What a 13 year old boy needs to know?

[Christian223]

What a 13 year old boy needs to know about his own life?, about the future?.

There is a kid of that age at the art school i go to, and he seems to have no motivation to work on his skills, and i was thinking i could tell him something, what can i tell him that will really really change his way of thinking/doing?.

[Sam988]

It depends on his level of awareness. No matter what you tell him, if his awareness isn't high enough to really understand it (to "really really change"), he won't care. Picture teachers trying giving their students some lessons about life and the students are like "yea whatever".


I can't tell you something specific to tell this boy because i don't know him, but i hope i helped you; just think of what the boy would understand.

[The David]

I really wish someone had pushed me harder as a child and younger teenager. When I look back, however, I realize that it was really up to me to decide what I wanted and how much effort I was willing to put into it. Parents and authorities help, and I wish mine had higher standards than they do, but that only goes so far if you don't give a damn yourself.

What you can probably do is just be an encouragement to him, and an example. Just let him know what he is capable of and see if you can get him to be more engaged in life, in whatever little ways you can. Don't take reponsibility for him if you don't feel it is right to. On the other hand, 13ers are still fairly impressionable, and a good role model does go a long way.

[ticktockclok]

Maybe his parents forced him into art school? Ask him what he wants.

[JimOfferman]

You need to give him a challenge. Start with something that is just beyond his current level of proficiency. Only if he discovers how much fun using his talents really is, will he be motivated to make the most of them. So make sure that he can accomplish the first challenge. When he does, be ready for him to come to you for a bigger challenge...

[Christian223]

All good stuff, thanks.

He may not be too high in awareness, so what should i tell him to raise his awareness?. I know, i was similar to that, most teacher are just that, teachers, they are not wise awesome people who change your life for the best.

I too wish someone told me something back when i had that age, i lost many years of my life because no one motivated me to take a direction (they tried to, but in the wrong way), i wish someone wise would come up to me and told me to wake up, and i say wise because most people might try to motivate me but saying "hey!, do this!, its good!", "do that, its good for you", but with no result, they where not wise enough to know how to motivate me in the right way. I also learned that its entirelly up to me to decide what to do and to make an effort, it allways was, but i didnt realize, i think i should tell him this.

I fear if i ask him what he wants to do he may reply "i dont know" or worse "nothing", then i would be lost. But i also understand that if i want him to do something, i should encourage him to do something that HE wants to do, and then challenge him (to actually challenge him in something he wants to do/achieve), but how do i really get to know what he wants?, how can get to know his dreams?, i know I had barriers when i had his age but nobody knew how to really get to me. Have you ever met someone who changed your life with what he personally told you?, what did he/she told you?. Could you say that he changed your life because he raised your awareness? that he made you realize something?. I think this is what i sould accomplish, but how?.

Be an example/rol model, check, raise awareness, how? how can i speak to him heart to heart/man to man, get to know what he wants, check, give challenge, check.