The Wins of Scientology Kids

What's it like to be a Scientologist teenager? An interview with Markus from Alabamba

 A lot of people land on my blog by searching: "Scientology kids". I guess they are curious to know what Scientology kids are like after hearing all kinds of things in the media. I'm lucky to be able to have many Scientologist teenager friends. My friend Markus is here today to tell us what its like to be a Scientologist from Alabama. 

Sandy: How long have you been involved in Scientology?

Markus: I have been a Scientologist my whole life. I was born into a Scientologist family and in a way, automatically got into it. But I did my first course when I was 9 years old in Los Angeles. Thats when I realized it actually was really helpful. It helped tremendously with my personal ethics and ways of handling every day problems.

Sandy: Alright, so it was actually using it that got you interested in it.

Markus: Yes!

Sandy: All the kids tease you about being from Alabama and I know there are a lot of Alabama jokes, but what is it really like there and how is it different here in Clearwater, Florida?

Markus: In Birmingham, Alabama, it's a really different environment than here in Clearwater. Its a much bigger city and its largely Christian. The city itself is really clean and well taken care of but after 15 years of living there, I didn't really have that much to do except go to school and play sports. I didn't have many friends. 

Sandy: So things really changed for you when you moved here, didn't they? I always see you with a million friends.

Markus: Yes- the landscape here is completely different, the people are different. Its almost a new world I find myself in. Making friends here is so much easier and I fit in a lot better. Life is a little easier here for sure.

Sandy: So what are your future plans after high school?

Markus: I am going to go to college and I want to major in business marketing. My dad owns a successful marketing company and it's constantly growing and producing more and more. I want to work with him and eventually take over his business when he retires. I also have wanted to play college football since I was six. That's something I want to accomplish because being raised in Alabama they consider college football a second religion. The NFL isn't that big there because of Auburn, Alababa and Troy universities.

Sandy: I get it. Scientology and football, that's a good mix. I can see why you fit in so well here...How has Scientology helped you in your life?

Markus: Studying the data and applying Scientology has really changed my viewpoint on many things. The main thing it has helped me do is keep good personal ethics in. Kids and teens these days get into all sorts of trouble and I feel safe being a scientologist because I know what those things can do. It's also much easier to study in high school because of the study methods that Scientology has. Its something I can help people with. I feel its a way out of a crazy world we live in. 

Sandy: You've studied nearly every Scientology basic book. What is your favorite so far?

Markus: Dianetics was incredible, but my favorite book was A History of Man. Everything a person sees in his everyday life is explained in that book. My favorite datum would probably be the fact that a person, no matter how messed up or down he is, can really be cause over anything he runs into in life.

Sandy: Thanks Markus. With that attitude I can see you're going to go far in life!

 

Does Scientology help with sports? (My evening with the guys)

 

Its 8:30PM, a bit late for a school night, but the first of several teens have piled into my house. Its a special night for them, because its the National Championship game between Alabama and Texas. The chips and salsa and soda are ready. Its a special night for me, because I get to host these fantastic kids and some great dads.  Being around them is always a kick. Each one is so unique but what they have in common is a glow of enthusiasm, respect for each other, great manners with my family, and a whole lot of personality. 

I take a break from my kitchen duties to get some help from the kids on a post that I have in mind. I ask, "guys, has Scientology helped you with sports?" BIngo- I've got sudden interest. Each one lights up with a resounding rush of YES! 

Raph: after my *TRs and Objectives course, I'm SO much more in present time. When I do a sport, everything is in slow motion for me. I can concentrate easier and do everything better. I see the whole game at once. Its unbelievable.  I have SO much time!

Pat: (Agreeing) Yes! after that course, I'm so much more in "present time". Everything slows down for me.   I see the holes (on the football field), the opponents, and the opportunities, analyze it, and take that opportunity. The next thing...you're free and leading the team to victory.

Matt: The datum I like the most is what I learned from Ron Hubbard about "The Spirit of Play".  I'm always messing around not getting into the "seriousness" of it. I'm having a good time.  Whenever we are doing anything: basketball, football, every sport we do- we're always just having fun- and we're SO uptone! 

