Let’s face it, talking about the things that really matter to us can be scary. When talking to adults – it can be downright daunting. However, holding onto things, rather than addressing them increases anxiety and makes us feel like we cannot be ourselves. As time goes by, it doesn’t get easier to take that […]
At Bender Leadership Academy, we believe in the power of employment. Employment changes the quality of life for people with disabilities. That is why we explore what it takes to get and keep a job, encourage you to follow your dreams, and be an informed citizen. However, very few people land their dream job the […]
Whether it is avoiding an activity or chore we don’t particularly enjoy doing, anxiety about working on a project or assignment, or just finding time in a busy schedule, sometimes getting started is the hardest part of getting things done. The thing is, the time is never perfect, we aren’t going to like a task […]
At the heart of initiative is ownership and pride. What is ownership? Ownership is that step you take beyond responsibility. It means you aren’t just acknowledging an obligation; you are committing yourself to doing whatever it takes to get a task done correctly. Why is ownership an important component of initiative? When you own something, […]
At the Bender Leadership Academy, we believe that advocacy is a critical skill for our students. To be a true advocate is to empower yourself and others. Sometimes it can be difficult to understand how to take the step from wanting to be an advocate to taking action which can bring about change. So, we […]
I have never had a job before, how can I have a resume? Working with high school students, we have heard this question countless times. The problem is that too many people think of a resume as a just list of jobs rather than as an advertisement for what would make them an awesome employee. […]
Join Bender Leadership Academy and New York Times best selling author, Karin Slaughter, in the continued fight against stigma. Stigma refers to beliefs about people that are unfair or negative because they have a common characteristic, such as having a disability, religious beliefs, the color of a person’s skin, gender, how much money they make, […]
As 2023 ends, it is time to consider the year ahead and make your resolutions. As young leaders, take a moment to make resolutions that support your future successes and build on your leadership skills. Explore the ideas below and then establish your own resolutions for 2024. Write down your goals and look at them […]
One of the ways that teens can build up their resume, both for future job opportunities and for post-high school education applications, is to become a volunteer. In fact, volunteering has the potential to increase your odds of getting offered a job by 27% according to a study by the Corporation for National and Community […]
During the holiday week of Thanksgiving, I hear greetings of “Happy Thanksgiving” or receive notes or e-mails wishing me those greetings every year. It is always so heartwarming to receive these greetings from friends, family, the cashier at the grocery store, or a Starbuck’s employee at the drive through window. But I wonder how many […]