Why your student should take Reaching Higher

Reaching Higher’s curriculum of personal leadership development should be in every school in the state – and I have seen firsthand the reasons why.

Reaching Higher teaches the necessary soft skills that are not taught in a traditional classroom setting, yet these are the skills that are going to help your student go farther in the classroom and their chosen career. These skills will set them apart to teachers and employers long after Reaching Higher graduation day.

My son started middle school last year and my daughter will be starting middle school this year. The stories my son has told me, and the struggles I have seen his peers face, make me see how vitally important Reaching Higher is to the next generation.

They struggle with confidence, they struggle with their parents. They can’t keep up with their schoolwork because the issues facing them at home are much bigger than whether or not they pass a class.

But at its core, Reaching Higher is not just for the struggling student. It was designed to be for everyone – not just for the student with behavioral or academic problems.

My son is a textbook overachiever. He never gets in trouble in the classroom and always brings home all As. But yet, Reaching Higher is for him, too.

This summer, he told me how worried he is that he will be removed from the National Honor Society if he brings home a grade less than an A. He has no reason to worry about this, and no reason to even believe that will happen. And yet, these are the worries that weigh on him.

Reaching Higher shows a student – whether that student is an overachiever like my son, or a student facing academic struggles – that everyone has worries. No matter how “perfect” a life can appear, everyone has struggles they face. No one lives a life of perfection, and Reaching Higher helps these students know they are not alone.

Recently, our team had the opportunity to interview recent Reaching Higher graduates about their experiences. As the person who puts together the videos and testimonials on our social media pages, I have so enjoyed watching these videos and getting to hear why this program has meant so much to these students.

Over the coming weeks, you will see a lot of content from these students and their parents, and you will be moved – I guarantee it. Their lives have been changed by Reaching Higher. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

“In my opinion, it saved him from going into a hospital for mental health treatment to back to playing board games with us. It really fixed a lot in our family.” – a parent of a Reaching Higher graduate

“When I walk in a room now, I remember my self-worth. I know that we are all equal and are all very valuable. I now give compliments freely and positively because I know to never hold back.” – a Reaching Higher graduate

“Before Reaching Higher, I was super stressed because of math and school. At first, I didn’t know if I saw a change. But oftentimes, that is when the change is occurring, whether you see it or not. And everyone around me was telling me I was changing for the better. And it was because of Reaching Higher.” – a Reaching Higher graduate

If you are a parent, and your student gets the chance to take this course, encourage them to do it. If you want Reaching Higher to come to your school, email steve@reachinghigherinc.com.

We rely on donations to make this program possible. To become a partner and help students like these, visit our donate page.