Jesse:(quarterback) Yes! Its awareness. I'm always aware of whats going on. I can "see" behind me. In two years, I've never once been sacked by surprise. I've been sacked, but I'm always  aware when its coming.  NEVER by surprise.  I've already decided that taking the sack is the best thing to do on that play. In this game we're watching, each quarterback got blindsided and sacked four times each. They don't know when someone is behind them. I know it, and I CAN"T be surprised. 

Its like I have a remote control and I stop the action, I have all the time in the world to look and decide, then I flip the remote and start the action when I'm ready to go. 

Sandy:I think you guys are being humble. You just won the Florida State Championship for 6 man tackle football in an undefeated season and are most likely the top team in the Nation.

Back in the kitchen I go. I can hear the roaring screams of my enthusiastic fan friends. Its infectious. I clean up the last crumbs from the Toll House cookies, and slide off to bed in a remote guest-room. Behind several "sound proof" doors, I can still hear shouting. My house is vibrating while I'm laughing in bed. I can't help but think that I'm the one who's winning here. I'm the luckiest mom on the planet. 

*“TRs” (training regimens or routines) are practical drills that put you at cause over communication — the key to success in all human relationships.  “Objective” actions have to do with material objects and the person’s relationship to the environment, as opposed to “subjective” actions which have to do with a person’s mental concepts or ideas. Objective processes bring a person gradually into present time. They increase perception and put you more and more at cause over your body and the environment. This makes you feel “more there” — brighter and more alert. Click here for more data.

"When a man loses his Spirit of Play, he's dead." "... a guy will tell you, 'Well, I had some illusions when I was a kid, but I've lost all those. I'm practical now. We've got to face this thing practically, and what we are doing here is very serious.'"

"You want to know what seriousness is? Seriousness is solidity. You ever hear of a 'solid citizen?'

"There's nothing that succeeds like insouciance*. Plain flippancy** will actually get more done in less time than anything else you can name."

"And the more seriously you take the game, the less chance there is of winning." -- L. Ron Hubbard (*Insouciance: Lack of concern, carefree.) (**Flippancy: casualness, disrespectful joy.)

What if your kid is difficult?

I really like this article called " Why do teenagers rebel?", written by Cheri Hall, Executive Director of the Mohave Academy. She makes some very good points about the subject and tells you  what you can do about it. click here for the article

Number one scoring high school football player in the nation- Jesse Chinchar

Jesse Chinchar is about to turn 17. He's got a 4.0  grade average, and has been a winning  Youth Flag Football coach for several years. Recently, he's been enjoying quite an accomplishment. He has been recognized by the popular website, Max Preps, as the number one scoring high school football player in the nation. He stayed in the number one position for several weeks. I wanted to know how that felt! 

Sandy: How does it feel to have made it to number one top scoring player in the nation? 

Jesse:   It's a pretty unbelievable feeling.  Well... the way I found out is actually a pretty funny story.  I was at home looking at the stats on maxpreps.com of all the players on my team.  However I wasn't looking at those stats compared to the other kids in the Nation, But my  friends David and Arti were  looking at the Nations leader when they came across my name as the number one scorer in the whole nation. 

 At first I couldn't believe it, I thought it could be maybe possible to be the leading scorer for 6-man football but not the whole nation including 11-man football.  That includes every high school player in the entire nation so as you can imagine it came as a big shock to me.  It was just great.  On the one hand I was just happy because I had been able to  accomplish such good stats but on the other hand it really made me think back to when I was always told I was too small to play.  They would say "too small, too inexperienced in tackle football".  I had previously had success playing flag football which is obviously a different game than tackle football and my coaches for this other team didn't think I could make the transition.  I just wish I could see their faces now.

Sandy: Are you concerned about keeping up your record?

Jesse: Believe it or not the record is not all that important to me anymore.  Yes it would be awesome to end up on top but it's just not the most important thing for me.  Seeing I made it there was just really an acknowledgment for me, it really let me know that I could do whatever I set my mind to.  And I didn't really need much more than that.

