skip the rat race: reimagine your future
A Program Designed for 9-12 Grade Students
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thrive- not just survive-high school and beyond
join us for a free intro session
​Join us for a 1.5 hour FREE introductory session to learn about this program. Discover tips that help manage stress, transform productivity and achieve success in high school and beyond. We help high-achieving students thrive academically and socially without burning out. Reimagine your future with confidence and clarity.
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PAST students of our program have gone onto attend these universities
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our story
My younger daughter was in 8th grade when she asked me one day, extremely worried and stressed, "What will my future be if I don't get good grades and don't do well in school?" I was highly alarmed about the level of anxiety she was experiencing. Over the following years, it became apparent to me that high school students and their parents face unbearable stress and anxiety. Academic pressure of maintaining GPA, standardized tests, college admissions and worries about career success is one of the main reason for this stress. Students and their parents spend a lot of time and effort on mastering the knowledge of subjects. Yet, when students are stressed, their amygdala is triggered in response to the stress and it hijacks their pre-frontal cortex - the portion of brain responsible for learning. So all the emphasis on curriculum subjects is less effective when students are stressed.
I found programs that teach breathing techniques and mindfulness to manage stress but these did not include practical tips about how to improve productivity to excel in studies, standardized exams or help with college admissions. I found many coaching centers that help excel in SAT/ACT and other college entrance tests but provided almost no tips about topics such as time management, procrastination, test anxiety, interacting with others and study strategies. I found many programs that help with college applications but these only focus on college essays, common app, recommendations, and not on enhancing student skills in studies, exams, interpersonal skills and stress reduction. I could not find any program that provided a holistic solution. I wondered, how could I apply my experience in coaching engineering professionals to create a program that would help high school students? What could I do to help them navigate these challenges, stress and anxiety with greater success?
Thus "Skip The Rat Race: Reimagine Your Future"was born. This course is designed to help students become more effective and efficient in academic endeavors, while reducing mental stress and anxiety. This program has been continuously improved to provide transformational impact for students. We have conducted this program for multiple schools since Fall 2021 including International Academy which is ranked #1 amongst high schools in Michigan and is ranked #8 in the entire USA. ​​​​​​
Troy, Michigan
Bloomfield Hills
high schools where Our program is offered
unleash the power of self-awareness
Dan Goleman on EQ
How can you solve this difficult challenge? Self-awareness is key. By understanding your personality, strengths, and weaknesses, you can minimize stress and academic/test anxiety while enhancing your academic performance and personal life.
According to an article published in the June 2018 issue of Harvard Business Review, self-awareness is the most important skill to be successful in the 21st century. Self-awareness involves:
1. Knowing your own personality, behaviors, strengths, weaknesses, fears, tendencies and priorities. This awareness will enable higher individual performance: High GPA, exceptional score in SAT/ACT, outstanding college applications and essays.
2. Being aware of others’ personality and behavioral style.
3. Using this knowledge about self and others to move from judgment to curiosity. ​​​​​​​​​​
details of our program
Videos about the program
We focus on increasing self awareness, finding meaning and a heightened sense of purpose. This will drive behavior that enables productivity in studies and exams. This course will help you to make better professional connections with fellow students, teachers, as well as personal connections (friends, parents, siblings and others). This will in turn help manage stress and anxiety and improve your performance as a student.
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Reduced toxic conflict on project teams and in personal interactions. Reduced friction during interactions with others will lead to increased efficiency and effectiveness in academic performance as well as extracurricular activities such as clubs, volunteering and sports.
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Greater meaningful interactions and friendships which provide an outlet instead of being alone, minimizing anxiety and stress.
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Self awareness about behavioral traits that hold you back in studies, exams, career choices, projects and more. Once you unlock the key to awareness, there is no going back!
Why Join This Course?
Success in high school and beyond - college admissions, workplace, requires more than working harder or building a portfolio. Students need effective academic strategies, a clear understanding of their strengths and blindspots, tips to manage stress and anxiety and the ability to work well with others.
This interactive course helps students succeed in three important areas:
1. Perform Better Academically—Starting Now
Self awareness about behavioral traits that hold you back in studies, exams, career choices, projects and more. Once you unlock the key to awareness, there is no going back!
Learn practical strategies to:
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Develop effective and sustainable study habits
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Prepare more strategically for tests and exams
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Manage time and competing priorities
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Overcome procrastination
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Stay focused, organized, and motivated
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Recognize which learning approaches work best for you
2. Strengthen Your College Admissions Profile
Good grades and activities matter—but thousands of applicants have them. Students must also understand what makes them distinctive, communicate their strengths authentically, and demonstrate how they will contribute to a college community. This course helps students explore:
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What are my genuine strengths?
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What makes me different from other strong applicants?
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What experiences have shaped me?
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How do teachers, classmates, and others experience me?
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What kind of leader and teammate am I?
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How can I communicate who I am confidently and authentically?
These insights provide valuable preparation for college essays, applications, interviews, career choices and conversations with counselors.
3. Develop Skills You Will Use for Life
Students strengthen essential skills that will help them succeed in college, their careers, and professional relationships. This course will help you to make better professional connections with fellow students, teachers, as well as personal connections (friends, parents, siblings and others). This will in turn help manage stress and anxiety and improve your performance as a student.
