Scott Backovich

If you’ve recently been on my website, Facebook fan page, or have just listened to the new CADA leadership podcast (which can be found on iTunes), you know that I’ve had a massive cyber crush on Formspring as of late. Seeing as I’ve been busy on the road this month speaking at schools and conferences, I’ve had a lot of layover breaks at airports to sit down and answer a lot of your questions about leadership, school, and life in general. You’ve taken the time to think of quality questions, so I’ve set some time aside to answer.

Overall, the response has been GREAT! We’ve covered topics like as how to approach a guy or girl, how to be a standout leader while still having an awesome social life, and how to deal with defeat.  At the same time, there has been some epic back and forth on everything from my favorite Sesame Street character (Elmo, of course) to the pros and cons of almighty Justin Beiber (I’m anti hair flip). Regardless of how serious or goofy the questions, I hope that you have been able to get some great information from my online resources. Furthermore, I hope that you will continue to utilize the site to answer any other questions you may have. As I’ve repeatedly said, I’m here to help!

Like with any online resource that I use, I want to be able to make it applicable for activities directors and teachers to utilize in their classrooms. Like I mentioned above, I recently appeared as a featured guest on the CADA leadership podcast. Whether you listened to it or have yet to press the download button (by the way, it’s totally free for you), here are a few of the points that I touched on.

What is this site good for?

-Formspring allows you to answer questions that A LOT of your students have and post it to public forums such as Facebook, Twitter, or even Wordpress. These can be questions regarding scheduled events, student activities, community service projects, etc.

• On a side note, BE CREATIVE! As activities directors and teachers, you get questions on the most random topics known to mankind. The real task when utilizing new technology becomes figuring out how it can be used to best aid your student population.

-This online tool allows your group to enhance their presence on already popular sites is a POSITIVE MANNER.

• Let’s face it…Teens are ALL OVER these websites. As a leadership group, you have the opportunity to provide a positive place for students to go while not tending to their crops on Farmville. Most importantly, linking your Formspring with a Facebook page makes it SUPER EASY for students to access valuable information. You are literally a click away!

- Anonymous Asking

• Your students DO NOT need an account to ask you any questions. Also, the site allows for students to ask questions without providing ANY personal information (such as their name). As an administrator, YOU then have the power to choose which questions you find suitable for answering. Yay for ease of use!

I hope that these brief points give you a good overview of how this site can be used within your leadership group or organization. As always, I would love to answer any questions you may have! Feel free to go to MY Formspring (www.Formspring.me/ScottBackovich) or email me at Scott@ScottBackovich.com

Oh, and students, don’t worry! I will back within days to post a blog JUST for you! In the meantime, you know the drill…Ask away!  www.formspring.me/scottbackovich

***www.ScottBackovich.com ***

One of the cool things about my “job” is not only speaking to teens at schools and conferences, but also hanging out with students afterwards for leadership training and awesome conversation. Usually, we’re able to strike up epic discussions about the important things in life: the new season of Glee, the horrible changes that Facebook has made to their homepage (a recurring topic), and when Eclipse is hitting theatres (fellas, Eclipse is the new TWILIGHT movie–take your lady friend to see it).

Recently, I spoke to a group of middle school students at a leadership retreat in Idyllwild, California. After I got off the stage, the advisors invited me to a barbeque dinner with the students before we got started with in-depth workshops. I never turn down free food (let alone barbequed deliciousness), so I was completely game to pig out with the students for an hour or so. The coolest part about the night’s dinner was that the leadership students, not the advisors, would be preparing the food for us. Yum!

As group breakout time came to a close, the students sprang to work cutting lettuce, preparing buns, frying French fries, and most importantly, grilling burgers. After about 45 minutes of intense cooking time, I walked into the kitchen to view the students’ progress. Though about 12 leadership members had been cooking for nearly an hour, no cooked food could be found in the kitchen (sadness).

Instead of simply throwing the food on the grill, the groups’ 12 chef burger mafia had gotten together in the kitchen to prepare some special food for the nights meal. In their words, they were preparing “In-N-Out…but BETTER.” This consisted of a bun with the usual toppings (including “special spread”), and what was to be called a ‘deluxe burger’ (that’s right; this was no ordinary beef patty).

After talking to a few of the chefs, I found that the students had begun slicing beef patties in various ways in order to insert cheese in the middle of the burger. Also, the students began finding new and creative ways to include various vegetables into the burger itself.

An hour of preparation later, I was handed a “deluxe burger” with all the proper condiments. Within a second of my first bite, one thing became clear: it was DEFINITELY better than In-N-Out! We’re talking melt in your mouth delicious (ok, now I’m hungry again). As I looked around the room, everyone else shared the same satisfied expression on their faces. Finally, the night was topped off with applause as the 12 year old chefs made their appearance into the eating area. Needless to say, it was a cool site to see.

