Unlocking Middle''s Potential
The Forgotten Middle: Overlooked, but Full of Potential
When we think about students, colleagues, and regular people around us, we often focus on those who are either exceptional or problematic. But what about the forgotten middle? They are the individuals who don’t necessarily stand out, but they are the ones who keep our organizations running, and often have the potential to accomplish much more than what is expected of them.
In her talk, the speaker emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the forgotten middle. As a former junior high school teacher and mentor, she shares her own experiences of being in the middle and how her mother’s formula helped her achieve success. She also points out how we as a society miss out on the potential of individuals in the middle by not providing them with the same opportunities and resources as high-performing students.
The speaker’s theory is that there are unclaimed winning lottery tickets in the middle. The cure for cancer or the path to world peace might very well reside there. By overlooking the forgotten middle, we miss out on the opportunities to change the world.
It is important to have high expectations for those in the middle and provide them with the tools, strategies, and support to make progress in their lives. The speaker believes that accountability and asset-based youth development are key to helping individuals in the middle achieve their full potential.
By creating a college-going community and instilling a sense of belonging, young people in the middle can visualize themselves as college students and graduates. This can lead to transformational change not only for themselves but also for their communities and the world.
The formula for the middle can also be applied to organizations. By challenging our biases and upholding principles of equity, we can inspire and uplift those in the middle. The speaker urges us to extend love to the people in the middle and share credit for everyone’s contributions.
In conclusion, it is important to recognize the potential of individuals in the middle and invest in their success. By doing so, we can change the world and create a more inclusive and equitable society.
The Importance of High Expectations in Helping People Out of the Middle
One of the keys to helping people out of the middle is to have high expectations for them. As the speaker in the video emphasizes, it is important to start with high expectations and make it clear that success is not just a possibility, but an expectation.
The speaker shares her experience of being in the middle as a junior high school student and how her mother’s high expectations helped her succeed. Her mother believed that her location was not her destination and worked tirelessly to provide her with opportunities and resources to achieve success.
The speaker also points out that high-performing students often have access to additional resources, such as summer enrichment activities and internships, that are not available to those in the middle. By providing the same opportunities to individuals in the middle and setting high expectations, they too can achieve success.
The speaker also emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions. Instead of asking young people if they want to go to college, she asks them what college they would like to attend. This not only assumes that they will graduate from high school successfully but also that they have the academic records that could get them into college and university admissions.
By starting with high expectations and asking the right questions, we can inspire and uplift those in the middle to achieve their full potential. The speaker also points out that it takes more than just high expectations to help people out of the middle. We must also provide them with the tools, strategies, and support to make progress in their lives.
In conclusion, having high expectations is essential to helping people out of the middle. By believing in their potential and providing them with the same opportunities and resources as high-performing students, we can help individuals in the middle achieve success and change the world.
Providing Tools and Support to Help People Progress in Their Lives
While having high expectations is important in helping people out of the middle, it’s not enough. We must also provide them with the tools, strategies, and support to make progress in their lives.
The speaker in the video shares her experience of mentoring a young woman named Nicole who had access to college prep work, SAT prep, and international travel programs through her community. This support helped Nicole achieve success and earn two master’s degrees after graduating from Purdue University.
The speaker also emphasizes the importance of holding people accountable and instilling a sense of accountability in them. She shares how her organization doubled down on asset-based youth development and held their young people accountable for achieving college degrees. This sense of accountability not only motivated them but also instilled a sense of responsibility and ownership in their lives.
Additionally, the speaker talks about the importance of creating programs on college campuses and events that allow young people to visualize themselves as college students and college graduates. By doing this, they can see that something more is possible for their lives and begin to believe that they too can achieve success.
In conclusion, providing tools and support is critical in helping people out of the middle. By holding them accountable, instilling a sense of responsibility, and providing them with opportunities, we can help individuals in the middle achieve their full potential. With access to these resources, they too can change the world.
Accountability and Asset-Based Youth Development
The speaker in the video stresses the importance of accountability and asset-based youth development in helping individuals in the middle achieve success.
Accountability is not just about holding people responsible for their actions; it’s also about creating a sense of responsibility and ownership. By holding young people accountable for achieving college degrees, the speaker’s organization was able to motivate them and instill a sense of responsibility in their lives.
Asset-based youth development involves focusing on young people’s strengths and positive qualities instead of their weaknesses and shortcomings. The speaker’s organization doubled down on asset-based youth development, creating programs and events that allowed young people to visualize themselves as college students and college graduates. By doing this, they were able to inspire young people to believe in themselves and their potential for success.
The speaker emphasizes that accountability and asset-based youth development are critical for helping individuals in the middle achieve their full potential. By focusing on their strengths and holding them accountable for their goals, we can help them succeed and achieve their dreams.
In conclusion, accountability and asset-based youth development are powerful tools for enabling individuals in the middle. By instilling a sense of responsibility and focusing on their strengths, we can help them achieve success and change the world.
Creating a College-Going Community and a Sense of Belonging
The speaker in the video highlights the importance of creating a college-going community and a sense of belonging to help individuals in the middle achieve success.
By creating a college-going community, the speaker’s organization was able to provide young people with a support system and a network of peers who were all striving towards the same goal. This helped them feel less alone and more connected to something bigger than themselves.
