by Kelly Sharp

I learned some important lessons while on my trip to Breakthrough to Success; however I was mentally unprepared for the change I would experience and I was physically anxious because I didn't know what to expect or who I would meet. 

During the first morning, I barely spoke and I wouldn't make eye contact. Everything changed during the first day as a result of two activities. First, we were asked to stand up and share hugs with strangers. Many of us were uncomfortable, some of us cried and many of us smiled because all we could feel was love and positive energy from each other. The second activity was sitting across from your partner for two minutes and making eye contact in silence. This was something that I had a lot of difficulty with. I soon became emotional. Some others did as well. Three-hundred people changed that day ... and the change continued.

By the last day, I became aware of the change that was occurring within me. I woke up every morning that week with my first feeling being joy; not the depression or anxiety I normally would have felt first thing.  Mentally, I wasn't trying to schedule my day like I previously would.

I discovered that an emotional and spiritual bond with people can change the way you view life.

I noticed that I was more thoughtful when verbally expressing my thoughts to the friends I made and the group mates I traveled and roomed with.

I learned that rejection is a delusion of the mind. You are not rejected. Your life is just the same as it was even if someone had declined your request. 

I learned that it is okay to ask for help. Yes, I did have a lot of trouble with learning this. I have the support of my family and friends, but I've always had trouble asking for help. 

I realized that I could learn to love myself. This is the most operant thing I learned. I'm a pretty happy person. I have fun with life. I’m a hard worker. I love everyone. But I've had trouble loving myself. 

Every day has been a great day ever since I arrived home. I'm taking these lessons and reminding myself of them daily. Breakthrough To Success changed my life. 

Kids in school would benefit being taught the principles and tools I learned at BTS. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to open up, be yourself and be courageous with everything. Kids need to learn how to love themselves, which is something most all of us struggle with throughout life, whether we're willing to admit it or not. 

Kids would also benefit from learning how to face difficulties and knowing that they aren't alone with anything, which is what a lot of people think. If kids had the opportunity to learn this in school, they would learn how to connect with others even if it was for a brief time; but that brief time has the potential to change lives. And that connection has the potential to transform school culture and beyond.

Kelly Sharp is 17 and entering her senior year.  She plans to join the military and eventually become a psychologist. 

Click here to learn more about the Pathways to Success for Youth vision to bring this work into schools.

Click here to learn more about how you can support the Pathways to Success for Youth Team.

Click here to learn more about Trisha Jacobson, the Founder of the Pathways to Success for Youth Team.

When I was asked to join the Pathways to Success for Youth team this year I had no idea what to expect. However, I accepted the invitation and kept a very open mind to what I was about to experience. 

Our week long training at Breakthrough to Success with Jack Canfield was eye opening. I am grateful to be able to develop such important life skills at such a young age. I have gained important tools and perspective that will help shape me as a person. I am ready to use the principles I learned from this seminar as I take the next step towards my dreams. 

I cannot thank my team members enough for not only being there for this experience but also for letting me be myself every step of the way. A huge thank you to Trisha Jacobson, the founder of the Pathways to Success for Youth Project, and Mikayla Cerney, the Pathways to Success Team Leader, for giving me the chance to travel to Arizona and experience the importance of the Success Principles first hand. I am honored and grateful for not only all I've learned, but for all of the beautiful people that I got to meet in the process. 

The Success Principles will change lives for the better.  I look forward to helping others along their way as the team moves forward with the larger vision.

I am 19 and a sophomore at Keene State College with a double major in Journalism and Holocaust and Genocide Studies. I work full time as an editor for my college's newspaper, The Equinox, and want to become a journalist after I graduate. I hope to use my writing skills and further knowledge with genocide to change problems that I am passionate about not only in this country, but around the world. ~Olivia Belanger

On the red-eye back to Boston, the plane began to descend. I felt it drop down as my mind drifted back to consciousness. A movie began to play in my head. It spanned the six weeks prior to what is now known as our BTS adventure.

In the buffet line on June 27, 2015, at the last day of Train the Trainer, Patty Aubery, the President of the Jack Canfield Training Group, walked up to me and asked if I was going to bring a team of teens to Breakthrough to Success again this year. 

In 2014, inspired by Jack Canfield and his Success Principles and my vision to bring it to young people across the US, I founded the Pathways to Success for Youth Project. In an effort to train a team of young people to support me and my vision, I brought a team of 7 to BTS in August, 2014. It was an amazing experience. 