It’s interesting how a concept as simple as making a burger can bring so much joy and enthusiasm to a group of creative students. Rather than viewing the task of making dinner as a chore or a job, the students saw the night’s meal as an opportunity to be innovative (and have some fun while doing so).

I think that this is an approach that we as leaders need to strive to make within our groups and organizations. Instead of doing the same things year after year and viewing them as chores, we need to look at our action items as chances to innovate, experiment, and create.

Spring can easily become a time of year where we attempt to get back up to speed with everything on our plates. Whether its planning last minute trips for the summer, writing next to a million emails to those we need to contact, or cramming together homework and studying just in time for finals, we are all guilty of doing satisfactory “catch up” work at one time or another.

During these next few weeks, I encourage you to take some time and see where you can implement some creative changes into your yearly routine. Form a new study pattern with friends, think of a different way to go about writing your emails, or simply find new ways to free up a couple minutes to yourself. By constantly innovating the way we do things, we can help to make something far better than the average meal. =]

I hope you take the time to do so. I definitely will (but first, I’m off to eat).

A little over a month ago, we all watched in horror as the country of Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake. Like many other people around the world, I remained constantly glued to my television to view the events as they unfolded in the days and weeks following the quake. Each heroic rescue and survival story brought hope and a smile to my face, while tales of lost family members and killed civilians brought those of sadness and despair. As I looked on, I found myself asking the same question that millions of others held in their hearts- “what can I do to help?”

Sure, donating ten dollars through text helps. Yes, donating unused clothes is a good start… but the question remained– what can I do now?

I watched on as the initial wave of support died down. Benefit concerts came and passed; star-studded telethons raised countless dollars and gained massive support around the US, but the question still lingered–what can I do now?

Mother Nature wasted no time in allowing me to answer that question. A turn to CNN this morning proved that devastation had struck again. For those of you who have been out of the loop for the past day, another massive earthquake struck today in Chile. This time, the quake was nearly 500 times the strength of that in Haiti (and no, that’s not a typo).

In beginning to look around the web for stories covering the event, one thing became clear: things were MUCH different this time around. Instead of cries for help and aid, news stories focused on the possible impact at home. Would there be a tsunami? Not likely. Would WE suffer? Probably not. Finally, was it as bad at Haiti? No.

Teens, I’m officially calling you out and asking for action. I’m not asking for a small, one-time donation. I’m not asking that you simply look on and feel bad for the people of Chile and Haiti. I’m asking you plain and simply to be RELENTLESS.

I believe that there come times when each generation will be judged on their contribution towards humanity. As I continue to travel around the country and speak, I see a desire inside of today’s generation to help others. I see a passion that refuses to die down. I see a hunger for a better world.

Today is the day to help others. Now is the time to literally work to create a better world. NOW is the time to be relentless in your efforts. Start rallying clubs and organizations in your school to bear arms together. Begin forming alliances with students to produce a greater good. Finally, see what YOU can do as a leader to help the situations in Haiti and Chile.

I hope to be a resource for you as you begin your efforts to help others. After writing this, I will begin my own process of deciding just how I can make an impact. As always, I will keep you updated along the way =]

***STUDENTS! DON’T HESITATE TO ASK FOR ME FOR HELP IN YOUR EFFORTS! Scott@ScottBackovich.com***

So a few days ago I promised you big news via Twitter/Facebook.  I will dispense this jolly news now:

I will be appearing on my FIRST radio interview later this month!!  Yes, ‘A Closer Look Radio’ with Pam Atherton has asked me to come on January 28^th to talk to her audience about today’s teens (that’s YOU!).

I’m EXTREMELY excited about this opportunity! Not only will I be able to shed light on some of the hot button issues that parents need to know about, but I will also be able to talk in general about the cool teens that I get to speak to!

Unfortunately, the show will air during school hours (booooo). Not to worry though, I will post a link to the interview immediately after it airs!

Finally, I’ve been getting a lot of emails lately from teens who need an extra bit of help dealing with their ASB/Leadership groups in the new year.  Therefore, I’ve decided to change things up a little bit in the coming weeks. If YOU want a question answered for your leadership group or ASB, drop me a line at Scott@ScottBackovich.com . I will take a few of the questions and personally answer them on either the blog OR even a specialized YouTube video. Sound bueno? I thought it might.

As we start this new year, I want to make it a point to better serve YOU as students. You have one semester left of this school year. Let’s make it count!!!

