to wait for this meeting to start. I kept thinking to myself, why all the secrecy? I admit I was nervous. Finally the Empowering Minds™ Team Trainer arrived to announce that from the time the teens got off the bus they immediately took them out of their comfort zone. They told us the difference between this training and other training of this nature. This training was no cuddle festival, they allowed the students to fail at their challenges, and if they failed they got to keep at it till they succeeded. With that all parents received some letters that our children wrote as they were going through this training. When I reflect on the Graduation ceremony, I think of it as life changing. We as Parents were ushered into the graduation room, the teens standing on the perimeter of the room. I, like every other parent there was looking for my daughter. Finally I spot her; she doesn’t look too much worse for wear (I can start to relax). I watch as the students clap and cheer for their peers, amazed and moved, as every teen completes the task. Once completed the students were invited to share with the group their feelings about this experience. Teen after teen got up and conveyed how amazed they were at the experience they had just had, and empowered they felt how much they appreciated their own lives and futures. I was taken back to the days of kindergarten, when my daughter was so excited every day with the new thing that she had learned. It was very obvious that what all of these children had learned on this occasion had brought back this enthusiasm, absolutely life changing! The parent sharing session was every bit as moving, it hits home for me how much we depend on and love our children. In closing, I just want to say thank you to Empowering Minds™ you are amazing people!

since 2007 while I was at Diefenbaker. During the first

year we put through nearly 100 students and over the past years hundreds of students from the school have had the opportunity to experience the power of the Empowering Minds program. I have had the opportunity to work with the driving forces of the program and seen it grow from just a vision to the outstanding, impactful program it is today.
The program has influenced students, families and friends and has influenced many students to reach their full potential. Teachers have seen changes in students’ attitudes and behaviours and attitudes long after the weekend course.
Students have become more responsible, confident and accepting and this has been shown in the student’s daily lives. They believe in themselves, show improvements in school work and have become better citizens in the school community.
I have had the opportunity to see the benefits of the program not only as an educator but as a parent. Empowering Minds gives students the confidence to reach their full potential and focus on what is important without all of the daily distractions.
The Empowering Minds program brings many benefits to your students and your school culture. Students develop more confidence in themselves and become motivated to achieve at a higher level. The students bring back what they have learned and change the culture of your classroom showing how positive attitudes and relationships lead to a better environment to learn.
As with any off campus program it does bring extra work to the teacher that is responsible for advertising, recruitment, paper work and supervision but the benefits out way the work. The changes that I have seen in students’ lives make the work more than worth it. The benefits for the students, parents, siblings, and the school have been amazing to witness.
There are many programs and course out there for students and educators to try. The way in which Empowering Minds has developed and delivers the program is very effective and teaches the students so much in a short period of time.