I had no plan to bring a team in August, 2015. I had already decided that the summer of 2015 was dedicated to finishing my next book. But Patty's question prompted thoughts to rapidly flash through my head. "That is 6 weeks away. It would be so awesome! We could pull it off. But it would be so much work! It's so expensive to travel with a team. We would need to raise lots of money. It would take a lot of time. What about my book?" And then another voice spoke in my head. A powerful voice that spoke firmly and clearly. "This is a powerful opportunity. You must do this. Say yes."

"I wasn't planning on it, but with some help, I can certainly pull it off. Yes, I'll bring a team!" I answered. 

As the plane continued it's descent, my thoughts flashed from that conversation with Patty, to my phone call to Mikayla. "I've been offered an opportunity and I'm feeling like I need to go for it. Will you help me put together a team to attend BTS this August?" I asked. She confirmed that she was committed to helping me. We brainstormed a to do list on the phone and set a time to meet when I got home. 

The movie scenes continued to flash in my head: surveying the existing team for potential candidates, fundraising ideas and events, creating our indiegogo page, the parent orientation, permission slips and the paperwork party, endless emails and fundraising posts to social media ... right up to the morning when the team gathered  in my driveway to begin the journey Arizona and share our first night in Scottsdale before BTS began.

In just six weeks, Mikayla and I had pulled together an amazing team of people. The Universe was certainly part of the process. The right people said yes and organized their lives, their schedules, their finances and their mindsets. Lots of people donated scholarship tickets, travel vouchers, money and volunteer support to help offset the cost of the trip. We fully trusted and embraced the Universe's help to put together the perfect team that would mesh and connect to serve the greater good and the larger vision for the project. And the results were amazing!

Ultimately the team consisted of me, Mikalya, seven teenagers and five adults who knew me, my work, understood my vision and had the skills, talent and experiences that would help expand the capacity of the team as we moved forward to bring the Jack's work into the classroom.

As the plane continued to descend, I looked down at my iPad and noticed a Facebook notification from Nichole, one of the team members. I began to read what she had posted:

"So ... we are about an hour away from landing in Boston after possibly THE most uplifting, enlightening, insightful, empowering and magic filled week of my life. My heart is so full of gratitude and love and happiness!! Breakthrough to Success training was so incredibly inspiring and eye opening. Jack Canfield is a master teacher of our time and I feel so blessed to have been able to learn from him. I am excited to share his heart centered teachings with all those I can because this work is important. This work is what will change the world ..."

"Please turn off all portable electronic devices and stow them in preparation for landing," the flight attendant instructed. We landed and an amazing and enlightened but very sleepy team deplaned, loaded onto the shuttle and headed home.

This morning I finally had a chance to finish reading Nichole's post. Here's what she had to say about this amazing team as we all went through this transformational  experience:

by Drea Kasianchuk

Breakthrough To Success. Life Changing. Inspiring. Empowering. Heart Wrenching. The best thing I have done with my life! 

Thank you Trish Jacobson, Founder of the Pathways to Success for Youth Project and Mikayla Cerney, Pathways Team Leader,  for this incredible opportunity. I am grateful for the support of friends, family, communities and individuals across the country who understand the power of this work. This experience wouldn't have happened without YOUR help!

I have no words to express my gratitude for this eye-opening experience. I couldn't have imagined being welcomed with open arms by such a wonderful new family that loves me for ME! I am feeling incredibly grateful to Pathways team members Jen Collard, Whitney Pray, Nichole Tomacelli, Chelsea Latham, Meg Perrin, Olivia Belanger, Chance Bousquet, Kelly Sharp, Marz Robinson, Lea Thelemarck, Jackie DiFonzo, as well as Trish and Mikayla for your authenticity, wisdom, listening ears, humor, and hugs!

I am ready to embrace the world as a visionary for this work. I am ready to experience mastery with the use of these new tools and move forward supported by the strength, insight, and love that comes from the powerful bonds formed this past week at BTS!

Click here to learn more about the Success Principles and Jack Canfield's Breakthrough to Success.

Click here to learn more about how you can support the Pathways to Success for Youth Project in their next steps to bring this work to young people.

Click here to learn more about Trisha Jacobson and get a closer look at what she's up to.