This month we highlight Shelley Halpern, a Certified Hypnotherapist located in West San Fernando Valley. Shelley adopts a practical approach in her methods, combining traditional methodology with a process called Therapeutic Imagery to help her clients attain their immediate goals and lift the blocks that keep them from moving forward. Shelley specializes in working with the unique issues of adolescents and teens, such as test prep/anxiety, panic attacks, AD/HD, social anxiety, insomnia, fears, tics, sports performance and much more.Through her skill and experience as a Hypnotherapist, Shelley has helped untold numbers of people gain power in meeting life's challenges and creating the positive change in their life that they desire. She works late afternoons and saturdays to accommodate challenging schedules. For more info call (818) 205 7271, email or visit her website.

Welcome To Our 2012 Spring Issue!

The coming of spring represents new life and renewed possiblity. In this spirit, we at Academic Success are inspired to devote our April Newsletter to... Inspiration!

Most of us are taught at an early age that in order to succeed in life, we must meet our daily responsibilities 

whether or not we 'feel like it'. Training ourselves in how to get-over-the-hump pays off throughout our lives of ups and downs.

Inspiration is essential in overcoming everyday obstacles and creating a successful and fulfilling personal and professional life. This month we'll look at the differing sources of inspiration that fuel our students and teachers alike. We'll explore the fascinating processes used by inspirational leaders in our schools and the impact they're having on our kids.

Above all, we hope that this edition encourages parents and students to acknowledge and seek-out sources of inspiration, as well as realize their own potential as a source of inspiring others.

At Academic Success, we understand that our students need to develop both mind and spirit in order to succeed.

Please call with any questions at (310) 823 4398 or

All the best,

Jamie

"Inspiration and Genius - One and the same."

                                                         -Victor Hugo   

Described as a "walking miracle", brain tumor survivor Kenny Randle has been providing inspiration and support on a daily basis as a volunteer mentor at Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis. His impact on the students was such that it recently caught the attention of NBC News.

An Award-Winner Leading The Way 

At a time when teachers find themselves under ever increasing scrutiny, this Dos Pueblos High School physics teacher became the first high school teacher to win a Macarthur Foundation Genius Grant last year, to the tune of $500,000. This LA Times report focuses on his formula for inspiration and success.

Unsung Heroes  

Inspirational teachers have the power to change lives and
put students on a course toward success. This lovely and inspiring Guardian story features some highly successful people talking about the teachers who meant the most to them. 

This story, written by a journalist and instructor at Northwestern University, details an inspirational teaching moment that had nothing to do with the teacher. When local, underprivileged high school students met with some students from the university, a planned writing lesson soon turned into an opportunity for all the students involved to inspire each other. 

Cultivating Inspiration   

While students' productivity make spike during periods of great inspiration, the time will inevitably come when their stores of energy run low. This excellent article in Psychology Today lists some simple, practical ways for students (and parents) to reinvigorate and reawaken themselves. 

  Creating a Vision Board     

With this issue of our newsletter dedicated to inspiration, we wanted to focus on a tool which has been used by people in all walks of life to foster and maintain their levels of inspiration: a vision board.

We all have dreams, goals and desires, but often they find themselves stranded amidst the many thoughts and tasks confronting us each day, especially if we have a lot of study on our plate. 

Creating a vision board on one's wall has the power to motivate and excite students. Through posting pictures, quotes, affirmations and specific goals on their board, students are able to see where they're headed. Most importantly, they are reminded of the reasons behind their choice to meet their academic challenges every day.

Students might put up a picture of a role model they intend to emulate; they might want to put up a colorful calendar, highlighting important dates; some may want to put up material about the college they want to attend. The possibilities are endless and the only guide students need to use is their sense of excitement and possiblity. 

Many successful people have created a vision board for themselves; it is a wonderful affirmation of where a student is in their lives, and where they intend to go.