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Students Learn about Living Strong

Many adults go through life with only a passing awareness of their strengths. While those strengths come easily, they may never be viewed as anything worthy of further development. But imagine the advantage of having a fuller understanding and appreciation of how those strengths might be more fully used in life? What an even greater advantage to have coaching for that sooner than later, beginning with early adolescence. That advantage is exactly what is being offered to our junior high students who take a unique elective course taught by visiting instructor, Steve Eubanks. Eubanks is an APU educator who has a passion for helping young and old alike to develop their unique, God-given strengths. He is a Foothill dad to 6th grader, Zachery, and Joshua, who is in the fourth grade.

The Capstone Course, introduced this quarter and available to 8th graders, is a basic attempt to begin asking these students what their educational and life experiences mean. This is especially important to 8th graders who are now preparing to transition to high school. Eubanks says, “It’s a good time for them to look back at what they have learned and experienced during their years at FCS and ask, “What does all of that mean in light of who God has made me to be?”

During the quarter, students are asked questions like, “Who am I and how does God work through me?” “How am I wired together?” “How do I see myself personally, not based on what others say of me?” Eubanks says this base level of questioning has to be addressed first before asking the next question, “What am I going to do in life?” Once a student has had an opportunity to grapple with this question, they are ready for the third, “What difference is that going to make in the world?”

Through APU’s Noel Strengths Academy, Eubanks can access a wealth of resource, including assessments that identify strengths, preferences and leadership styles. In addition to articles, study guides and handouts, the class will also benefit from guest speakers who come and share personal and professional reflections on the value of working in one’s strengths at school, home and play. The Capstone Course, according to Vice Principal, Carolyn Kitchel, “provides the beginning of a process that students can take into high school, college and beyond. Mr. Eubanks is helping our students identify their strengths and encouraging them to live strong,” she said.

Students Learn about Living Strong

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