Marathon High: Developing Grit, Perseverance, and Resilience in Teens
Photo Credit: Deborah Dunham, founder of Marathon High
Three skills teens need to be successful in life are grit, perseverance, and resilience. With these three things teens are unstoppable. They can reach their goals and they can grow into successful adults.
“Author and pediatrician Dr. Ken Ginsburg points out that young people gain resilience when ‘an adult believes in them unconditionally and holds them to high expectations.’ He notes that ‘adolescents are harmed by both unfairly low and impossibly high expectations… and that they need to develop the capacity to realistically assess situations so they do not incorporate self-destructive messages or view uncomfortable situations as true crises.’ “ Original post here
Photo Credit: Deborah Dunham, founder of Marathon High
One local non-profit is helping teens develop these skills and empowering them to accomplish what they never thought possible. Marathon High trains high school students in and around Jacksonville, FL to run a half marathon as well as the value of teamwork and giving back to the community. Deborah Dunham founded Marathon High in 2011 and her organization has now reached over 1,200 students.
This past year Marathon High has accomplished (Original Here):
Photo Credit: Deborah Dunham, founder of Marathon High
- a record 450 students and coaches this season
- awarding $5,000 in college scholarships in May
- raised a record $6,500 for breast cancer research and women with breast cancer
- added 2 new high schools for 18 total now in NE Florida
- We have collectively run over 100,000 miles
- Had a 100% completion rate with our students at the Donna Half-Marathon — everyone who stepped up to the start line crossed the finish line
- Participated in six other 5K community races
- Volunteered at numerous charity events/races in our community
- Held a Thanksgiving canned food drive where our students donated a car-full of food for those in need
- Collected jeans for homeless youth through our “Jean for Teens” project
- Celebrated our 1,000th student crossing the finish line
Photo Credit: Deborah Dunham, founder of Marathon High
Photo Credit: Deborah Dunham, founder of Marathon High
If you or anyone you know wants to learn more about Marathon High check out their website HERE. Student sign-ups will take place in September. Find out more about student criteria HERE.