Creating a sense of belonging is also crucial for helping individuals in the middle succeed. The speaker’s organization worked to make young people feel like they were part of something special and important. They held events and programs that allowed young people to see themselves as college students and college graduates, and they encouraged them to take ownership of their dreams and aspirations.
The speaker emphasizes that creating a college-going community and a sense of belonging is key to helping individuals in the middle achieve success. By providing them with a support system and a sense of purpose, we can enable them to reach their full potential and make a positive impact on the world.
In conclusion, creating a college-going community and a sense of belonging is essential for helping individuals in the middle achieve their goals. By providing them with a support system and a sense of purpose, we can help them succeed and thrive in life.
The Formula for the Middle Can Transform Organizations
The speaker in the video explains that the formula for helping individuals in the middle achieve success doesn’t just apply to young people. It can also be used to transform organizations and communities.
One of the key components of the formula is setting high expectations. By setting ambitious goals and holding ourselves and others accountable, we can create a culture of excellence that inspires everyone to do their best.
Another important component is providing individuals in the middle with the tools, strategies, and support they need to make progress in their lives. This could mean offering mentorship, coaching, training, or other resources that help them develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
The speaker also emphasizes the importance of asset-based youth development, which focuses on building on young people’s strengths and potential rather than focusing solely on their challenges or deficits. By enabling young people to take ownership of their lives and futures, we can help them achieve their goals and make a positive impact on the world.
Finally, creating a college-going community and a sense of belonging is crucial for transforming organizations and communities. By working together towards a common goal, we can create a culture of collaboration and support that helps everyone succeed.
In conclusion, the formula for helping individuals in the middle achieve success can also be used to transform organizations and communities. By setting high expectations, providing support and resources, focusing on strengths and potential, and creating a sense of belonging, we can create a culture of excellence and giving power that inspires everyone to do their best.
Challenging Our Biases and Upholding Principles of Equity
The speaker in the video emphasizes the importance of challenging our biases and upholding principles of equity in order to truly support the forgotten middle. Our biases can often prevent us from recognizing the potential of individuals who may not fit our preconceived notions of success. By acknowledging and challenging these biases, we can begin to see the potential in everyone and provide them with the support they need to succeed.
Upholding principles of equity means ensuring that everyone has access to the same opportunities, regardless of their background. This includes examining the ways in which our institutions, organizations, and communities may inadvertently perpetuate inequality and taking steps to address these issues.
The speaker notes that it is not enough to simply provide opportunities; we must also provide the necessary tools and support to help individuals succeed. This includes providing mentorship, guidance, and resources to those who may not have access to them otherwise.
By challenging our biases and upholding principles of equity, we can help to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for the forgotten middle. We can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential and contribute to their communities in meaningful ways.
From a Comma to a Period: The Power of Investing in the Middle
Investing in the middle can have a profound impact on individuals, communities, and the world. The speaker in the video explains that the middle often goes overlooked because they are seen as neither exceptional nor problematic. However, the truth is that most people in the middle are capable of a lot more.
By starting with high expectations, providing tools and support, instilling accountability, and creating a sense of belonging, we can help people progress in their lives and achieve their full potential. We can challenge our biases and uphold principles of equity to ensure that everyone has access to opportunities, regardless of their race, gender, cultural, or socioeconomic identity.
Investing in the middle doesn’t just benefit individuals, it can also transform organizations. By being more bold in our mission, inviting colleagues to the table, giving meaningful feedback, and sharing credit, we can create a more inclusive and equitable workplace.
Ultimately, what is often mistaken for a comma is really just a period. Investing in the middle can help individuals move from a state of uncertainty to a place of purpose and fulfillment. It can also have a ripple effect on communities and the world. We all have the power to extend love and challenge biases, to invest in the middle and help others reach their full potential.
Conclusion
Investing in the “forgotten middle” is not only important for individuals but for the betterment of society as a whole. The speaker in the video script emphasized that we tend to overlook the potential of individuals who are neither exceptional nor problematic, such as students, co-workers, and regular folks. However, these individuals have untapped potential and can be transformative for organizations and communities if provided with the necessary tools, support, and high expectations.
The power of investing in the middle lies in the formula of high expectations, accountability, asset-based youth development, creating a college-going community and a sense of belonging, and challenging our biases to uphold principles of equity. When we invest in the middle, we create opportunities for those who may not have had access to them before, and we can break the cycle of inequality.
The speaker highlighted the importance of providing individuals with the tools and support they need to progress in their lives. This means not only setting high expectations but also providing resources and guidance to help individuals meet those expectations. Accountability and asset-based youth development are also crucial to helping individuals take ownership of their futures and see themselves as capable of achieving their goals.
Creating a college-going community and a sense of belonging can be powerful motivators for individuals to strive for higher education and career goals. By challenging our biases and upholding principles of equity, we can ensure that one’s identity is never a barrier to access opportunities.
Investing in the middle can transform organizations by creating a mission that inspires everyone, inviting colleagues to the table to come up with a strategy to meet that mission, giving meaningful feedback, and sharing credit for everyone’s contributions. When we invest in the middle, we create a culture of inclusivity and equity that benefits not only individuals but the organization as a whole.
In conclusion, investing in the “forgotten middle” has the potential to transform individuals, organizations, and communities. By providing high expectations, support, and opportunities, we can unlock the potential of individuals who may have been overlooked in the past. It is essential to challenge our biases and create a culture of inclusivity and equity to break the cycle of inequality and create a brighter future for all.