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Communication
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Teamwork and collaboration
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Leadership
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Self-awareness and adaptability
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Decision-making and career exploration
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Conflict management: Reduced toxic conflict on project teams and in personal interactions. Reduced friction during interactions with others will lead to increased efficiency and effectiveness in academic performance as well as extracurricular activities such as clubs, volunteering and sports.
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Greater meaningful interactions and friendships which provide an outlet instead of being alone, minimizing anxiety and stress.
Discover What Makes You Unique
Students begin with a comprehensive online assessment and receive a personalized 22-page profile exploring their behavioral style, strengths, challenges, motivations, and natural tendencies.
But the assessment is only the beginning.
Through interactive discussions, exercises, and real student scenarios, participants learn how to translate self-awareness into academic success, stronger college applications, and better professional relationships with others.
What Students Receive
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A comprehensive online behavioral assessment
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A personalized 22-page profile
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Practical study and exam-preparation strategies
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Tools for improving time management and overcoming procrastination
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Interactive exercises based on real student situations
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Strategies for communication, leadership, teamwork, and conflict management
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Greater clarity about personal strengths and areas for development
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Preparation for expressing their story in college applications and interviews
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Lifelong access to online resources that reinforce their learning
Course Highlights
Personalized Insights to enhance self-awareness.
You take an online assessment that reveals your unique traits. You'll receive a tailored 22-page report. This assessment is used by Fortune 500 companies, and has been tailored for students.
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Lifelong access to an online platform with resources to reinforce self-awareness, helping you maintain these skills over time.
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7 sessions of 1.5 hour duration each, spread over 7 weeks with practical individualized tips based on your report
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Session 1: Overview of the assessment report and developing an understanding of what drives your behavior
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Session 2: Deep dive into the personality model - Understanding self, others and leveraging that understanding to boost collaboration and inter-personal skills
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Session 3: How to use the assessment to boost productivity and excel in studies and exams.
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Session 4: Tips and techniques leveraging your assessment report to improve time management, reduce procrastination and other challenges that you face, while minimizing stress and anxiety
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Session 5: Learn which careers best align with your personality per the assessment report. How to learn about career choices
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Session 6: How to assess someone's behavioral style. Learn how to work harmoniously with others who may have different personality than you - this will help reduce conflict
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Session 7: College applications - Leverage insights from your report to ace essays for college applications and interviews. What resources to leverage to build a great portfolio
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The benefits of this course extend beyond high school - succeeding in top-tier college, exploring careers, and even entrepreneurship
join us for a free intro session
​Join us for a 1.5 hour FREE introductory session to learn about this program. Discover how to reduce stress, transform productivity and achieve success in high school and beyond. We help high-achieving students thrive academically and socially without burning out. Reimagine your future with confidence and clarity.
In this 1.5 hr webinar we will cover
Tips for ensuring success while managing stress
You will receive actionable tips that you can start using immediately
Overview of the 7 week program
We will discuss what topics will be covered in the 7 week program, ongoing support etc
Q&A
Answers students and parents questions about school, college and career success
Meet the coach
Over 30 years of experience in education and coaching
Atul is a consultant and a career coach.
He is passionate about guiding students and professionals to achieve academic and career success, while minimizing undue stress and anxiety.
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He has worked with, as well as coached all levels of professionals, ranging from CEO to managers to high school students. During his workshops and coaching sessions with experienced working professionals and managers over the past 10 years, Atul realized that conducting such sessions on self-awareness can be even more impactful if conducted at a younger age (college and school students). Earlier introduction allows students to avoid bad habits from forming and reap much larger rewards later in their career. ​​
Prior to working as a coach, Atul worked as the Director of Engineering for an Automotive company. He has 20+ years of corporate experience. His list of current and past clients includes over 150 global organizations - Fortune 50 companies such as Ford Motor Company, Comcast, Xerox as well as US Government organizations - e.g. The US Army Corps of Engineers.
Atul holds an MBA from Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, MS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Maryland College Park and BSME from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh.
research about stress and anxiety amongst school students
NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau)
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over 12,500 students died by suicide in India in 2022 due to academic stress and failure in exams
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UNICEF "state of the world's children
One in seven young people between the ages of 15 and 24 in India experiences poor mental health
Us news, nov 2022
2019 Pew Research Center report identified academics as the leading source of pressure teens face.
cdc, Us centers for disease control
Forty-two percent of high school students in 2021 reported feeling so sad or hopeless for at least two consecutive weeks in the previous year that they stopped engaging in their usual activities, up from 26 percent in 2009. Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, and actual suicides among young people have also risen in that period
additional research about stress and anxiety amongst school students
India
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NCERT survey about mental health: Conducted in 28 states & 8 UT’s and over 200,000 students from 8-12 grade. Over 80% of the students said they were stressed about exams, studies and results
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International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research: Publication about stress and anxiety in face of academic pressures. 95% of students experience significant study-related stress, driven by their aspirations for a successful career
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Global
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WHO - Mental Health of Adolescents: Globally, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder
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NIH (National Institutes of Health): Stress and Anxiety among High School Adolescents
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CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): Data and Statistics on Children's Mental Health.
Among US high school students in 2023, 40% reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year
Disclaimer:
This program is an educational and coaching-based program focused on self-awareness, productivity, communication, study effectiveness, and stress-management strategies for students. It is not a medical, psychiatric, psychological, or therapy program and does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions.
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Students experiencing significant anxiety, depression, emotional distress, or other mental health concerns may benefit from support by qualified professionals such as therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, or physicians. This program is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care.