A Frank Conversation with Today’s Youth: Practical Suggestions and Inspirational Insights for Some Problems of Youths

By Pearline James

This is a motivational book for youths and young adults. It explores some of the problems, some teens and young adults face and suggests possible solutions. Many of these suggestions are reinforced by true stories. The book encourages readers to rely on God and faith to cope with daily living. There are some references from the Bible. The book consists of 12 chapters. Each chapter begins with inspirational words and there is a poem that follows the first ten chapters.

Chapter1
Encourages self-confidence and suggest ways to improve self-esteem.
Chapter 2
Discusses the importance of establishing priorities, using frictional scenarios and one true story.
Chapter 3
Encourages the reader to dream, set goals, but be prepared to work hard.
Chapter 4
Takes a closer look at the importance of education, including skills training.
Chapter 5
Encourages reader to refrain from getting involved in illegal activities.
Chapter 6
Advocates tolerance, understanding and empathy.
Chapter 7
Identifies some stressors for youth and suggests ways to cope.
Chapter 8
Acknowledge the influence of peer pressure and suggests ways of dealing with it.
Chapter 9
Encourages respect and support for parents.
Chapter 10
Calls on readers to view disappointments as lessons, outlines some steps to change, recognizing self-acknowledgement and willingness to change.
Chapter 11
Encourages readers to be realistic and distinguish myths from truths.
Chapter 12
Explores the culture of instant gratification and entitlement. It encourages self-reliance as one approaches adulthood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973675471

Pearline James

Pearline James was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. She grew up in St. Vincent, but spent a few years in Aruba with her aunt who adopted her after the death of her biological mother. After graduating High School, she became a teacher and continued her teaching career after graduating from St. Vincent’s teachers college. She migrated to St. Croix, U.S.V.I where she continued to teach but fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a licensed Practical Nurse. This is the first of a two book motivational series. Ms. James has one son. She likes reading, listening to music, scrapbooking and writing. Most of all she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. Ms. James lives in St. Croix U.S. V. I.

Book preview

A Frank

Conversation with

Today’s Youth

Practical suggestions and inspirational

insights for some problems of youths

Pearline James

30419.png

Copyright © 2019 Pearline James.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7548-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7547-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019920034

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/19/2019

Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 You are Special

Believe in Your Ability to Succeed

Poem: A Closer Look

Chapter 2 Establish Priorities for your Life

Poem: Life’s Normal Progression

Chapter 3 Dream Big! Set Goals! Work Hard!

Poem: Believe

Chapter 4 Take a Closer Look at Education

Poem: Educate

Chapter 5 Say No to Drugs and More

Poem: Say No

Chapter 6 Walk a Mile in Someone Else’s Shoes

Poem: Before You Judge Men

Chapter 7 Recognizing and Managing Stressful Situations

Poem: Don’t Stress

Chapter 8 Coping with Peer Pressure

Poem: Wanting to Belong

Chapter 9 Supporting and Respecting a Parents Role

Poem: Parents

Chapter 10 Learn from Disappointments and Mistakes

Poem: Don’t Give Up

Chapter 11 Reality Check

Chapter 12 Adulthood

To my grandchildren River, Kurtisha,

and Kurt Jr.

Acknowledgments

I WOULD LIKE to acknowledge the contributions made to this book project by the following persons

Robert H. Thompson III MD

Ms LaDia Carrington Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Mr. Shaheem Ross a positive young man

Thanks to these individuals for affording me the privilege of sharing part of your life experience.

Thanks to Ms. Cindy Van Wingerden, Ms. Nasha Mathurin, Ms. Janet Jeffers, Ms. Anna Martinez, for providing technical support.

To all family members, friends, coworkers, and well wishes who have encouraged me along the way. My husband Sullivan Seraphin, my friends Vanda Alezy Baptiste, Christopher Monbelly, Vivian Prince and Anette Henry.

Special thanks to my special friend Paulette Mason and my son Kurt James Sr. Both have been a source of practical support and overall encouragement from the inception of this project.

Preface

WHY THIS BOOK? Why another motivational book? Why not? I believe each book is unique in its own way. This one is the first in a two-book series.

This book explores some of the problem’s teens and young adults face. It suggests possible solutions to some of those problems. Many of the suggestions are reinforced by true stories of real people, and how they coped with the difficulties they encountered daily. It encourages readers to rely on God and faith to cope with the daily realities of life. There are many references from the Bible. Like many others, I believe that the Bible is the greatest book ever written and contains the answers to any problem imaginable.

I have worked with children for three-quarters of my life, but for the past ten years, I have worked with teens who got in trouble with the law. Some are charged with simple misdemeanours, and others with more serious crimes, like grand larceny, and even murder. I am disturbed by the fact that many of these youths seem to have no dreams and little hope for the future. Sadly, many have little or no guidance. If this trend continues, I wonder what will become of the next generations of black males, especially black Caribbean, African American, and Hispanic males.

Young men—how many more of your fathers, brothers, uncles, nephews, friends, and acquaintances have to die before you realize that you are an endangered species on the verge of being extinct? You were born for a specific purpose. You may not know what that purpose is at this time but one thing is for sure, you were not born for a life of crime, violence, and hopelessness.

Young ladies—you were born for a specific purpose. It does not include being anyone’s slave, property, or punching bag. The words of Jesus found in John 10:10 says: I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. KJV There is nothing abundant about killing each other, robbing from others, abusing others, or in revenge killings.

I believe words are powerful. The words Hard work brings success were first introduced to me in elementary school. One of my teachers wrote these words on the chalkboard for writing practice. I am not sure if these words were penned by her or by someone else, but I never forgot them. When I was in high school, I marvelled at my cousin whom I think of as my brother. We grew up together. He was always very smart, and he got good grades in school, although I never saw him studying as hard as I did. It was at that time that the words Hard work brings success became my personal motto.

Perhaps this is what made me decide to begin each chapter with inspirational words. The words are also intended to awaken interest in each chapter.