 After working as a life coach for three years now, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m getting into people’s lives way too late. The majority of my cleints are between 30 and 55 and are now starting to make the changes in their lives they have always desired. Don’t get me wrong, to be able to facilitate and watch that change take place is exceptional and much of the reason I love my job so much; I’d just love to reach them earlier!
Many of my clients comment, “If only I’d met you 10 years ago, my life would be so different now”. So I’ve made a decision to take these skills and learnings into a student environment to give them the opportunities I’m giving all my clients, the basic idea being that they will have a 10 – 20 year head start in life and really be able to apply these principles at a much earlier stage of their lives. I have created a 10-week program for Year 10 or 11 students to give them all the essential life skills that are currently missing from their education system.
The course has been created to allow the kids to come to their own conclusions about what’s going to make the most impact on their lives. We do exercises, games, think tanks, have discussions and they really enjoy and engage in the learning process. The outcome so far is that they are taking responsibility for their own outcomes, choosing to study instead of watching TV, and all have a ‘big picture’ to work towards.
Over the 10 weeks the course covers the following topics:
  Personal motivation
Success principles
Goal setting
Self image development
Time management and study techniques
Understanding of beliefs and values
Building self-confidence
Gaining perspective and understanding emotions
Positive associations and role models
Communication and rapport building skills
The course is currently running at Warilla High School with great results. Here are some comments from the teacher and students:
“Jodie has been engaging our students in the program for the past few weeks and has both inspired and challenged their ideas. Through a variety of strategies, Jodie is able to act as a catalyst for students to unlock their thoughts and beliefs about themselves and their immediate and extended world, without judgment, and then to assist them in exploring ways of achieving their goals.
Jodie's program is insightful and outcomes driven, while at the same time building confidence and self-esteem for all participants through discussion.
The program content is sound and focuses on helping the individual and/or group to arrive at a predetermined aim or idea. The students are enthusiastic and are enjoying the variety of activities in each session.
Jodie has quickly developed a rapport with the members of the group and is very professional in her preparation and delivery of each session.”
Karen Brooks (Warilla High School Careers Adviser
“It’s great, because it’s offering us an opportunity to see outside of school and what we need to do in the future.”
Jacqueline Willets (Warilla High School student)
“It’s like nothing we’ve done before. We’re grateful to Jodie for coming in to teach us these things.”
Megan Eades (Warilla High School student)
My vision for the program is to roll it out commercially to numerous local high schools and be in a position where we need to train facilitators to implement the program on a much larger scale. The kids will be given great opportunities and support and be inspired to think outside the square they currently live in.
As the students reach the ages of 15 and 16 years they are in a position where they are now considered adults. At school they are treated differently, at home they are expected to take more responsibility, and essentially this is the time in their life where they need to become aware of how the choices they make will effect the rest of their lives.
If you’re interested in The Choice Program or think your local school may be, please contact Jodie to get more information. Or if you’re really ready to step up and start living life and need a little assistance to get started, please give me a call on 0409 224 303 and we can work on it together. | 
