Nurturing the Human Spirit Through Character Development in Adolescents

Nurturing the Human Spirit through Character Development in Adolescentswas designed to discover and develop the spiritual nature of our adolescentsby assisting them in discerning and constructing positive character-buildingskills. By familiarizing them to their own and other religious beliefs and practices,the adolescents will be able to more easily accommodate themselves to their diverseneighborhoods and schools. By understanding their peers religious and social practices,a common underlying tension is removed from their daily lives, enabling them to betterlearn in an educational setting.It is also designed to increase their cognitive developmental assets. Recent studies haveshown that the adolescent should possess forty-one (41) developmental assets. From theresearch I have conducted, our youth have eighteen (18) or less developmental assets.Th is program will be benefi cial to parents and adolescents in helping them recognizeand embrace their ethical and spiritual identity in the diverse society in which they live.When we look at the world around us and see all the chaos and then ask ourselves why?Why so much disorder in our world where peace and love should reign. Have we everstopped and considered the spirit? Th at part of every human being which gives us theability to do all that we do, every second of our lives. For me, I believe that when the spiritis broken or separated from its creator, it is left without the loving and compassionatecomponents that prevent it from developing in the way in which it should grow. Leftwithout proper guidance, then the sprit (life force) does what pleases it. Th e ApostlePaul tells us in Romans 7:14-16 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of fl esh,sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicingwhat I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I donot want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. As human beingswe have to stop with, I want what I want and really dont care about what is right andhumane. Th e human race must start thinking in terms of who we really are, spiritbeing clothed in fl esh, bone & blood spirit. We have the power to change the negativesto positives and the positives to accomplishing goals and aspirations. But we shouldstop excluding our Creator from our lives and invite God to be in control of ourspirit; that part of our life that gives us life, the spirit. Re-connecting the spirit.Re-educating the spirit. Re-directing the spirit. Nurture your spirit.