The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

Neshaminy teachers introduce organization to student curriculum

By Shealyn Miles
Special Features Editor

For those perfection seekers who find themselves hanging by a thread at the end of the school year (whether that be of their composure or their last remaining notebook,) there is hope. Neshaminy English teachers Suzi Drake and Kimberly Aubrey have come to find that certain habits in the lives of teens may inspire drastic self-improvement not solely in an academic environment, but in a social one as well. They call these “7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens.”

The idea stems from “7 Habits for Highly Effective People,” a book written in the late eighties by Stephen Covey. His son, Sean, wrote the highly successful spin-off for teens, selling around 2 million copies.

As of now, these techniques are mandatory curriculum for Junior foundations students, though Drake explains that she has brought forth this insight to her college prep students as well, entitling it “self-empowerment.”

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One may wonder whether these steps could help even the top-preforming students of the school. What may seem as common sense to some, is a friendly reminder to others.

“I think that all students would benefit from knowing about the 7 Habits. They tell you to look inward at the choices you’re making, then look at the way you interact in relationships and finally remember to take time to take care of yourself,” Aubrey said.

For those students who wish to pursue these habits, who do not already have access to them, here is a brief overview.
1.) Be Proactive
Understand that one holds responsibility for themselves.
2.) Begin With the End in Mind
Know where you want to end up before you begin to head in that direction.
3.) Put First Things First
Manage your time by sorting out your priorities.
4.) Think Win-Win
Arrive at a mutual solution in any given relationship.
5.) Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
Listen to others before explaining your own thoughts.
6.) Synergize
Work with others to come up with solutions that, otherwise alone, you would not have come up with.
7.) Sharpen the Saw
In other words, keep your personal self “sharp” in order to better deal with life.

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Neshaminy teachers introduce organization to student curriculum