Sandy: Can you tell my readers how it is that you decided to become a football coach? 

Jesse: For me growing up I always wanted to be a football player.  I dreamed of throwing that game winning pass in the super bowl just like every other young football player.  There isn't much comparison to the the thrill you get when you step out onto the field for the game or winning a big game.  But I did discover something that I liked even more...

A few kids at my school around the age of 9-10 had entered the same flag football league that my friends and I had been in for years.  However they didn't have the same success, they were assigned to a team coached by a drunk and they didn't win a single game.  It really bugged me that someone could do something like that so I decided to help them out for the next season. 

My friend  David and I  got together 10 kids from the school and we joined the league as the coaches for them.  The league knew who we were so they welcomed it.  From there I really just fell in love with coaching.  Its pretty easy to describe why I would rather coach than play.  When you are playing there is the thrill of making a big play or winning a game, you get huge wins and you can share that with the other players on the team. But when you are the coach of the team you get this amazing win for every single player on the team every day!  You get to watch the players grow and grow.  There really isn't much like it. 

Sandy: What are your stats?

Jesse:  The first team I coached in the 9-11 league we won 11 games and lost our only game of the year in the semi finals in all of Pinellas county.  The second year we won 5 games and lost 3 games and just missed the playoffs.  My third year we won all 9 games including the championship for all of Pinellas county.  And for my fourth team we also went undefeated and were league champions this time for the league Clearwater Academy Plays in.

Sandy: How do the adult coaches react to losing to a teenage coach?

Jesse: Thats a funny question.  Some coaches take it great, they congratulate you give you words of advice and let you know how cool it is what your doing.  And then you get the guys with the egos who take it as a personal insult to be out-coached by two teenagers.  Really both reactions are just as satisfying. :)

Sandy: Is it difficult for you to control kids when you are "just a kid"?

Jesse: No.  I think if anything it helps because I have more reality with them.

Sandy: What do you think makes you a good coach?

Jesse: I think as a coach for youth football I use a few things that most people don't in youth football.  I never underestimate my players.  I set their goals so high and they never fail to reach them.  I think some coaches would be afraid to let their team of kids run an offense similar to what they do in the NFL but I embrace the challenge.  I think if you underestimate your team it just limits how far you can go.  My offense for my teams is pretty darn complicated and it relies on a huge amount of trust from each player and that trust is there.  I think this really helps me.

Sandy: Who is your favorite football team?

Jesse: Actually that question is a little embarrassing.  My favorite team is the Oakland Raiders.  I started liking them when my favorite player Jerry Rice signed a contract with them and I haven't been able to stop liking them since. 

Sandy:  Who is your favorite football coach?

Jesse:  I don't have a current favorite football coach but my favorite coach of all time is Bill Walsh.  I respect everything he brought to the game and how he changed it forever.  He was a genius with plays and he could find talent where no one else could.

Sandy:  Has Scientology helped you as an athlete and as a coach?

Jesse:  Yes!  I use a "locational" without fail before every single game as a coach,  and  as captain of my football team. That is something that helps put the players attention on the environment so that they are not stuck on past failures or pain.  Anyone can learn how to do one and you don't have to be a Scientologist to benefit by it.  I also use Ron Hubbard's  management tech for coaching, such as "conditions". That is something that helps you manage and improve the condition of your statistics in any endeavor.   

During my 3rd year in the Championship game we were losing for the 2nd time all season 7-0 at half time. Being in a new circumstance my players went into shock.  The sideline was  a mess until I gave the whole team a locational.  On the first play of the second half we scored and never looked back, we ended up winning 20-7.

Sandy: Thanks for sharing your story Jesse.  Good luck pursuing your coaching career!

A Scientologist teenager from Ecuador shares some wins

A few weeks ago, my son brought home a new friend from school.  Claudia is an  outgoing 15 year old Scientologist who just arrived from Ecuador for an exciting opportunity. . She is living with a local family for one year while she attends  a school that uses L. Ron Hubbard's study technology. Its been a pleasure getting to know Claudia and hearing her story and seeing her enthusiasm.  As a bonus, she liked my blog and agreed to participate. The wins and viewpoints of Scientology kids seem to be pretty universal, and not dependent upon what country they are from!

