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Originally posted by TripletDaddy
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The Tick,
Something to consider that has not yet been discussed...
The Church (through CES) has been rolling out a relatively "new" emphasis lately and it focuses specifically on the issues your SP wants to discuss.
There is a specific lesson to be taught to the HS kids that focuses on vocational training and college, as well as some basic budgeting exercises. In addition, Jrs and Srs are to be introduced to a pilot website the Church has put together that allows the kids to do a few things, including:
1. Enter their post-HS plans into a database
2. Request info or contact from any of the Church schools (BYU, BYUH, BYUI, LDSBC)
Additionally, there is a DVD companion to these CES lesson plans...the dvd is a compendium of various vocational and educational-related talks and messages from The Bros. It is called "Education: Your key to Opportunity." The DVD was put together back in 2006 but it is being disseminated now as part of the launch of this new push to database all our youth. If I am not mistaken, CES is rolling this things out in pilot format to figure out the most effective way to do it. I know SoCal is participating...don't ask me how I know these awesome things.
You may wonder why the effort to bag and tag all these kids. There is actually a very good reason. Statistically, the Church has a very difficult time keeping track of the YSA demographic. They are like phantom menaces, like c.h.u.d., like body snatchers, like Ishtar......they float in and out of activity, roam from ward to ward, often only attending sacrament meeting, and that is where the Church has found that they lose many people to inactivity. A big part of this effort is to be able to know where the youth are headed BEFORE they take off....that way they are not entirely lost in the fray and can be found or approached by local leaders (Bishop, Institute Director, RS Pres, etc) as they take off on their own for the first year outside the home.
The Church is accomplishing two important goals simultaneously:
1. Encourage kids to seek some sort of post-HS training or empowerment.
2. Establish a record to help track these kids as they head out into the world
Since this is somewhat of a pilot, the implementation of such will likely vary from stake to stake. It is also entirely possible that your SP knows nothing of this movement and is simply stalking you guys. But I offer it up as a possible alternative explanation to the "Evil Machination" theory.
I am a big believer in doing whatever we can to support our youth and to help put them in the best position to succeed. You would be surprised how many youth do not get adequate parental involvement or support at home. Not all teens are as lucky as your daughter, to have a mom and a dad that will do anything to help her fulfill her goal of going to college. There are some kids out there that would really benefit from having mentors such as a SP or a Bishop or RSP step in and take an active interesting in post-HS planning. These are smart kids but they don't necessarily know how to take the next step in life, whatever that step may be.
Finally, since you asked.....Life is too short. Be happy that other folks love your daughter or are concerned for her welfare and are taking an active interest. Give your leaders the benefit of the doubt and let them try to help make a difference in your daughter's life. You are probably established on CUF as the most gung-ho and effective YM leader in history. Part of what made you so influential and successful in that role was an occasional appropriate foray into the private lives of your charges. Hopefully, your SP means no harm in this.
Anyhow, good luck and hope this info is somewhat helpful.
Something to consider that has not yet been discussed...
The Church (through CES) has been rolling out a relatively "new" emphasis lately and it focuses specifically on the issues your SP wants to discuss.
There is a specific lesson to be taught to the HS kids that focuses on vocational training and college, as well as some basic budgeting exercises. In addition, Jrs and Srs are to be introduced to a pilot website the Church has put together that allows the kids to do a few things, including:
1. Enter their post-HS plans into a database
2. Request info or contact from any of the Church schools (BYU, BYUH, BYUI, LDSBC)
Additionally, there is a DVD companion to these CES lesson plans...the dvd is a compendium of various vocational and educational-related talks and messages from The Bros. It is called "Education: Your key to Opportunity." The DVD was put together back in 2006 but it is being disseminated now as part of the launch of this new push to database all our youth. If I am not mistaken, CES is rolling this things out in pilot format to figure out the most effective way to do it. I know SoCal is participating...don't ask me how I know these awesome things.
You may wonder why the effort to bag and tag all these kids. There is actually a very good reason. Statistically, the Church has a very difficult time keeping track of the YSA demographic. They are like phantom menaces, like c.h.u.d., like body snatchers, like Ishtar......they float in and out of activity, roam from ward to ward, often only attending sacrament meeting, and that is where the Church has found that they lose many people to inactivity. A big part of this effort is to be able to know where the youth are headed BEFORE they take off....that way they are not entirely lost in the fray and can be found or approached by local leaders (Bishop, Institute Director, RS Pres, etc) as they take off on their own for the first year outside the home.
The Church is accomplishing two important goals simultaneously:
1. Encourage kids to seek some sort of post-HS training or empowerment.
2. Establish a record to help track these kids as they head out into the world
Since this is somewhat of a pilot, the implementation of such will likely vary from stake to stake. It is also entirely possible that your SP knows nothing of this movement and is simply stalking you guys. But I offer it up as a possible alternative explanation to the "Evil Machination" theory.
I am a big believer in doing whatever we can to support our youth and to help put them in the best position to succeed. You would be surprised how many youth do not get adequate parental involvement or support at home. Not all teens are as lucky as your daughter, to have a mom and a dad that will do anything to help her fulfill her goal of going to college. There are some kids out there that would really benefit from having mentors such as a SP or a Bishop or RSP step in and take an active interesting in post-HS planning. These are smart kids but they don't necessarily know how to take the next step in life, whatever that step may be.
Finally, since you asked.....Life is too short. Be happy that other folks love your daughter or are concerned for her welfare and are taking an active interest. Give your leaders the benefit of the doubt and let them try to help make a difference in your daughter's life. You are probably established on CUF as the most gung-ho and effective YM leader in history. Part of what made you so influential and successful in that role was an occasional appropriate foray into the private lives of your charges. Hopefully, your SP means no harm in this.
Anyhow, good luck and hope this info is somewhat helpful.
One of the things that I was pondering this morning (and talking with TW a bit about last night) is that I assume that most kids have parents like us. Always talking to our kids about their future: School, career, marraige, sex, drugs and alcohol, Dexter. I don't often think about the kids that may be rudderless and not getting the direction from their parents...and for this I am chagrined this morning.
Recent example...
We have a YW in our ward at a fine fUCLA. She took out a consumer loan for school. Her parents and her councelor at school never discussed Financial Aid for school. Now, 1 year in she doesn't know how she is going to be able to start her Sophmore year when she needs to get a job to pay for the loan.
I suck.
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