By David Tepera, March 6, 2024

This article is inspired from the many parents we’ve guided whose teenagers are struggling with self-confidence.

I grew up in through the 1960s and ’70s. During that era, students were not diagnosed with any disorder in public school settings. I guarantee, under today’s conditions, I was definitely hyperactive, ADHD, dyslexic and any other disorder of modern-day youth.

I remember as a young kid, waking up around 5 a.m. and wondering why the rest of my family wasn’t ready to go.

When I was in college, I scheduled each class across campus. I’d strap up my backpack and jog to get rid of hyper-energy, settle down and focus. I could hear the other students make fun of me. They would say, “there’s the weird dude running again.” Also, I would write all my class notes on index cards, and stuff them in my shorts to study while jogging around campus.

I graduated from the University of Houston and take a lot of pride in knowing Carl Lewis’s running coach chased me off the school’s track so Lewis could practice. Just know, Lewis drove a black Lamborghini and I was in my grandma’s hand-me-down Chevy Nova.

OK, enough about my learning disorder. In today’s society, public schools have set up multiple programs to help students with challenges. My personal thoughts are that our youth have become more anti-social because of internet access. It’s easy for them to not have true in-person interaction to develop social skills.

As we all know, COVID made situations worse for our future youth.

Now, if you have a child or know of one that’s having trouble functioning, then I have an alternative solution. I could quote multiple studies, but I’ve witnessed teenagers building their confidence through one-on-one personal weight training. I promise, besides building lean muscle and gaining physical benefits, the mental confidence through weight training is so much more life-changing.

Listen, most severe situations don’t do well in group environments. Individual personal training with a skilled trainer will produce the best results.

If this is your situation, then research a gym that’s within your vicinity and budget. I’m not trying to promote our gym, but my son Dylan specializes in training youth with challenges and is known in the community as a role model. Just know, Dylan is available to give free advice and guidance to anyone who is interested. We’ve been doing this across the country for years. We are here to send you in the best direction for your situation. Use my email as a contact.

What I’m trying to relay to you is that there is a healthy alternative for your youth who is challenged by today’s society. Not all solutions come in prescriptions.