Here is our interview:

Sandy:  How did your family come to be Scientologists?

Claudia:  When my dad was a teenager, his entire family was living in the United States because my grandfather was a consulate working here. My dad was having teenage type problems. My grandfather sent him to many places to get him sorted out, but these places failed with my dad. Then my dad met a Scientologist, and was introduced to the subject. He decided to go to Flag (the advanced organization of Scientology in Florida). This worked out for my dad, and things sorted out between him and my grandfather. 

Here is something funny- my parents met because of Scientology. My dad had become an auditor (councelor) and my mom was having some health problems like chronic tonsillitis and she was referred to my dad for auditing. After a particular interview that locates sources of stress and handles them, the chronic tonsillitis of my mom had dissapeared. 

Sandy:  Do you have a favorite L. Ron Hubbard datum or piece of tech?

Claudia:  From The Way to Happiness: "Try to treat others as you would want them to treat you", because that is the way that you can see how things that you do and say effect others.

Sandy: Can you tell me a little bit about your personal goals?

Claudia: I love to express myself by dancing, acting, drawing, and more artistic things, but now my goal is to finish school and get the best education. That's why I came here, to study in a school thqt uses Hubbard's study technology.  I want to finish my school with the best preparation for the University. 

Sandy: What Scientology courses have you taken so far?

Claudia:  Communication for Children, Personal Values and Integrity, Ups and Downs in Life, Learning How to Learn, The Basic Manual of Study, and the Student Hat. I've had auditing from the book Self Analysis.

Sandy: What service did you like the most?

Claudia: The study technology courses, because they help me in school. At my age, the majority of teenagers hate school and they think that a good idea will be not having school. That's because of all the misunderstood words and all the problems that the popular education causes. I think the study tech has helped me to see the other part of a school. I can imagine a world without education, it will be a disaster full of ignorant people and all the culture will be lost. 

Since I've learned the Study Tech, its helped me to actually understand all the things I'm studying, and to enjoy learning. The courses of communication that I do are helping me to express myself with art, and to study art, I need the tech of how to study. The study tech of L. Ron Hubbard is the best. 

Sandy: How are you liking your new school so far? 

Claudia: Well, I am one month in school, but I think its is an incredible school. It is not like all the other schools wherein if you fail, you loose a year and that's all you have to do- repeat it without looking and fixing all the holes that you have in the most basic things. At my school, all the steps that are on your program are done until you fully understand each step before going onto the next. That is a part of the study tech of L. Ron Hubbard. When you fully understand every single step, you finish your grade with the best education ever. That is why I like it, and It think my future is ensured with this education. 

Sandy:  I bet it is! Good luck to you!

"It takes smarts to think for yourself- it only takes a semi-good memory to act like everyone else."

 Mickey is an Italian teenager who does not live a cloistered life. She  lives in the U.S. and spends summers in Italy. Her world is filled with activity and friends- many of them Scientologists, many of them not. Lets hear her viewpoints:

Sandy: How old are you?

Mickey: I'm 14, turning 15 in October

Sandy: How long have you been a Scientologist?

Mickey: I've been a Scientologist since I was about 4, but the good thing about it was that my mom was a Scientologist and my father was Catholic, so I was brought up on different religions. I respect all aspects of both, and of all religions. 

Sandy: How many languages do you speak fluently? How many could you follow a recipe in? 

Mickey: I speak three languages fluently, English, Italian, and Spanish. I enjoy cooking in German too! The recipes aren't that different between German and Italian, and its always nice to learn a new language. 

Sandy: Do you still want to be a chef? 

Mickey: yes, I do still want to be a chef! But I'm going to go to designer school as soon as I finish High School. Chef, and fashion designer don't sound like a bad idea to me...

Sandy: Tell me what life is like as a student at  a school that uses the study tech of L. Ron Hubbard.