After devoting a few weeks of blog space to adventures that I thought people should spend some time on, I personally decided to take a day to go on my own expedition.  Earlier this week, a few friends and I made our way up to the Sierra Nevada’s for some fun in the snow. I’m still not quite used to the cold that Northern California has to offer (I forgot my Snuggie back home), but I was stoked nonetheless to jump into a fresh layer of powder when we got up there.

Eventually, the day brought us to a large opening on the side of the road near Strawberry, California (insert food joke here).  The small recreation area consisted of one HUGE hill that sledders could use to slide down on whatever they had with them. In the middle of the slope stood one large jump that daredevils could go off of if they were feeling risky. Luckily, we came prepared for the day with a few sleds and toboggans. Oh yes, it was game time.

Our first few trips down the hill were all but graceful. Matter of fact, none of us ACTUALLY made it down the slope our first couple of tries (our sleds did though…sad). Thirty minutes into our failed battle with the jump, we decided to take a quick break and watch some of the other sledders.

We spent the next few minutes looking on as countless people tried to make it to the dreaded jump of doom and failed. One after another, teens to adults would approach the lift only to either fall off or purposely slow down to avoid launching themselves into the air…

Except for one person.

No older than 6 or 7, a small girl began to draw a crowd as she repeatedly launched herself off the jump (and when I say launch, I’m not talking about a few inches…try a few feet). Her routine was simple: walk up, hop on her saucer, get major air, repeat. The more she jumped, the more people would huddle around to watch, all talking about how brave the girl was for doing something that everyone else feared.

I think that everyone is guilty of losing some of their childhood ambition at one point or another. Often times, the things we once viewed as entertaining and adventurous are now looked at as dangerous and risky. Instead of recognizing the jump as a source of fun and excitement, we too were guilty of counting its flaws and hazards. Only after repeatedly watching the girl attack the hill without fear were we truly able to take a swing at it.

Instead of giving you step-by-step instructions for your final adventure, I hope you take some time in the next few days to explore something in your life that you would usually shy away from. Go on your own winter hike, reconnect with some childhood friends, or even take a trip out to an old-school hangout location.

By taking a little bit of time to live life with some childhood spirit, I think we can all be refreshed and prepared to take this new year head-on.

Cold weather, overcrowded malls, and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” have been recurring themes during my past few days. Her ridiculous range mixed with constant sugar-highs from candy canes can only mean one thing: yes, it’s officially Christmas time.

As an early holiday stocking-stuffer, I sent you a virtual treasure map last week known as GEOCACHING. While a bunch of you went out and made u-turns that even your Garmin couldn’t recognize in the hunt for buried treasure, others stayed in and watched re-runs of GLEE in denial of the end of the season (I promise that it will be back soon).

So after some hefty thinking and a recommendation from Meganka Martinez (yes, her parents added ‘ka’ to the end of her name…weird), I have yet another adventure for you to go on.

Sometime in the next week I want you to check out LETTERBOXING!

No, this does not involve violently beating innocent mailboxes with boxing gloves, bats, or any other harmful object (sorry everyone).

Letterboxing is another nationally recognized activity that consists of you and your homies going out and finding a box to leave your mark on. Like geocaching, you start the adventure by going to their website and finding hidden boxes near your humble abode. You then take the hints that are provided for you and get busy!  The point of this activity is to leave your signature on a list inside of the box and to also see who has been there before you. If you want to really get into the game, you can make a stamp and place it on the book inside each box you find. IDEA-if you’re playing in groups with friends, try seeing who can get to all of the boxes in a city/region first.

BIG RULE: These boxes are hidden for a reason- WE DON’T WANT TO GIVE AWAY THEIR LOCATION. Make sure when you are trying to find them that you do so without being noticed (major bonus points go to anyone who dresses in the best disguise).

With just under two weeks of your winter vacation left, I encourage you to take the time and explore your communities.  One of the coolest aspects of this activity is that it will cause you to open your eyes to the minor details of your surroundings that you might not notice otherwise. With that in mind, this adventure might just be the perfect way to get the ball rolling on a new service project or leadership idea. After all, it is the season for giving.

Letterboxing Website: www.letterboxing.org

***Drop me a line and let me know how your second adventure turns out! Scott@ScottBackovich.com ***

So I have good news and bad news…

Bad news: I’ve been a horrible blogger lately. Yes, it’s true. I’ve neglected you worse than the old XBOX when 360 came out. For this, I owe you an apology (or some holiday cookies).

This brings us to the good news of the day: I have something to make it up to you.

