Brownwood News was fortunate enough to have a heart to heart visit with Aric Bostick, renowned motivational speaker who will be coming to Brownwood ISD on Monday, Feb 1 for an energizing and inspiring training for parents.
Bostick has a calling to encourage teens to find not only happiness but success in life, including relating to others, finding their own identity and not just trying to fit in. For adults, he offers some great advice in a conversational manner, instead of lecture style teaching, which helps them have a more successful experience in parenting and even teaching.
When asked what he felt was the hardest thing for teens these days, he answered, “Taking responsibility for their own lives. Generation Y is a very ‘entitled’ generation, concerned with ‘what’s in it for me’; however, this generation is different from so many in the past in that they have a love for service to others which is an odd twist in their generations’ motivation.”
Bostick noted that for this generation, it is most important that they learn that it takes hard work to be successful…that “there’s no mystery to it.” He wants to help teens realize that they need to make goals, realize that success is being “on fire” about what you visualize your future to be, have a hopeful attitude, and know that anything is possible.
Another question we had for Bostick was “Who was an important mentor in your own life?” He answered, “My own father getting sober.” He explained how his alcoholic father set an example by showing him that you can change your situation and make things better.
“As parents we have to be a model for our own children, be a parent and not just a buddy,” said Bostick. He also said that learning to tell your children the word “no” and enforcing it is important along with teaching respect of property and people and being considerate in general. He also stressed that parents can do this by coaching their children to make respect a habit. “We all need to work on this”, he said.
The last question we had for Bostick was “What do you feel is the most influencing force on teens today?” He responded, “I feel it’s the pressure to try to fit in and be like everyone else.” He explained, “some of us never find out who we are.”
“Things go better when you can be yourself…” Bostick explained. During his career over the past 7-8 years, traveling all over the country to speak to millions of teens, he has had quite a bit of “alone time” which gave even him the chance to “find out who Aric Bostick really is”. Bostick noted in closing that “…lessons taught are what I am learning too…”
Aric will address students during the day at school on February 1st. His Parent Session “Speaking Teenager” will be held in the Dorothy McIntosh Fine Arts Center at the Brownwood High School, from 6:30-7:30pm, on Monday February 1st. There is no fee, and parents from the entire community are welcome to attend