Mickey: Its wayyyy awesome! Even though sometimes I wish more people could be there and have fun along side of me. Having gone to public school I have seen a difference. I'm actually learning instead of just memorizing things to copy them on paper the next day. The study tech isn't hard, and its really the only way to actually understand things and be able to use them later! There's no point in school if you don't remember anything when you need to know something.

Sandy: Mickey, I've come to find out that the average non-Scientologist parent expects that at some time their teenager will A) for sure try out drugs, and B) not tell them. Can you give your opinion on this topic?

Mickey: Here is my best answer to that. I've been offered drugs by people whom previously, I thought I could trust ( I do have a lot of friends who are not Scientologists, especially in Italy. Italy is amazing, but here I am in a much safer environment). My opinion is that teens don't tell their parents because they are ashamed or afraid of punishment- doing drugs is just asking for it. 

The pressure to be "cool" and "just like the other kids" in society these days is way hard on your integrity. Why be just "cool" when you can be awesome? Believe it or not, teens who do drugs really look up to people who don't, whether they show it or not. I find looking at what I really want in life is the solution. Everyone has some sort of dream (or at least they did before they started to do drugs) and the way to achieve it is to be true to yourself. I know I don't want to be "just like the other kids" because thats too easy. I like a challenge.  

Sandy: If someone in your school were to do drugs, what would be the reaction to them by the other kids?

Mickey: Well if someone were to do drugs in our school I think (almost know for a fact) that they would find themselves separated from the group and not very appreciated from their friends. Honestly, they would probably be looked down on for as long as they were doing drugs and were involved with serious out-ethics. 

Sandy: Can you tell me a win from your favorite Scientology course? 

Mickey: On my favorite course, I  had so many wins, I can't even write them all down. I felt so cause over life I couldn't understand how anyone couldn't be! I finally understood what control really was and I figured that I hadn't understood it my whole life. Maybe thats why I was so opposed to it!

Sandy: Are there any other wins you thought of that you'd like to share?

Mickey:Yes, without Scientology, I don't think that I would be telling you MY thoughts, as opposed to something that I heard someone else say a few days earlier.  I know that I don't need anyone to put words into my mouth to make people like me. Actually people like me for my own words. It takes smarts to think for yourself, it only takes a semi-good memory to act like everyone else. So here I am saying: thanks L.R.H. (L.Ron Hubbard)

Thank you Mickey for your candidness and for sharing your viewpoints and wins. 

My Son, the Football Coach

My son has always been interested in sports. At age three, he learned how to swim. Being small for his age added to the shock value for the neighbors, who nervously watched him walk right up to the edge of the community pool without mom in tow. They would call out to me to rescue him, but I'd say "No problem, he's a swimmer", as he dove into the deep end and swam across the pool. In contrast, kids who were twice his age were assigned to the steps of the shallow end while their parents, sunbathing on lawn chairs, called out warnings: "Do not move from those steps! You don't know how to swim, don't you dare get off those steps!". 

Hm. I don't think I'd like someone yelling at me that I should not attempt to do something, and announcing in front of the world that I will fail if I try. 

I learned to parent from reading the book Child Dianetics, by L. Ron Hubbard. It sure simplified the process. In it is a key essay called "How to Live With Children." I don't know how I would have managed without it. My son, now 16, has been coaching Flag Football for the last several years. When he was 14, he got together a group of younger kids and formed them into a team, then submitted the team to a league called I-9 Sports. He and his 13 year old friend coached the team to victory in an undefeated season. They were the champions of the entire league, encompassing many cities- and the first and only teenage coaches. 

Having a winning child who is turning into a responsible young adult is one of my biggest joys. I couldn't have accomplished this without using Child Dianetics. There are so many gems in this book, but here is my favorite quote: 

"The main problem with children is how to live with them. The adult is the problem in child raising, not the child. A good, stable adult with love and tolerance in his heart is about the best therapy a child can have." L. Ron Hubbard

A Very Stable Teenager

Lauren is a 15 year old friend of mine who loves people and likes to have a good time. She has a kazillion friends on My Space, Facebook, and in real life. I met her when she was three, and have always liked her. Here is what she has to say about Scientology:

Q: I know that you were born into a Scientolgist family- does that make you a Scientologist automatically, or was there some sort of decision involved for you?

