Bound to Succeed

The stars shine and so do you!  You're a Success Bound Teen!

Finals and Focus

Alright SBTs, it's time to buckle down as it is time for finals.


Whether you're in high school or college, whether you like it or not, whether you want to study or not, it's time to prepare for finals.  YESSSSSSS!!!   

This is the time of year when everything you've learned over the course of the year comes together in one big test to test what you absorbed during your time in the classroom.  How well you listened, how attentive you were and how much you participated will tell in this one last test, (just a small challenge that you'll be faced with for about two hours), will reveal how much knowledge you attained .  That is why it is so important to attend class everyday; you don't want to miss a second of knowledge; it's what's going to help you to succeed in your career and in life!!!


So get ready; find a quiet place to focus.  Turn off that cell phone!!! Turn off that music!!!   Be sure to tell your friends that you can't hang out this weekend because you  have to study!!!  Focus and Finish strong.  Go ahead and get that A+.  You can do it.  Put in a little hardwork, dedication and commitment and strive to do your very best on that test.


We'd love to reward you with a gift certificate for being so faithful and true to your academic goals and for working so diligently and for always doing and being the best that you can be!!!  It's not much to ask and you'll be jumping for joy all the days of your life when you find that, because of your commitment to your school work now, you will live a life of prosperity because you chose to receive wisdom, knowledge and instruction.  What a wise Success Bound Teen you are!!!!

B.A.A.

Do you have a B.A.A.?  Believe and Achieve Attitude?


Success Bound Teens, do you have a believe and achieve attitude?  Do you believe that you have the power to attain your goals and live your dreams.  Does your attitude help define your success?  


Did you know that having a great, wonderful and positive attitude can easily help you to obtain your goals.  Here's why; when you believe in yourself and the things you are trying to accomplish, your believe and achieve attitude speaks to your spirit, your faith soars and the next thing you know, you're walking into and living your dreams.


Your attitude and your confidence, your goals, your aspirations in addition to your abilities, your gifts, your talents and your education can help to bring your sweet dreams to fruition.


So come on and get ready to receive your B.A.A. degree.  It will be one of the best degrees you'll ever receive!!!


Flutter, flutter, flutter!

Dear God,

I’m sending You this prayer with

thanksgiving and all my love

for my daughter,

Jenna

My sweet precious dove.

Please keep Jenna safe in Your loving arms,

close to your heart and safe from all world’s harm.

Please protect her and love her as only You can,

and seal her salvation, with Your master plan.

Oh Lord, through me and for me, please teach her how to pray,

for those whom she loves and those she’ll meet some day.

May Your goodness and Your mercy be her light and shield,

to Your wise counsel, I pray she’ll always yield.

I thank You for your faithfulness,

Your grace and mercy too,

for blessing Jenna abundantly, with Your love so true.

Written by ©Cynthia G. Boyer

GRADUATION

I remember the day when I graduated from Notre Dame Academy.

The sun was beaming down on the beautiful grounds in Villanova, Pennsylvania and every chair in the garden was taken up by a relative of one of the many girls graduating that day.

My mother, father, sister, two brothers, MiMom, aunt and uncle came to see me receive and accept my high school diploma.  It was a glorious day as my mother likes to say.

Graduation holds all the years of learning all the different subjects necessary to move on to an institution of high learning.  It is the success one has achieved which allows them to write and step into the next chapter of life.  Graduation also holds special memories I will forever cherish.  I've learned a lot, I've made a few friends and I've learned that there are cliques in almost every situation and circumstance in life where girls are involved.  I, too, was part of a clique; my best friend and I.  We had a ball forming our own little circle and we enjoyed spending our early mornings together in the cafeteria chatting about the days spent at NDA.  Kelsey and I are still best friends today, even though she attends college across the pond.  Our bond is as strong as the day we graduated from high school.  

Before graduating, there was the process of preparing to apply to various colleges as I aspire to reach my full potential, accomplish my future dreams and goals and to press for the mark.  I applied to five universities, visited all five and was accepted to all five.  Of course I chose the one that I thought would suit my academic needs.

The campus of the university that I chose for myself was beautiful.  As a Media Studies major, I was ready to buckle down and get the same grades that I had gotten in working so hard in high school.  I continue on the path where my academic growth has helped me to maintain a GPA of 3.2 or above.

Graduation is a special day.  It is just one of your tickets to a bright future.  So leave on that cap; take it with you to college and remember that 4 more years of learning, another 100 notches in your belt is just around the corner.  Are you ready to take on the challenge and buckle down to do and be your best; the world is awaiting you.  So go ahead, and prepare to make your mark to make this world of ours a better place!!!

PROM NIGHT

Success Bound Teens, the time is growing closer to that special day called graduation, but first you have a  special engagement you must to attend, PROM NIGHT!!!!  This is one of the most special and precious times of your high school years; treasure and cherish it all the days of your life.  


