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Teachers and Students Comments
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Motivating Students to Achieve
Here is what currently happens. We tell a 14-year-old ninth grade student to go home, turn off the television and video games, and study hard every night for four years in high school, then go on to college and study hard for four more years. Then, after eight years, you assure the student, that he will receive a benefit for all of that hard work and sacrifice. Try telling working professionals that they will be paid in eight years, and just see how many continue to work. Students need tangible benefits now. The Find A Tree program provides students with immediate tangible benefits that motivate them and give them hope.
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Data
After two quarters in the Find A Tree program, students from Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles experienced a 35% drop in failing grades and a 44% percent improvement in their grade point averages.
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Compiled by Mr. Gus Reynoso - Teacher
Roosevelt High School |
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Administrator Comments
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"[Daniel Armstrong] is especially valuable in inspiring our students at Buckley to make a positive difference in the world."
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"We had students realizing their dream before their eyes."
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"The goal of the Advisory was to extend our school wide vision of personalization and building relationships with our students into our homeroom classes. Daniel [Armstrong] and his [Find A Tree] program went far beyond that expectation."
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"It is rare and refreshing to find an individual who has the gift and ability to captivate and engage their audience....[Daniel Armstrong's] presentation had a powerful impact on everyone in attendance."
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"I have spoken already to a number of students, and I can tell you that you really succeeded in reaching them-and me, for that matter."
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Mark Wiedenmann
Director, Upper School
Chadwick School
Palos Verdes, California |
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Teacher Comments
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"The Find A Tree Program encourages the student to exam his or her aspirations. By learning the guiding principles presented in the program, the student begins to dream of possibilities, create real life projects, develop responsibility, and take ownership of his or her future endeavors."
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Beverly Silverstein
Teacher Training Magnet Coordinator
Crenshaw High School |
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"[Find A Tree is] an innovative, and I believe, transformational educational curriculum.Find A Tree training [is] a powerful and potentially life-changing experience."
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"[Find A Tree] has led to a closer staff and given each of us the opportunity to examine and develop what motivates and fuels us in our work."
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"From the perspective of one who has taught in the [Los Angeles Unified School] District for more than 25 years…[Find A Tree] is the most effective day-to-day program I’ve seen in terms of encouraging students to develop meaningful goals and then relating the importance of education to achievement of those goals."
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"[Find A Tree] is a structured method that supports students link to education to their dream. This program has a very grounding and motivating force to help students master their academic subjects."
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"Never in my 32 years of teaching and counseling have I experienced self-esteem raising results in adolescents in such a short period of time."
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"Many of [my] students have lost hope of ever graduating high school or even living past the age of 25. The Find A Tree program has rekindled in my students the ability to once again dream and believe in themselves."
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"This is a gift that [students] will cherish for the rest of their lives."
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"Daniel seems to have a gift for being able to connect with [students] and rekindle their interest in moving ahead with their lives. It is an inspiring process to witness."
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"These students were looking for a little assistance, a chance to follow their dreams and working with Daniel has provided them with the impetus to do that. The difference is visible and hopefully long lasting."
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Student Comments
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“I met Mr. Armstrong in 2005. At that time I was 15 years old. I was going nowhere with my life. Until I was introduced to the Find A Tree program and Mr. Armstrong. He made me realize that life is beautiful and we only live once. That’s when I decided to transform myself into a different person by dressing, speaking and thinking differently. I also, stopped hanging out with the wrong crowd and dedicated my time to my goals and my education. I am currently working on my associates degree in the field of criminal justice and continuing for my bachelor’s degree next year. I am seeking a career in law enforcement as a police officer or corrections officer.”
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Rafael Sierra
Law Enforcement |
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"The Find A Tree program helped me to accomplish my dream in my other classes. The program makes you work harder to complete your dream. In math I worked harder because engineering is all about math."
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"The Find A Tree program made me want to learn more and try to go to college and learn more about the music business. I tried to do better in my English class. My teacher was Ms. Miyea. I read more and I raised my grade up to a 'B'. The Find A Tree program gave me more motivation to do good at school."
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Joaquin Garcia
Musical Artist / Music Executive |
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"I wrote a report on architecture [for Find A Tree] that helped me to get better at my English skills. For Mr. Mikasa's class I started paying more attention and doing extra credit in general. I got encouraged from the Find A Tree motivational speakers how they said that if you want to reach your goals we had to act now that got me to take my English lessons more serious including all my classes. Find A Tree special guests motivated me because I want to accomplish my goals just like they did so I should start right now."
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Peter Magallanes
Architect and Basketball |
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"I learned a lot of information about the art industry and it gave me courage to actually make a comic book and have people read it."
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Juan Carlos Perez
Cartoonist |
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"The Find A Tree program helped me by motivating me to do all my homework in my other classes and trying to understand the work even though it was very hard. Find A Tree showed me that anything is possible. If I want to get good grades, even though it is hard, I still can do it. In Mr. Baer's class I tried to catch up on my notebook. I did and I got a good grade. Find A Tree showed me I have to find different ways to get what I want."
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Yvonne Gallardo
Model, Actress |
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"What I learned from Find A Tree is leadership."
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Jorge Sanchez
Computer Programmer / Technician |
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"Find A Tree helped me by telling me how to reach my dreams and what to do. I read books on the music business. I surfed the internet to get information on the record companies and what it is like to be in a record company. I found out how do you get signed and the management of artists. The program gave me a positive attitude about wanting to learn. Because you have to have an education."
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"The Find A Tree program taught me the meaning of hard work."
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Michelle Valadez
Cartoonist |
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"I liked the Find A Tree class because we could express our thoughts and it motivated us to do something."
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Jose Salazar
Computer Technician |
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"The program helped me to think that I could achieve anything. The program taught me to set a goal and work hard."
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Esteban Montoya
Computer Technician |
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"The program showed us to be more demanding on ourselves and not settle for low expectations. For example, one time I had to get things done and you could not take 'no' or procrastinate for any reason One time I had to talk to the school about using a camera and I remember the answer was 'no.' I came back expecting not to get my camera , but the program showed me to go around obstacles and to find a camera from someone else. The key thing I learned was to go around obstacles and not to settle."
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"Before the program I did not take action, when teachers asked me to do projects I was not up for it. I was being lazy. Once I went to Find A Tree then I knew I had to take my own action, because I am not going anywhere unless I do my homework. So I learned to take action. I passed all my classes and I now have 'B' average. Last semester my average was a 'C.'"
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Abraham Aragundi
Orchestra Musician |
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"The program helped me to reach my goal. When the guest speakers came they taught me the steps I have to take to be an architect. Now I know what I need to do next. I tried to do better in math. I paid more attention because the architect told me we need more math and English. In English class I did more homework and paid more attention."
Jesus' math teacher was Mr. Negrete and for English his teacher was Mr. Ramirez.
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Jesus Santillan
Architect |
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"The Find A Tree helped be to overcome obstacles and tackle situations differently than I did before. [The Find A Tree program] gave me motivation to my dream. The Find A Tree program opened my eyes to reading and doing homework. I read the biography The Autobiography of Malcolm X for the fun of it. It helped me focus more on my academics so I could live my dream. I started reading books on football because of Find A Tree. I wrote a report on football player Jim Brown for English and the way I found that topic was inspired by reading books in the Find A Tree program."
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Victor Becerra
Football Player and Engineer |
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