A: Well, it was my decision to be a Scientologist. My parents wouldn't push me into it. They showed me how it helped me and started me on different courses and I REALLY liked what I learned. 

Q: How has Scientology helped you personally? 

A: ...Where to begin? Scientology has helped me in every aspect of life. To name a few: Scientolgy has helped me to maintain awesome relationships with everyone. I can handle any problem that comes my way. I am a truely happy person. I know how to handle confusion. I know how to communicate with people. I never fight with my parents or friends. I can learn ANYTHING I want. I understand all of the data when I study. If I have trouble with my studies and get problems wrong, I know how to go back and find out what I didn't understand. I can find where I was having trouble and clear that up so I don't have trouble again. 

Q: You go to a school, which uses L. Ron Hubbard study technology.  Do you have to be a Scientologist to go there? 

A: No, you don't have to be a Scientologist. Anyone is welcome. 

Q: I understand that NONE of the kids at your school take street drugs and NONE have ADDH. How can that be?

A: Because if anyone has trouble with their studies and can't understand the data, My school simply finds out EXACTLY what you don't understand and handles it. They have a handling for any problem that comes up- I guarantee it!!! My school  and L. Ron Hubbard's study tech helped me become a faster, better student. 

Q: Is there any Scientology book or course that you would recommend to a teenager that wants to be able to communicate well, not have relationship problems, and to be able to conquer the subject of study?

A: The Children's Communication Course, or the Success Through Communication Course, Learning How to Learn, How to Use A Dictionary, Study Skills for Life. Those are the good basic books that teach you the foundation for a better education. 

Thankyou Lauren!

An interview with my neighbor, Chris

Chris, we met when you were 13 and you had only been in the U.S. for one year. You did not have a foreign accent at all and spoke perfect English, even though you had only been speaking English for a year. You used to make me hysterical with your jokes. What was that like moving to a whole new country?

  Chris: Moving to a whole new country was a little hard. The hardest part was not making new friends, speaking English, or getting used to the enviroment, it was the STUDY of English. THAT was tough. Other than that, it wasn't all that bad moving to a new country and it only got easier and easier.

Scientology definitely helped in adjusting to that change. Especially with study. I started out in a normal private school and I made friends easily, but I REALLY had trouble study wise. I then started going to a school that applies Study Technology. Study Technolgy is a technology of how to study and is part of Scientology application. In applying those principles I was able to really LEARN and apply the things I learned in school. Another factor with Study Tech in such a school, is that you're able to study at your own pace. That's great, especially for me as I was a second language student. This way I was able to catch up and start studying with the rest of the students my age and actually learn things. 

Scientlogy has also helped me in the sense of being able to stay out of trouble. To stay away from drugs, crime, etc.. With what I've learned in Scientology, I know right from wrong and I can see the danger ahead, and just avoid it. 

Sandy: Your parents have always worked in Scientology and I know that your mom was extremely active in the Church all the years you were growing up. How was that for you? 

Chris: My parents being very active in Scientlogy has been a big help for me. When you're as active as they were in the church, they can't help but APPLY the principles of Scientology at home and wherever. My parents APPLYING the principles of Scientology is what has helped me the most. 

Growing up in Scientology I had the greatest childhood one could ask for. I was darn happy. I sometimes look back to that childhood and think, "that was fun times back then". I'm still having fun, though. Growing up within Scientology was definitely a useful thing. It really has helped me with life big time. It has helped me the most in the way that I know what I want to do and where I'm going. I know why, and I know that there will be things in my way but I know that the only thing that can really stop me from achieving my goals, is myself. And I know to stay true to my goals, always. It's just given life an actual real purpose and an exciting and fun one as well. 

Sandy: Thanks for sharing that with me. I wish you good luck in pursuing your goals.

Welcome to my blog

Hi- I'm Sandy. Thanks for finding me here. I decided to create this place where my family and friends could share their many wins applying Scientology to their lives. I'm going to post interviews and wins of those who have used Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard technology in a positive way to help themselves or others.