SYSTEMS FOR MENTORS
SYSTEMS (minding the gap)
The School as a Productive or Unproductive Equilibrium. Put another way, Aurelio lives and learns in various unproductive equilibriums where potential gets trapped. This unproductive equilibrium is dynamic and includes within it number of social and organizational ecosystems where the forces for stability, however toxic, override the forces for positive change and health. Whether it is out of neglect or a lack of resources, these forces settle into a steady state that create strong headwinds for Aurelio to buck. These forces, together, are the imponderables in Aurelio’s life, the “x factor.”
Complex factors working against Aurelio. Because tension systems involve complex interactions between and among forces, individual forces can impede or amplify one another (Ross and Nisbett). Replete with their own channels and feedback loops they come in and out of balance due to a multitude of factors.
Restraining factors prevail. That said, an “analysis of restraining factors can be as important to understanding and anticipating the effects of a newly introduced stimulus as an analysis of the stimulus itself.” (Ross and Nisbett, p14, 15)
Weather Systems. Virtually all of the various environments that Aurelio grew up in—family, neighborhood, school—could at some point in his journey turn into inhospitable weather systems—where the constructive forces of stability proved no match for the destructive forces of entropy and decay. He often found himself what social entrepreneurs would call “unproductive equilibria.” Fortunately for Aurelio, most of the challenging weather systems he had to confront early in his life began to abate over time. The storm clouds that had built up around his father’s abuse gave way to a certain calm after his departure. The stiff headwinds he confronted in crossing gang territories in middle school turned to winds at his back by the time he completed high school. The weather in college was even more favorable, so much so that he could easily take in stride the inevitable storms that would appear out of nowhere.
The wearing down of weather systems. The notion of inclement weather as an unproductive equilibrium is also noteworthy for another reason. Most systems, if they are untended, wear down over time. Call it entropy or decay. Understand how systems wear down, and you can gain key insights into how to build them up. Aurelio’s elementary school principal understood this concept as she revitalized the school playground, which, in turn, reduced bullying and student-on-student violence. Aurelio’s social worker understood this concept, as she gave the family a way to regroup after the departure of his father. Aurelio’s pediatrician understood this concept, in prescribing effective remedies for Aurelio’s low-grade depression.
To succeed in life, Aurelio needed help—both in understanding the power of the weather systems that would trap his potential and in locating the most stress-free routes to release his potential. Fortunately for Aurelio, there were enough adults in his life—mentors of various kinds who could help him endure and navigate around the most severe storms, guide him in taking the right routes to his goals and when necessary to accompany him along the way.
Taking into consideration the most significant headwinds in the most relevant times and places, the next set of skills the mentor needs to develop is how to put the insight
The School as a Productive or Unproductive Equilibrium. Put another way, Aurelio lives and learns in various unproductive equilibriums where potential gets trapped. This unproductive equilibrium is dynamic and includes within it number of social and organizational ecosystems where the forces for stability, however toxic, override the forces for positive change and health. Whether it is out of neglect or a lack of resources, these forces settle into a steady state that create strong headwinds for Aurelio to buck. These forces, together, are the imponderables in Aurelio’s life, the “x factor.”
Complex factors working against Aurelio. Because tension systems involve complex interactions between and among forces, individual forces can impede or amplify one another (Ross and Nisbett). Replete with their own channels and feedback loops they come in and out of balance due to a multitude of factors.
Restraining factors prevail. That said, an “analysis of restraining factors can be as important to understanding and anticipating the effects of a newly introduced stimulus as an analysis of the stimulus itself.” (Ross and Nisbett, p14, 15)
Weather Systems. Virtually all of the various environments that Aurelio grew up in—family, neighborhood, school—could at some point in his journey turn into inhospitable weather systems—where the constructive forces of stability proved no match for the destructive forces of entropy and decay. He often found himself what social entrepreneurs would call “unproductive equilibria.” Fortunately for Aurelio, most of the challenging weather systems he had to confront early in his life began to abate over time. The storm clouds that had built up around his father’s abuse gave way to a certain calm after his departure. The stiff headwinds he confronted in crossing gang territories in middle school turned to winds at his back by the time he completed high school. The weather in college was even more favorable, so much so that he could easily take in stride the inevitable storms that would appear out of nowhere.
The wearing down of weather systems. The notion of inclement weather as an unproductive equilibrium is also noteworthy for another reason. Most systems, if they are untended, wear down over time. Call it entropy or decay. Understand how systems wear down, and you can gain key insights into how to build them up. Aurelio’s elementary school principal understood this concept as she revitalized the school playground, which, in turn, reduced bullying and student-on-student violence. Aurelio’s social worker understood this concept, as she gave the family a way to regroup after the departure of his father. Aurelio’s pediatrician understood this concept, in prescribing effective remedies for Aurelio’s low-grade depression.
To succeed in life, Aurelio needed help—both in understanding the power of the weather systems that would trap his potential and in locating the most stress-free routes to release his potential. Fortunately for Aurelio, there were enough adults in his life—mentors of various kinds who could help him endure and navigate around the most severe storms, guide him in taking the right routes to his goals and when necessary to accompany him along the way.
Taking into consideration the most significant headwinds in the most relevant times and places, the next set of skills the mentor needs to develop is how to put the insight