It's tough to be a teen today. Parents and teachers put a lot of pressure on you to do well in school. And sometimes the other kids are pulling you away from what you really want out of life. Trying to live up to everyone else's expectations can be frustrating. On top of all this, you see images on TV and in magazines of what teens are doing, wearing, eating and feeling and you wonder; "Is this for Real?"  The fact is, today's television shows are not typical of what it's really like to be a teen, especially in the DC Metro area.

So, you've heard it before; "you can be anything you want if you work hard enough."  But no one has given you a roadmap to get there. The truth is, you can do anything you want and you do have control of your life. It's totally up to you. Maybe you need a little help. Maybe it's time for a Teen Check.

Teen Check doesn't teach you about math or science. It's not going to lecture you about what's right and wrong. It's going to help you to learn more about yourself. Teen Check is about making you stronger and more confident so you can deal with conflict and stress. It's about reality, respect and knowing what you really want out of life.

We understand the challenges you face with raising teens today. Trying to teach teens the difference between right and wrong, hoping they will do well in school, and protecting them from negative influences is a full time job for both parents. If you are a single parent, then you have two jobs; as a mother and as a father.

In our complex society, sometimes it's just not enough to tell your teen about what's right and wrong. They need the confidence and self-esteem to make certain decisions for themselves. After all, this is part of the growing experience. But to gain this confidence, they need to learn about themselves and how to overcome the many negative influences surrounding them. Teen Check is an enrichment program that explores the challenges that teens face today, and prepares them to be our leaders of tomorrow.

All you have to do is listen to the evening news to hear about teen violence and crime, or drug and alcohol related tragedies. And if the local news isn't enough, imagine what's happening nationally, or what's not making the top story on the evening news. The statistics on teen violence, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse and teen pregnancy are overwhelming; and heartbreaking. Our goal is to reach out to as many teens as possible, to provide a positive influence and hopefully divert them away from negative influences that could lead to tragedy. This is the first step in molding our teens to become leaders of tomorrow.

Our view of leadership is more than being a contributing member of society. It about making sound decisions about their lives. Although we all hope for the best for our children, many will enter adulthood without the skills to effectively manage social or professional interactions. In part, leadership is a mind-set, an attitude that comes with confidence and a high self-esteem. With a positive attitude and strong interaction skills, our teens can become leaders in their chosen field of interest.   

Teen Check is a program that reaches deeper than learning what's right and wrong. It helps teens realize their potential and helps them to see their value, to themselves and to the world around them.