of what kind of attention
regardless of what kind of attention their grades actually needed in the
their grades actually needed in the
their grades actually needed in the course on one of my last questions I let
course on one of my last questions I let
course on one of my last questions I let the students design their own schedule
the students design their own schedule
the students design their own schedule and you know what I found a majority
and you know what I found a majority
and you know what I found a majority chose classes that aren’t even available
chose classes that aren’t even available
chose classes that aren’t even available at the junior high
at the junior high
at the junior high things like psychology and marine
things like psychology and marine
things like psychology and marine biology more focused art courses like
biology more focused art courses like
biology more focused art courses like ceramics and even guitar and you might
ceramics and even guitar and you might
ceramics and even guitar and you might think that students would choose more
think that students would choose more
think that students would choose more electives because they require less
electives because they require less
electives because they require less effort but none of these are courses
effort but none of these are courses
effort but none of these are courses that kids can just shrug off having more
that kids can just shrug off having more
that kids can just shrug off having more academic electives that got kids excited
academic electives that got kids excited
academic electives that got kids excited about science and history would be great
about science and history would be great
about science and history would be great and more arts courses would spark
and more arts courses would spark
and more arts courses would spark creativity students should be able to
creativity students should be able to
creativity students should be able to suggest new courses to their
suggest new courses to their
suggest new courses to their administration in fact they should be
administration in fact they should be
administration in fact they should be encouraged these students in high school
encouraged these students in high school
encouraged these students in high school have little time to participate in
have little time to participate in
have little time to participate in anything outside of school other than
anything outside of school other than
anything outside of school other than their extracurricular activities and
their extracurricular activities and
their extracurricular activities and what’s covered up by their homework so
what’s covered up by their homework so
what’s covered up by their homework so what happens when someone’s personally
what happens when someone’s personally
what happens when someone’s personally motivated to learn something outside of
motivated to learn something outside of
motivated to learn something outside of school as someone really going to
school as someone really going to
school as someone really going to research psychology when they have three
research psychology when they have three
research psychology when they have three tests tomorrow and as they do and a
tests tomorrow and as they do and a
tests tomorrow and as they do and a soccer practice go to sadly no of course
soccer practice go to sadly no of course
soccer practice go to sadly no of course not but school shouldn’t lets students
not but school shouldn’t lets students
not but school shouldn’t lets students interests be left in the dust just
interests be left in the dust just
interests be left in the dust just because they don’t have room for an
because they don’t have room for an
because they don’t have room for an elective how can two schools give
elective how can two schools give
elective how can two schools give students time for this and will it
students time for this and will it
students time for this and will it really be worth it tip was my chance to
really be worth it tip was my chance to
really be worth it tip was my chance to explore my interests but not everyone
explore my interests but not everyone
explore my interests but not everyone has access to similar programs like that
has access to similar programs like that
has access to similar programs like that but
but
but should summer programs be the only place
should summer programs be the only place
should summer programs be the only place where kids explore their passions and
where kids explore their passions and
where kids explore their passions and discover new interests why are kids
discover new interests why are kids
discover new interests why are kids having to wait until school’s out to
having to wait until school’s out to
having to wait until school’s out to learn about things they actually care
learn about things they actually care
learn about things they actually care about doesn’t that seem backwards
about doesn’t that seem backwards
about doesn’t that seem backwards there’s a way that companies and
there’s a way that companies and
there’s a way that companies and classrooms have allowed individuals to
classrooms have allowed individuals to
classrooms have allowed individuals to explore their interests in a productive
explore their interests in a productive
explore their interests in a productive way
way
way it’s called genius our essentially
it’s called genius our essentially
it’s called genius our essentially genius re gives individuals time to
genius re gives individuals time to
genius re gives individuals time to research and start projects on anything
research and start projects on anything
research and start projects on anything that interests them one company that’s
that interests them one company that’s
that interests them one company that’s had great success with genius art is