You've been looking forward to this day for a long time and it has finally arrived.  You've picked out a stunning dress.  You're getting ready to walk your own red carpet. Mom and Dad have prepared a delicious spread for your family and friends and they are congregating at your home as if it is your wedding day to see you shine.  As you prepare for this special night, let's take into consideration some important aspects of this evening that are extremely crucial to your safety, in more ways than one; 


PLEASE DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE


Remember to take heed to your parents advice: DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.  Think about this:  You are on your prom and you are looking forward to having a grand time; you'll be creating special memories and you'll be sharing a time with your friends that you will never ever forget.  How can you have a good time if you're drinking to the point where it leaves you feeling drowsy and totally out of sync with your peers; it makes for a terrible time and your night can be completely ruined.  Be alert and enjoy yourself and you'll have the time of your life.  Drinking is no fun and should be left to those who are of legal age.

SAFE with CELIBACY


When I watch 16 and Pregnant I listen to the young girls talk about how they wish they had waited before engaging in sex.  Listen, sex is a serious thing with serious consequences and it's never ever worth giving up your virginity to some boy just for his pleasure so remember this, stay Safe with Celibacy; you won't regret it.


Walk into the night and enjoy who you are and who you are about to become.  Your prom night is a special time carved out for you and your classmates.  You are a beautiful fluttering slowly into your journey.  


Be respectful of yourself and others will respect you as well.  Remember to respect yourself and don't do anything that you know is against your moral and high ethical standards that have been instilled in you since birth.  Make your parents proud and listen to the great and sound advice that they have shared with you to help keep you safe and on the right road where truth reigns.


Flutter, Flutter!!!! 


Moms, Dads, Aunts, Uncles, Guardians or followers of this blog, please feel free to add any sound and profound advice or comments for our Success Bound Teens.  We want to keep them on the right track so that they never lose focus of their goals!!!  

Success Bound Teens are Blossoming Butterflies...

Flutter, flutter, flutter. Open your wings and fly; let the world see the beauty and power in your wings.

As young women we continually strive to be all that we can be, all we were meant to be, our true authentic selves. Blossoming Butterflies is our gift to you, our beautiful sisters in womanhood, uniquely connected by virture of our compassion, our beauty, our intelligence, our simply reveling in the joy of what it means to be female. No matter your age, race, religion or ethnicity, Blossoming Butterflies is your place to express your thoughts, dreams, challenges, goals and aspirations. We're your soft place to fall.

Whether you're 16 and confused about boys, relationships, school and peer pressure or if you're 25 deciding on whether or not to get married, what career path to take or any life choices you may be facing, our goal is to provide helpful, positive feedback in a protective environment. We'll have fun, exchange ideas, share our stories of heartbreak and disappointment with those of us that have already walked in your shoes. Blossoming Butterflies is dedicated to helping young girls and women come into their own by realizing their true potential in all facets of life...blossoming into beautiful, phenomenal butterfiles!

Young ladies, your journey is one of purpose, happiness, excitement and an abundance of blessings. Your life is Spirit-filled and Spirit-led with the radiance of God’s Son shining down and illuminating your path as He lovingly leads you to your destination.

Ladies, your thoughts and dreams are transformed into your passion and your passion becomes your goals; your passion then leads to your prosperity by first seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Blossoming Butterflies, you flutter out and into the world, wings slowly spreading and following the path designed exclusively for you. You can do anything. You have the amazing ability to accomplish great things; greatness has been poured into your soul and is forever embedded in your spirit. You have been touched with God’s amazing grace and His tender mercies. His Word tells you that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

Faith is the hope, the key and the substance that gives you the strength to move mountains; nothing is impossible for you. You envision conquering the world, a feat some may call impossible, but with your faith in Christ Jesus, you are well on your way to doing just that!

Whether you’re in high school preparing for your college years or whether you’re in college preparing for your future you are in the beginning stages of blossoming into a beautiful butterfly. Being molded and shaped by the Hands of God, you are in deed so very special. You have been wonderfully and marvelously created and you are precious in His sight.

Many of you dream your dreams everyday; dreams of going to college; dreams of designing your life for success and prosperity; dreams of being the leaders of the world; dreams of being your very best in your chosen field; dreams of having lifelong prosperous careers that will guide you into a life of pure bliss.

The Teenage Butterfly

Fluttering into some of the harsh realities of life doesn’t have to affect you. If you remain focused and stay centered on the Lord, Jesus Christ, your path will remain straight and He will give you the desires of your heart.

As a teenager in high school student, you may, from time to time, be forced to deal with peer pressure.

Whether you know it or not, peers often influence your life. Peer pressure can also be a learning experience; you learn from your peers, they learn from you and you learn some things about yourself.

Perhaps a friend has given you an easy-to-remember science formula. Maybe there is a student in your class who stands out from the rest; you admire their fun-loving personality and you want to be more like them. But wait a minute, you just discovered something you never knew before; someone admires you too; you have a great personality, you’re fun-loving; you’re smart, a straight A student to be exact and some of your peers, well, they would never tell you this, but they long to be just like you. This kind of peer pressure you welcome with open arms. To be a beacon of light to and for someone else speaks volumes about you and who you are.

