December 7, 2005 Mansitee News Advocate

Students learn about living successfully
By Ken Grabowski Associate Editor

Manistee- "What lies behind us and what lies before us pales in comparison to what lies within us," - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

    Those prophetic words of Emerson are a challenge teachers face daily when it comes to unlocking the learning potential of their students. Many students have the ability locked inside their minds to be more successful in school, but they just don't know how to unleash it to its fullest potential.
     Manistee High School teacher John Mencarelli's Guided Academics class is one that focuses in on those types of issues. It is a class designed to get struggling students to work harder at being more focused on their academics.
    This week Mencarelli took "a step outside the box" in his approach to reaching the students. He instituted a 10 week program called Success for Students ", with Camille Kocsis of Successful Living Seminars.
    Originally from Chicago and now living in the Benzonia area, Kocsis is an internatinal trainer and coach, who works with companies around the world helping their employees discover the power within themselves and to achieve their fullest potential. She utilizes the message that, "whatever the mind of man or woman can conceive and believe, it can achieve."
    "I have been studying personal achievement for 15 years and teaching it for about 5", said Kocsis. "It has been a goal of mine for many years to get into the school system, and every time I do an adult seminar, they have said to me that we need to get this into the schools."
    When Kocsis delivered a recent seminar for Century 21 Boardwalk in Manistee, Mencarelli was sponsored by  Century 21 owner Suzanne Riley to attend. The concept was for Mencarelliu to learn about the program, so he could help his students. Mencarelli was so taken with what he heard at that seminar , that he invited Kocsis to deliver it to the students.
    "The most important part of this is showing them how their mind works," said Kocsis. "They have a workbook we put together called 'Success For Students,' that is divided up over a 10 week period."
    Kocsis said they will address such principles during that time frame as the magnificent mind, the all -important self image, goals, fear, action, support, visualization for success, habits, time and money budgeting, and sound physical health. Each topic delves into how this subject matter influences the way people approach things, and whether or not they achieve success. 
    "We look at things such as how the mind works, and the fact that a lot of students don't have a positive self-image," said Kocsis. "Many classes teach us how to set goals, but not how to achieve them, and we will do that."
    She pointed out that  fear can be one of the biggest motives for getting things done, but at the same time one of the most destructive. That in turn goes with being comfortable enough to ask questions, so the students can get the answers needed to be successful.
    Kocsis also plans to utilize visualization techniques which is a method employed by many successful athletes. She said those athletes don't start thinking about winning when they reach the championship game, but is takes place long before that time. 
    "Those athletes see themselves as a winner even before the season begins and we have to adopt those types of thoughts," said Kocsis.
    Other parts of the program are designed for teaching students how to properly budget time and get the most out of it. They also will touch on sound physical health and how being healthy is critical to being a successful student.
    A workbook was put together for the students that includes a series of exercises for them to work on these topics. A very big part of the program includes plenty of self-examination by the students.  That self examination gives them an opportunity to see what they have accomplished and what goals need to be set to complete the process. It is a thought process that will not only benefit them as students, but for the rest of their lives.
    Mencarelli also has plans for the students to work with mentors in a one on one basis.  The idea is to show students how the mentors became successful, so the students can utilize parts of what these people have done to achieve success.
    "Our mission is to inspire and lead others to reach their dreams by realizing their full potential," said Kocsis.
    It is a challenge that Mencarelli is hoping his students will step forward and embrace. By doing that it would open the door for many of them to attain better success in their studies and in the future.