About this Book
NEVER TOO LATE TO MAKE A U-TURN
“AN EDUCATIONAL PLEDGE & 15 QUESTIONS TO SELF-DEVELOPMENT”
BY ALBERTO O. CAPPAS
The book is based on my many years of speaking to young people and others about the need to take control of our lives and not allow politicians, rap musicians (i.e., degrading of women and other negative messages) and drug dealers to make decisions for our paths in life since they are very prominent images and realities that we face everyday in our communities, as well as in the media outlet and fashion industry.
The work is based on educating young people to understand the meaning and definition of values and standards in one’s life. The more we understand its meaning, the more control we will have over the choices we make in life. When one instills these values and standards as a system within oneself, one has a better chance at leading a more productive and enjoyable journey in his or her lifetime.
For example, society instills in our young people that they must go to school in order to prepare for a job that would lead to a career; etc, etc. I strongly believe and know from personal experience that we must go much further in convincing our young people why education is so important. Education is very important. However, to share that importance does not have only one “reason”. Young people must be made aware of the other dynamics for pursuing an education.
We must instill in our young people that they must go to school for other important reasons such as, learning to read, learning to write, an opportunity to meet other human beings outside their immediate social circle/box, exposure to the arts, providing the student a stage to be in contact with the world, and an opportunity to be exposed to other cultures and customs.
We need to pay attention to a student’s positive hobbies (if they have any or cultivate one based on his/her interest) and see how we can help them make an intellectual and economic connection between the hobbies and the amazing economic and business potential of the hobby. This can prepare our young people to become producers and providers rather than consumers. If we provided this motivation, the dropout rate would be much lower, and not so high.
I dropped out of high school several times until someone took the time and introduced me to the world of theatre and poetry, giving me a reason to go back to school and pursue my education. I no longer felt as if I was being forced to go to school only to prepare for a job. I became aware that school was a beginning to my personal growth and development, and not to a job. I started to understand the true meaning of the word “education.”
“Never Too Late to Make a U-Turn: An Educational Pledge & 15 Questions to Self- Development” provides young readers (i.e., with the help of their teachers, counselors and parents), with the chance and opportunity to visualize these inner qualities at an early stage, to understand that although they do not see it, a conceptual system (system of ideas and concepts) does exist for them to visualize, even within the midst of a negative environment (community). This also works for older students. It is never too late to make a u-turn.
It is important that role models (i.e., teachers, counselors, parents, and youth-serving professionals) help students understand this book and help them to examine their purpose on the planet and begin to discuss and define the meaning of values and standards – essential to one’s personal growth and development. There should be no judgments attached. This should be an open conversation where the student knows that there are no “wrong” or “right” answers. It is a time to openly bring out the students’ honest comments without judgment from the onset. The facilitator should open the discussion with “non-judgment” as the ground rule.
I first wrote a poem, The Pledge, which I used in my poetry readings to young audiences in public schools, colleges, and community organizations. It is designed to serve as a guide to help one understand and navigate the daily encounters and activities in our lives. The Pledge, as a stand-alone poem, has been widely published in newspapers, magazines, flyers, book form, bookmark, Internet, and widely used by individuals and organizations.
The direct audience for this book is the young people in “minority” communities, students and their parents, school counselors, teachers, and educational consultants.
Individual students can utilize this book as an everyday guide. It can be used as a one-on-one counseling tool/instrument by the teacher,counselor or parent, and it can also be used in groups and in workshop settings.
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