As many of you know, I am a huge fan of spontaneous adventures. Let’s put it this way, if random exploring sessions were a Facebook status, I would press the “thumbs up” button. (more…)

When I started speaking around the age of 17, I would constantly travel to events and conferences to listen to professionals in the industry speak.  Even if I wasn’t necessarily invited to some of them , I would always find a way to sneak in the back door to listen and learn (the first step to recovering is admitting you have a problem). From early on, pros like Patrick Maurer, David Faustina, and others served as role models for me to look up to and envy (I’m lucky enough to consider these people close friends today). (more…)

If you’re a high school junior or senior, you know EXACTLY what time of year it is. If you guessed Thanksgiving, you would be wrong. The beginning of basketball season? Negative. Christmas? Try again.

That’s right teens; it’s the wonderful time of year where you sacrifice all hopes of sleep, proper nutrition, exercise, and any form of social life to accomplish one goal: applying to each of the 5485435 colleges that you hope to get into for next fall.

I remember being in the same position a few years ago. After visiting nearly every school on my endless list of knowledge (thanks a lot gas prices), I proceeded to spend endless hours on personal statements, GPA verification forms, and online applications.  While I got through the ordeal like everyone else, I had always wished that there were an easier way to go about it.

Unfortunately, most of us get caught up in the insane process based on the phrase “It will determine the rest of my life.”  Therefore, we spend the open application window stressing and fretting over every possible scenario.

If you’re able to take a few minutes to step away from the computer (and from your stress), something tells me that I just might be able to help.  Here are a few tips to get you through these next couple of weeks:

1. Step away from the caffeine! That’s right people, I said it. Stretching yourself thin by loading up on coffee, energy drinks, soda, and everything in between can prove to be a HUGE mistake. Not only do large amounts of caffeine cause your heart to dislike you, but they cause your ability to think clearly and thoroughly to decline sharply.
2. Remove yourself from Facebook! I understand that many of you may be reading this entry on your Facebook (oops!). At the same time though, I also know that those same people are talking to friends, tagging themselves in pictures, and becoming fans of everything from their favorite iPhone application to the new Twilight movie (I apologize to those who work at movie theatres this Friday).  Here’s a helpful hint, SIGN OFF of Facebook for a given amount of time (let’s say an hour).  You will be amazed at how your productivity increases in such a short amount of time.
3. Take small breaks to unwind. Take about ten to fifteen minutes every couple of hours to just breathe, relax, and concentrate on something else (or even nothing at all). If you are stuck on a challenging part of your admissions essay or just can’t seem to get anything productive done, feel free to take a few extra minutes to chill out. TIP- Make sure to take your break somewhere OTHER THAN your work environment. Sitting at the same place for over a few hours can cause anyone to go a little nuts.
4. One at a time. Yes, you might have over ten schools on your application list. That’s perfectly fine! Make sure when you finish an application that you put it to the side and consider it completed. The last thing you want to do is find yourself near the deadline with a dozen unfinished applications.
5. Don’t stress, celebrate! It’s going to be months before you hear anything from your potential colleges. Instead of spending countless hours re-reading your personal statements and looking over applications that you’ve already sent in, celebrate the time in high school that you still have left.

I hope that you take the time in these coming weeks to be both productive and positive. Yes, college applications can prove to be fairly stressful. Like everything else in life though, the work you put in today will turn into positive results tomorrow. Go get ‘em, Class of 2010!

***Have questions about dealing with the college crunch? Email me at Scott@ScottBackovich.com ***

Like many other students around the US, I was given the day off today due to Veteran’s Day.

After an extended night’s sleep and a good breakfast, I made my way to a local coffee shop to meet up with a few close friends. The small shop had many more customers than its usual Wednesday crowd. Countless students filled every table, many talking with friends (like I was) about the possibilities that the day held. With a full day of school off, most groups had made the decision to spend time at the beach, go out to Los Angeles for the day, or catch up on much needed sleep.

In talking with various groups of friends and brainstorming activities for over an hour, one idea remained untouched: acknowledging why we had the day off in the first place.

It’s funny how we often see holidays as an opportunity to focus on ourselves. I have to admit, for the first hour of sitting at the coffee shop, it didn’t even cross my mind to notice why I was given a full day’s break from work and school.

With multiple wars going on overseas and countless soldiers leaving for years at a time, I think that the least we can do during this day is be thankful. Yes, I do hope to use a large part of my day to catch up on school and work. On the flip-side though, reserving a few minutes to place a single call, writing a letter or two, or even making a house visit to a veteran in our own lives can prove to be more rewarding than any trip to the beach or adventure into the city.

This entry is short for a reason: because there is still time left in this ‘day off’ for you to make a veteran’s day special.

I hope that you take the time to do so. I know I will.