had great success with genius art is
had great success with genius art is Google if you’ve ever used Gmail you
Google if you’ve ever used Gmail you
Google if you’ve ever used Gmail you have genius our to thank Google let
have genius our to thank Google let
have genius our to thank Google let their development team spend 20% of
their development team spend 20% of
their development team spend 20% of their time at work working on anything
their time at work working on anything
their time at work working on anything they thought had the potential to
they thought had the potential to
they thought had the potential to benefit the company and it resulted in
benefit the company and it resulted in
benefit the company and it resulted in innovative new software like Gmail
innovative new software like Gmail
innovative new software like Gmail Google Maps and Google Talk you might be
Google Maps and Google Talk you might be
Google Maps and Google Talk you might be thinking cool contest but what does this
thinking cool contest but what does this
thinking cool contest but what does this have to do with schools how does the
have to do with schools how does the
have to do with schools how does the five students many classrooms all across
five students many classrooms all across
five students many classrooms all across America I’ve had great success of genius
America I’ve had great success of genius
America I’ve had great success of genius our teachers can give students a period
our teachers can give students a period
our teachers can give students a period a day or a period a week to work on
a day or a period a week to work on
a day or a period a week to work on whatever interests of projects can
whatever interests of projects can
whatever interests of projects can include building drawing writing or
include building drawing writing or
include building drawing writing or creating a website most teachers said
creating a website most teachers said
creating a website most teachers said that while it’s seemingly stressful what
that while it’s seemingly stressful what
that while it’s seemingly stressful what with all the possibilities
with all the possibilities
with all the possibilities it’s actually really manageable given
it’s actually really manageable given
it’s actually really manageable given that it requires little effort from the
that it requires little effort from the
that it requires little effort from the teacher other than what the students put
teacher other than what the students put
teacher other than what the students put into every genius our periods think
into every genius our periods think
into every genius our periods think about it the students aren’t giving up
about it the students aren’t giving up
about it the students aren’t giving up the control and handing it over to the
the control and handing it over to the
the control and handing it over to the students the students are doing all the
students the students are doing all the
students the students are doing all the planning of work and yielding all the
planning of work and yielding all the
planning of work and yielding all the rewards it’s a win-win most importantly
rewards it’s a win-win most importantly
rewards it’s a win-win most importantly passion and interest based programs like
passion and interest based programs like
passion and interest based programs like genius era allow students to explore
genius era allow students to explore
genius era allow students to explore things they care about without having
things they care about without having
things they care about without having that they say on a grade here at genius
that they say on a grade here at genius
that they say on a grade here at genius era at MU jh1 student Sean fidella
era at MU jh1 student Sean fidella
era at MU jh1 student Sean fidella designed a fundraiser for pediatric
designed a fundraiser for pediatric
designed a fundraiser for pediatric cancer called pediatric retreat he and
cancer called pediatric retreat he and
cancer called pediatric retreat he and other students organized the entire
other students organized the entire
other students organized the entire thing and raised over thirteen thousand
thing and raised over thirteen thousand
thing and raised over thirteen thousand dollars that students getting involved
dollars that students getting involved
dollars that students getting involved in an issue they actually care about and
in an issue they actually care about and
in an issue they actually care about and taking upon themselves to an action
taking upon themselves to an action
taking upon themselves to an action another student ship porter finished I’m
another student ship porter finished I’m
another student ship porter finished I’m building an electric guitar that’s
building an electric guitar that’s
building an electric guitar that’s evidence of both a creative drive and
evidence of both a creative drive and
evidence of both a creative drive and problem-solving skills when you give
problem-solving skills when you give
problem-solving skills when you give people this time to explore their
people this time to explore their
people this time to explore their interest they can end up giving
interest they can end up giving
interest they can end up giving something even greater back and while
something even greater back and while
something even greater back and while all this sounds great
all this sounds great
all this sounds great not every individual has the mindset for
not every individual has the mindset for
not every individual has the mindset for genius hour and that’s okay in a class
genius hour and that’s okay in a class
genius hour and that’s okay in a class of twenty there’s a bound to be a
of twenty there’s a bound to be a