When you emulate the goodness found in the heart of your peers or when someone emulates you, it should be considered sheer joy because you are helping another person in some small way or perhaps even in a big way in some area or circumstance of their life, even if you don’t realize it.

Your peers can influence you in positive ways or they can influence you in negative ways. Negative peer pressure can sometimes be life-altering. For instance, if one of your peers tried to get you to have unprotected sex, and you agreed, this could possibly result in an unwanted pregnancy changing your life for as long as you have to raise your child. Nine times out of ten, you will be raising your child all alone with absolutely no help from the baby’s father.

Peer pressure can also lead to other negative influences which can cause sexually transmitted diseases if you do not protect yourself. Being wise by taking heed to the great advice from your parents, guardians, teachers, counselors or someone close to you and remaining celibate is a great way to avoid getting a sexually transmitted disease. Your parent(s) love you; remember that they have your best interest at heart and it is best to listen when they tell you the importance of remaining a virgin until you get married. Safe with Celibacy is a great tool you can and should always use when faced with peer pressure.

Your peers could also influence you to try a drug; all drugs are harmful and could cause some form of pain; emotional and/or physical. Some drugs are stronger and worse than others and could lead to drug-dependency changing your life forever. Once you become addicted to drugs, which are like any other disorder, it is extremely difficult to get off of the drugs and you may be forced to seek help through intervention and counseling. This, too, can be a life-changing experience.

Girls often influence their peers to be mean to other girls; this could be due to jealously or for no reason at all. If your peers try to get you to go against someone for reason(s) you are unaware of or because your peer may be jealous of that person, don’t feed into the negativity. Instead, you should voice your honest opinion about the situation and try to get your friend to see why she is being unreasonable and try to help transform her heart. Do not get involved in such situations where you may be sorry later. Support your friends when and where support is warranted.

If your peers try to get you to cut class, don’t do it because you’ll miss out on so much. Another reason is that you will miss out on the interesting conversation and all the information that your teacher has prepared and handed out to help you pass your next test. You need to be in class taking notes and learning as much as you can so that you will get the wisdom and knowledge that you will need later on in life that is going to empower you for the rest of your life.

Cutting class could possibly have a domino effect; cutting one class can quickly lead to cutting two classes, then three and so on and so forth. Cutting class can lead to a drop in your grades and your drop in your grades can lead to expulsion and this can lead to other negative things. Remember to tell yourself that you’re in school for a perfectly good reason; to get your education. You are in school to learn. Don’t hurt yourself or your future; it is never worth it. Why cut class when you’re already in school; stay in school and focus on making the very best of it and doing your very best. When you do this, you will find that you can do anything that you truly put your mind to and you can be so much more than you ever thought possible and education will show you the way to go.

Blossoming Butterfly, you may not realize or see it at this very moment, but doing well in all of your classes now will be the light, guidance and direction that you will need for your future. Maintaining good grades is imperative. When you work hard and go the extra 2 miles, you are putting forth great effort that will guarantee you academic success. You are giving yourself the knowledge you will need when the time comes for you to take the college entrance examination that will help the college admissions board whether they will be willing to give you the opportunity to give all of yourself to your school work; you are helping God to shape your future.

When you are being pressured by your peers, don’t be afraid to say no. You can be a pioneer by saying no. You can be a leader; you can start a trend just by saying no, “I don’t believe in that, I know that my parents would not want me to do that and I am not going to do that and you can’t make me do that; I love myself and I respect myself.” Be a leader and watch your friends follow; if they were afraid to say no before, they are proud to say no now because you paved the way.

Some positive things you can do to help your peers as well as helping yourself is start a study group. Like a Bible Study, a study group is a wonderful way to influence, encourage, and uplift your peers.

A study group can give your peers hope for the present and for the future. You can share your knowledge with your peers and they can share their knowledge with you. You can help them to strengthen their weaknesses and where their strengths lie, they can be a blessing and help to you.

To start your study group, you can pick and use a different subject weekly or monthly. Before starting your group, make sure that anyone who may be interested knows exactly what it is that you are offering and what you expect of them. Be honest, direct and respectful and let your peers know that you expect the same from them. Create a handout if you feel that is necessary so that everyone will know exactly what each study group consists of. A study group is an excellent way to help bring your peers together and an excellent way to help keep them on track, to help them to focus on their school work and to weed out all the negativity that may be impacting and plaguing their lives in some way. A study group will help your peers to stay on the right track and to keep them positive, to learn outside of the classroom where they can spread their wings, one wing at a time.

Have you ever thought about how much you and your peers can learn from each other? Reaching out, helping, strengthening and being the person you are meant to be can give your peers the hope they may need. Be the voice of your peers that says, Yes we can!

Blossoming Butterflies, now is the time to pursue your academic dreams; dreams of being straight students; dreams of scoring above average on the SATs; dreams of being the salutatorian of your class and dreams of going to the college of your dreams.

You’re young and you’re vibrant. You have the power in your wings to soar. Your wings and your dreams can take you to the highest mountain top. All the butterflies who have flown there and have left their mark have also left a place for you to land; flutter, flutter, flutter.