The confluence of the multiple levels of organization involved in the developmental system provide the structural and functional bases of plasticity and of the inevitable and substantively significant emergence of systematic individual differences; that is, such individuality serves as a key basis of the person’s ability to act as an agent in his or her own development (Lerner & Steinberg, 2009, p. 7).

Even though the article itself is a chronological essay on the history of adolescence development research, I decided to focus on this small quote for my MVP this week. It was refreshing to find these words of hope amidst the harsh realities most of our readings thus far have communicated: student’s misrepresented in special education classes, teachers honing preconceived notions in their classrooms, and students feeling overwhelmed by the social roles they are pressured to maintain inside and outside of the classroom.

The quote shed light on the individual effort some adolescents make towards good life and academic choices. Even though there is a lack of research focusing on the links between adolescence and young adulthood (Johnson, Crosnoe, & Elder, 2011), the adolescence period is time sensitive and life sensitive. Adolescents are making decisions that will start to mold and affect their future, from dropping out to the group of friends they make. On a more positive note, there are students who beyond all odds, as corny as that might sound, push themselves to do better in school. The unfortunate reality is that some of these students succeed and enter great colleges, but others for socioeconomic or personal challenges do not achieve the same results. The effort, however, is not celebrated as it should. As an educator, I need to pay close attention to the small successes and efforts my students make, such as writing something I said on his/her notebook that was not on the PowerPoint or board. Students, especially at-risk youth, need all the encouragement we can give them to support and influence positive decisions.