of twenty there’s a bound to be a handful of procrastinators well the only
handful of procrastinators well the only
handful of procrastinators well the only people being hurt by this is the
people being hurt by this is the
people being hurt by this is the individual themself if these students
individual themself if these students
individual themself if these students can’t find anything they want to pursue
can’t find anything they want to pursue
can’t find anything they want to pursue in a one-hour period how do we expect
in a one-hour period how do we expect
in a one-hour period how do we expect them to make the big decisions later in
them to make the big decisions later in
them to make the big decisions later in life when they go off to college
life when they go off to college
life when they go off to college wouldn’t it be better for them to find
wouldn’t it be better for them to find
wouldn’t it be better for them to find out what they care about and make these
out what they care about and make these
out what they care about and make these decisions now rather than later when
decisions now rather than later when
decisions now rather than later when they’re all on their own well genius R
they’re all on their own well genius R
they’re all on their own well genius R is one possible solution to help kids
is one possible solution to help kids
is one possible solution to help kids pursue their passions it certainly isn’t
pursue their passions it certainly isn’t
pursue their passions it certainly isn’t the only way parents all your children
the only way parents all your children
the only way parents all your children have many different interests being
have many different interests being
have many different interests being advocate for your kids specific passions
advocate for your kids specific passions
advocate for your kids specific passions and encourage them to spend their time
and encourage them to spend their time
and encourage them to spend their time doing what they thinks worthwhile if you
doing what they thinks worthwhile if you
doing what they thinks worthwhile if you find them saying I’m never gonna use
find them saying I’m never gonna use
find them saying I’m never gonna use this in real life ask them what they
this in real life ask them what they
this in real life ask them what they will use and how they can learn it
will use and how they can learn it
will use and how they can learn it preferably after completing their
preferably after completing their
preferably after completing their mandatory homework using this time can
mandatory homework using this time can
mandatory homework using this time can last students to be fueled by their own
last students to be fueled by their own
last students to be fueled by their own curiosity in school if your students are
curiosity in school if your students are
curiosity in school if your students are convinced that there are things much
convinced that there are things much
convinced that there are things much more important than your class challenge
more important than your class challenge
more important than your class challenge them allowing them freedom enables them
them allowing them freedom enables them
them allowing them freedom enables them to get the passion for looking back and
to get the passion for looking back and
to get the passion for looking back and if there may not be room for a person’s
if there may not be room for a person’s
if there may not be room for a person’s specific interests you can still let
specific interests you can still let
specific interests you can still let students choose what part of a
students choose what part of a
students choose what part of a curriculum they want to learn about
curriculum they want to learn about
curriculum they want to learn about allowing them to pursue their interests
allowing them to pursue their interests
allowing them to pursue their interests still students
still students
still students although electives aren’t necessarily a
although electives aren’t necessarily a
although electives aren’t necessarily a part of your GPA their valuable classes
part of your GPA their valuable classes
part of your GPA their valuable classes that help you become a more well-rounded
that help you become a more well-rounded
that help you become a more well-rounded individual choose a look better actually
individual choose a look better actually
individual choose a look better actually and alert educators to ones that aren’t
and alert educators to ones that aren’t
and alert educators to ones that aren’t taken secretly
taken secretly
taken secretly or aren’t even available if you love
or aren’t even available if you love
or aren’t even available if you love something don’t let schoolwork let the
something don’t let schoolwork let the
something don’t let schoolwork let the passion thing
passion thing
passion thing in the wise words weren’t playing don’t
in the wise words weren’t playing don’t
in the wise words weren’t playing don’t let school get in the way of your
let school get in the way of your
let school get in the way of your education passion is the driving force
education passion is the driving force
education passion is the driving force behind innovation there writes books
behind innovation there writes books
behind innovation there writes books build skyscrapers and curious diseases
build skyscrapers and curious diseases
build skyscrapers and curious diseases regardless of whether it’s at home at
regardless of whether it’s at home at
regardless of whether it’s at home at school or at a summer camp we must
school or at a summer camp we must
school or at a summer camp we must utilize it
utilize it
utilize it [Applause]
”
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