The Young Leader

  • GLA Program Blogs
  • Gamechangers
  • Newsletters
  • About The Young Leader

June 7, 2013 by Sydney Miller 1 Comment

Would You Try a Digital Sabbath with your Family?

In a recent piece called “How Our Digital Devices Are Affecting Our Personal Relationships” on Boston’s WBUR-Boston’s radio series, Digital Lives, Iris Adler reports on one family’s weekly “Sabbath” from the digital world. The Powers family allows no smartphones, video games or computers from Friday night through Sunday night. That’s right. Nothing. Digital. Whatsoever. Could you attempt a Digital Sabbath in your family? Why would you even want to?

Beyond creating more “quality” family time, the challenge no doubt has broader benefits for the Powers’ 15-year-old son, William. Teens, as you’re probably well aware, log about 7.5 hours per day using some form of media outside of school, and every human interaction they have is shaped by this digitization. However, life still calls upon us in key moments to communicate the old fashioned way, with eye contact and verbal exchanges in complete sentences.  It may seem like a lost art, or one that’s getting lost, but it’s an art that brings families closer together and separates leaders from the rest of the pack.

If a weekly break from the online world sounds a bit extreme, look for periodic, significant opportunities to unplug. It could allow your son or daughter to see the world in a way that we adults did for much of our lives pre-iPhone, and maybe sometimes take for granted now.

At the end of the day, parents have more influence than they may think when it comes to sparking leadership in their kids. Whether it’s volunteering at a local shelter to set an example, structuring your home life in unconventional ways, or sending your teenager to a new corner of the globe to broaden their worldview, much begins with you.

Filed Under: Archive, VIVA

May 21, 2013 by Sydney Miller 1 Comment

The Facebook Group that will Make your Summer

Busted…we’re biased. We think Global Leadership Adventures is the single greatest way a high school student can spend their summer break. But you know who else thinks so? The students who’ve  participated in our programs.

Join a GLA Country Facebook group now and get a fresh, unbiased perspective.  Hundreds of student alumni are sharing their experiences and are waiting to answer your questions.

There’s no better way to get the straight story. Talk directly with participants to find out:

  • Was the food good? What if I’m vegan?

  • How many guys are on the programs?

  • Were you able to fundraise for your tuition?

  • Which destination is better for learning Spanish – Costa Rica or Guatemala?

  • How were the counselors?

Several programs have their own GLA Facebook group, and we invite you to crash them all:

  • Africa: Ghana, Tanzania

  • Asia: Bali, India, Thailand

  • Central America & Caribbean: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Dominican Republic

  • South America: Galapagos Islands, Peru

This simple move could set you up for the summer of your life…happy chatting!

Filed Under: #myGLA, Archive

May 7, 2013 by Sydney Miller 1 Comment

A Parent Facebook Group You’ll Want to Join

Your teen is bright, motivated and ready to plan their summer.  A-hem?   This is where you come in.

The best way to help your teen plan a meaningful, productive summer is to connect with other  parents who’ve had recent success.  They know how crucial it is to make the most of summer break and how to sort through the many options out there.

Thankfully, there’s an incredibly helpful Facebook group specifically for parents whose kids have taken part in service-learning programs abroad.  The members of this group have been through the entire process and get down to the nitty gritty before your very eyes.  (They’re even happy to answer your questions.)

Just a couple of clicks to find out:

  • How did you choose a destination country?

  • How safe did your son or daughter feel?

  • Did your teen eat well? Make friends?

  • Did the counselors live up to their bios?

  • Would you – and your son or daughter – do anything differently?

Simply follow this link and connect instantly with parents like you.  Drop in anytime to ask a question or find out what other parents are talking about.  Don’t just take our word… take theirs!

Filed Under: Archive

December 15, 2008 by Sydney Miller

Alumni Action: Building Bright Future

Previously, I’ve talked about how its hard to know what a student will reap from a GLA experience, but my hope is that they become “activated” about anything – language, culture, social issues, etc…

Here is a great example of alumni being activated by their Global Leadership Adventures experience – Building Bright Future is a web site created by our students to help fund the construction of an orphanage in Ghana where they volunteered.

If other alumni have stayed engaged in something related to their GLA program, let me know and I’ll promote it here on the blog.

Volunteering at Orphanage
Volunteering at Bright Future Orphanage

Filed Under: Archive

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2

Give Back to the Community

Donate to the GLA International Foundation and help support projects and grant recipients around the world.

Brought to you by

Copyright © 2023 · Executive Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in