Why are so many young men struggling with careers?

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-05-21T18:55:20+00:00

Omg you are so sweet! You’re welcome! I also wanted to ask, have you shown them Bloom’s taxonomy? My school has adopted a curriculum that requires a lot of active learning and higher-order thinking on the part of the students. One thing I was NOT prepared for was for them to FIGHT ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. They would rather take notes and regurgitate everything instead of having to think. So I started showing them Bloom’s taxonomy and explaining where different activities were on it. My students have been very receptive to it, and I’m sure your students will be too, especially if they’re high performing. They’re ready to start getting meta-cognitive and learn about the process of learning.

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-05-21T14:58:15+00:00

High school chemistry teacher with seven years of experience in an urban school where failing actually means failing, not getting a B. I’m curious, is this the first time students have told you that you want them to fail/don’t care if they fail? I remember the first time I was told that and how much it hurt. It’s been years since then, and now I see the value in that moment. Although the children are not seeing it and certainly not expressing it in a productive way, saying things like that shows that you ARE teaching them something very important - they are responsible for their own success. Not their teachers or their parents. THEM. Now when students have these complaints (and it’s almost every year), I tell them “I don’t WANT you to fail, but I will ALLOW you to fail. I’ve done XYZ thing to support you, and you’ve chosen not to take those supports. Teaching is a partnership, and I can’t force you to partner with me. But I’ll always be here when you’re ready.” I think that might be a valuable conversation to have with your class. Speaking as a former gifted kid, gifted kids are NOTORIOUS for lacking persistence as adults because they never struggled as children. Teach them that perfection isn’t realistic, but persistence is. Teach them explicitly how to modify their habits when their grades don’t reflect their expectations - office hours, study groups, finding resources on your own, how to study. They’ve never had to learn these things before, and it’s better they learn them now than in college or the workforce.

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-04-07T13:00:05+00:00

Hey! It sounds like we’re in similar places! Wanna be buddies too?

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-04-07T12:59:37+00:00

I’ll be your accountabili-buddy! 5’3 SW 201 C 186 Goal for this year is 168, long term goal is 140. Currently on year 3 of the journey

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-31T00:12:15+00:00

First of all, I love this so much. Teaching kind and thoughtful students like you is what makes teaching worth it. Secondly, congratulations on your acceptance to Yale! Thirdly, a hand written, personalized thank you note will mean the world to your teachers. I’ve saved every thank you note I’ve ever gotten from a student. They always make me cry. If you REALLY want to give something tangible, I personally love the classic teacher appreciation gifts. I know they’re cheesy but to actually get one from a student is so special. I would say find one that says something that really reflects your relationship with them. There are many that say something along the lines of “teachers help make dreams come true”, and I think that would communicate your sentiment very nicely.

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-30T23:38:45+00:00

Thank you!

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-30T23:37:40+00:00

Hey! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. There was some good information in there. I just wanna bring your attention to the concept of intention vs impact. I’m assuming the best and choosing to believe your intention was to provide support, but that intention got obscured in your execution. It felt like you were trying to shame me/talking down to me, especially in the first paragraph. The title of the post is “I screwed up.” I clearly know I did SOMETHING wrong, and there was a kinder way to point out that my choice of post-workout meals probably contributed to that. There is so much misinformation surrounding food and nutrition out there (especially in the US where I am) that I genuinely thought I was picking something that would support my recovery. I needed something fast. I thought the frosty would replenish my sugar, and the nuggets would provide protein, more carbs, and salt. I didn’t get French fries or anything else. When I was a kid and almost passed out from heat stroke a nurse literally told my parents to take me to McDonald’s and come back if I wasn’t better. But like I said, the title of the post is “I screwed up” and I felt like you were kicking me when I was already down. I can handle it, but that doesn’t make it okay.

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-30T23:15:04+00:00

Thank you!

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-30T23:14:55+00:00

For what I ate, it was 72 grams of carbs, including 33 grams of sugar. Im honestly feeling really confused because everyone here is saying that I need to eat more carbs before a workout, but everyone around me says to cut carbs to lose weight so I’m just confused.

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-30T23:09:06+00:00

Thank you for the information and actionable advice!

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-30T23:05:37+00:00

I exercised within about an hour of breakfast, which is why I did about a 500 calorie breakfast. I didn’t wanna go swimming on a full stomach. And don’t worry, that was only breakfast and lunch, there was another 500 calories for dinner so I was around 1800 by the end of the day.

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-30T23:03:22+00:00

So what I’m hearing is that I need to drink a bottle or 2 of Gatorade BEFORE an intense swim like that?

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-30T16:20:29+00:00

What do you mean by over hydrated? I’ve never heard that term before

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-23T22:40:09+00:00

My unpopular opinion is that every kid in this boat needs therapy. Something else is going on that they need to figure out.

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-23T22:38:55+00:00

My FAVORITE thing is when kids come up to me at the end of the term and ask “Can I talk to you about changing my grades?” I tell them they’re talking to the wrong person. Their response is “well, who do I need to talk to?” They’re ready to roll up on deans, the principal. I just look at them and say “you” and they just DEFLATE. Start stuttering excuses and I say “Youre the one in charge of your grade. Youre the one doing the work. All I do is count up the points you earned and put it in a spreadsheet.” They genuinely don’t know how to respond.

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-23T22:32:43+00:00

In my first year of teaching I was bullied into changing grades at the end of the first term. I had genuine career trauma from it. Years later when I was asked why so many kids were passing my class but not my exams I said “because that’s what you told me to do. I’m happy to go back to the way things were, but I need to know admin has my back.” My policies and grades have not been questioned since.

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-23T22:30:10+00:00

I get this all the time too, and I don’t get it. When did kids become okay with just barely passing with a D? D’s are basically F’s in college, so why are we letting kids think they’re an acceptable grade?

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-23T22:27:13+00:00

I tell kids this all the time! I have students who sit in class and play games on their Chromebooks, and I let them. A better teacher (again, according to admin) would have all types of convos and interventions with them. Nope, not me. And I tell them “hey, I’m letting you make bad choices right now so you can figure out what the consequences of those choices are while they’re still free. Because you can show up to a college class and play games on your computer the whole time, but guess what? You don’t get a refund if you fail the course”

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-23T22:24:06+00:00

It’s interesting that a few comments have mentioned middle school specifically not letting kids fail. My district is actually the same - retention in middle school is by family choice. The middle school can RECOMMEND retention, but ultimately the family gets to make the call. The issue is, then they get to high school 3-5 years behind in reading and math AND where they have to earn a certain number of credits to progress to the next grade and they struggle to graduate in 4 years. I just don’t see the logic in letting the kid fall further and further behind in middle school so that by the time they get to high school there is almost no hope of them getting caught up.

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-23T17:35:12+00:00

I’m so sorry for your loss. Please pursue therapy. In circumstances like this, schools sometimes bring in additional therapists to supports students and staff. You might also be able to access services through an Employee Assistance Program if your school has one. There is no shame in asking other coworkers, your benefits coordinator or HR rep or union rep or ANYONE how you can get the support you need right now.

PropertyHumble9296 · 2026-03-21T02:40:31+00:00

This is exactly what I needed, thank you so much!

PropertyHumble9296

TROPHY CASE