Learning & Acceptance

MIDDLE SCHOOL MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

Middle school is a time when youth are learning and growing at an extraordinary pace. It is also when their minds and bodies change the most and outside influences are strong. Students are curious about themselves and begin to explore relationships, sex, and whatever their peers are doing. Budding hormones and unexplainable emotions, they struggle to understand the changes as they try to fit in as they begin to grow up. With so many negative influences of what is good or attractive, important or acceptable, they struggle with knowing and accepting themselves and simply doing their best. How do you help middle school students understand their value and potential and push past their challenges?

Through my middle school programs, I get middle school students listening, talking, and thinking. I inspire them to respect and encourage themselves and each other through their challenges. My S.O. What! Success System helps middle school students understand who they are, identify appropriate role models, deal with their challenges, and understand their potential.

TESTIMONIALS

“Not only is Summer, Life After Birth, and the S.O. What! curriculum an excellent source for teaching self-esteem, giving, self-motivation, and goal setting lessons, but it’s so rich with vocabulary, language arts lessons and crossing the curriculum using math and social studies lessons. When Summer spoke to the students at the end of the semester, they felt like they knew her—they actually did. They knew her personal struggles, how she persevered no matter what, and all that she accomplished, even with a child. They had conversations about how they will handle negative situations and how not to “get caught up”. It was a powerful experience for the students to actually meet an author and not just an author but a female African American author who is using her life to truly help others.”

Shelia ChatmanShelby County Schools, Professional School Counselor

My programs can be tailored to suit a variety of organizations and occasions including:

Half / full-day workshops
Self-esteem and life skills training
S.O. What! curriculum author visit and Q&A

Motivational speaker Summer Owens with middle school students

Most requested middle school programs

Who Am I?– I share how I discovered who I was in spite of bullying with the I Hate Summer Club and having low self-esteem and the steps I took to overcome obstacles and become who I am today.
How to Cultivate a Success Mindset — I share the story of how I earned the titles of “Most Likely to Succeed” in high school, and later “Miss University of Memphis” in college, despite being the survivor of an unwanted sexual encounter at 15, and a teen mom trying to balance a full-time courseload with single-parenthood.
Your Choice Today, Your Life Tomorrow — I explain how the decisions I made as a youth led me to challenges I could have avoided and which decisions led me to success.

Give your students Summer’s motivation and life lessons all year long!

The S.O. What! Literacy, Life Skills, and Character Education curriculum for middle school uses higher learning standards for English Language Arts to teach important life skills and help students prepare for life after high school. Listen to what educators says about the curriculum that has students thinking, talking, and acting!

BECOME A S.O. WHAT! STUDENT AMBASSADOR

If you think you embody the S.O. What! attitude, you could become a S.O. What! Student Ambassador. Engage and activate your peers by promoting the S.O What! message and help your fellow students achieve S.O. What! success. Plus, as a S.O. What! Student Ambassador, you get lots of unique prizes and opportunities and have access to exclusive experiences!

Want more information?
Complete the contact form and include, “I want to be a S.O. What! Ambassador” in the comments. Then we’ll get right back to you!

CONTACT SUMMER

We’ll talk about

Self-esteem
Bullying
Choices & consequences
The impact of friends
Relationships
Resilience & Motivation
Achieving goals
Dealing with conflict and disappointment
SO much more

PHOTOS

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Get your Quick Guide to Achieving Success Over Obstacles!

It's time to Say S.O. What!

Every day we face challenges, but we also face choices. It's the choices that determine our success and the lessons we learn through the challenges.

Use this quick tips to help you stay focused on your goals during even your most challenging trials.