Recently, I was blessed to work with high school students in Forney ISD to provide some advice and discuss things they can (and should) do today that will also benefit them in the future. This is part of the long-term work I am doing with Forney ISD, for not only students, but staff and community, aligned with their vision of helping learners find a pathway to success that is meaningful to them. The school district is incredible because of not only their vision, but also their commitment to building it alongside their community.
When thinking about what I was going to share, I could have easily titled the presentation, “Things I Wish I Would Have Done at Your Age,” which would have been completely accurate. It was also great because teachers were active participants in the presentation, and they had as many questions about their own learning as they did about things to teach to their students.
I had somewhat of an outline for the presentation, so I entered that into ChatGPT, and it provided me the following description:
Unlocking the Future: Digital Leadership, Portfolios, Financial Fluency & Innovator’s Mindset
In today’s rapidly changing world, students must be equipped with the skills to lead, innovate, and manage their personal and professional futures. This keynote explores the essential areas of digital leadership, portfolio-building, financial fluency, and the innovator’s mindset, offering actionable insights and strategies to empower the next generation.
Attendees will learn:
- How to leverage digital leadership to stay ahead in a tech-driven world.
- The importance of creating and managing a personal portfolio to showcase skills, accomplishments, and future goals.
- Essential principles of financial fluency for smart decision-making on saving, and investing to leverage money in the future.
- How to cultivate an innovator’s mindset that fosters creativity, problem-finding and solving, and forward-thinking leadership.
Through engaging stories, practical tips, and interactive activities, students will leave with a roadmap to build their own futures with confidence, creativity, and financial savvy.
The reason it was essential to discuss “The Innovator’s Mindset” for students was that I could provide them some ideas on digital leadership, portfolios, and financial fluency, but ultimately, they would have to build solutions based on where they are today, and for their hopes and aspirations for the future. Immediately, I shared that I wouldn’t be jumping up on tables or anything to fire them up, but would be providing some stories and insights. Ultimately, none of it would matter if they didn’t take action. That was up to them.
Here are a few of the takeaways I shared with students:
Digital Leadership
In 2013, I first wrote about the idea of Digital Leadership and wrote the following:
Using the vast reach of technology (especially the use of social media) to improve the lives, well-being, and circumstances of others.”
Students are often surprised when that message is shared because they frequently hear about what they shouldn’t be doing online. The reason I spend very little time on things like cyberbullying (although it is discussed) is that I always have to consider, “What is the best result of focusing on that topic?”
“Please don’t be horrible people!”
An extremely low bar.
What I focused on with the students and community in this presentation was that every interaction you have online (as well as offline) can change the trajectory of someone’s day or life, so always err on the side of positive.
The side benefit of this is that when you focus on building a digital footprint based on the premise of digital leadership, what happens when someone finds you online, even if they are ensuring you aren’t doing “bad stuff?” They think, “This is someone I want as a part of my organization.” It immediately puts you at an advantage to gain an opportunity.
As I shared with the students, you can still share funny and personal things online, but you have to understand the context and audience. Anyone in the world can see it, so what do you want them to see?
Personally, I look at what I post online as a diary I am leaving to my kids, and when they look back on what I have posted, what will they learn from not only what I share, but how I interact with others? This doesn’t mean I am (have been, or will be) perfect in my interactions with anyone, online or offline, but I do my best to grow.
The Internet is a giant room to which we all have access; when you enter it, are people better because of your presence? You can’t control what others feel about what you share, but do your best to use your voice to elevate others, or, holding on to a lesson that preceded my childhood, if you have nothing nice to say, try saying nothing at all 🙂
Building a Digital Portfolio
What you are reading right now is my digital portfolio, which I started over a decade ago for the sole purpose of understanding it as a principal so I could lead my community in the process from the viewpoint of a learner. How could I effectively teach something I had never learned myself?
What I didn’t realize at the time was that not only would this process truly deepen my learning, but it would open up doors for me that I had no idea even existed. I would not be doing my work today if it weren’t for this space. Not only does it provide evidence of my learning and help shape my digital footprint for anyone who searches for me online, but it has actually brought opportunities my way!
As I shared in an earlier post, this is expanding past “Googling” someone has people have now reached out to me after finding me through a ChatGPT search. Each time I post something, it helps to show my knowledge in an area, while providing value (hopefully!) to others. That ChatGPT search will go beyond text to any medium, allowing anyone starting it to find different ways to share their learning in a way that works for them.
As I shared with the students and their teachers, creating and maintaining a digital portfolio is not only to show your learning in school (although it can definitely help), it is a tangible “product” that you can use to get into a post-secondary institution, find a job, or create a job. A designed product can have much more value to the world than the piece of paper you attain at the end of a school career. That diploma or degree can signify an accomplishment for you, but a portfolio can provide value immediately to yourself and others.
(If you want to learn more about digital portfolios, I have a resource page here. I genuinely believe this could be one of the most beneficial things a school can do with students to help them create opportunities today and tomorrow.)
Financial Fluency
Although as I write this, investing is in a downward spiral (if you were to ever start investing, this might be a good time as stocks are on “sale!), the focus is not on making a quick buck, but building wealth over time. People are very uncomfortable talking about money with others, but if we do not give our students and ourselves the information to figure this out now, they might regret it later.
One of the things that I shared with the students (and the teachers were also very interested in hearing as well) is that if you have little to invest, invest it. Compound interest on zero is zero. Even five or ten dollars a week can grow over time if invested wisely.
The saying is time in the market is better than trying to time the market (which is impossible).
A strategy I encouraged students to consider (not financial advice), is to have an idea of how much money they make each month, and then, allocate a certain amount of that salary, and automatically place it into an investment account. When you do that automatically (no matter the amount), you learn to adjust once you realize it is a payment to “future you.” Many will count on a pension, and although it is excellent, it can be limiting.
What you invest in today can make your life easier tomorrow.
(This statement goes beyond money, but can apply to health and wellness, learning, relationships, and really, almost anything!)
Thoughtful investing today can provide a sense of freedom in the future.
If you want to learn more about this, the best investment you can make is in your own learning. Take advantage of the many social media accounts that share ideas on what to do (for example, I like to watch Tyler Gardner on TikTok), but, as with anything, it only matters if you implement the advice in a way that makes sense for you!
Whether you agree with this advice or not, my contention is that it is something we should discuss with students so they can make an informed decision for themselves.
As much as I loved presenting to these groups, one of the best parts of the presentation was when a student asked me a question at the end. He said, “What is your number one tip for finding success that you could give us today?” I thought about it and said, “Help others.”
I believe that lifting others up will never lessen your impact. In fact, it often elevates your work, as what you put out into the world is often returned in abundance.
I hope the focus on Digital Portfolios, Digital Leadership, and Financial Fluency puts students in a position to plant the seeds today, for a future we did not know existed at the same age.
I am grateful to the entire Forney community, including the staff, students, and families, for not only welcoming me to their community, but also for wanting me to share this with the students. Past me would have really appreciated this presentation, and hopefully I would have listened!
