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Thankfulness + Reflection= More Happiness

A simple gratitude exercise that can boost happiness and self-esteem in twice-exceptional and neurodiverse kids who focus too much on their struggles.

By Sam Young 3 min read
Thankfulness + Reflection= More Happiness

In The Spirit of Thanksgiving

“Energy flows where the mind goes” -Unknown

Did you know that regularly inventorying your thankfulness/gratitude can lead to more happiness and confidence? Give it a try! 😄

Grab a piece of paper/open a doc and write down one/all of the following:

✔️ 5 things you’re grateful for

✔️ 5 accomplishments that you’re proud of

✔️ 5 people/things you’re happy to have in your life

✔️ 5 things you love about yourself

✔️ 5 things you’d want others to know about your life

Now, read the list back to yourself. Feeling better already? While this is a small exercise, positive psychology tells us that when we focus on what we have—as opposed to what we don’t—we often feel much better about ourselves and our lot in life.

If this was helpful for your mental health, please encourage your students to do the same.

Recently, plenty of parents have expressed concerns that their students are struggling with:

📝 Socializing

📝 Academic burnout

📝 Overall apathy

📝 Trying new things

📝 Connecting with others

At the core of many of these strugglers is low self-esteem. Sadly, many of our twice-exceptional and neurodiverse students have been conditioned to focus only on the areas in which they require the most support. This leads to a cycle of feeling like that they are less than…

One great way to support these children and help to improve their self-esteem is to reflect on what they have/do well. It’s important to do this often and work to make it a healthy habit.

While this is a great exercise, it’s merely a first step in a long road to personal healing. Although the road may be extensive, the best way to help your child is simply by supporting them in taking their first step.

NOTE- There are no simple solutions to these complex challenges.

There is no silver bullet. Finding a great therapist is often a great second step (article on this coming soon).

One of THE BEST WAYS TO SUPPORT children who have some of the aforementioned struggles is by steeping them in supportive environments comprised of like-minded peers and passionate, loving mentors.

If you’ve been looking for a place like this

I hope this was helpful for you. I’m thankful you took the time to read and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Open House.

Happy Thanksgiving!

About Young Scholars Academy

Young Scholars Academy is a WASC-accredited virtual learning community offering 200+ live online courses and camps for gifted or 2e children ages 5–18, in classes of 6–8 students, led by neurodivergent mentors. Young Scholars Academy currently serves 1,200+ families across 47+ states and 17 countries, with a 93% semester-over-semester re-enrollment rate. ESA funding is accepted in 10+ states.

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You don't have to figure this out alone.

Right now, a kid who thinks like your kid is in a class they chose, with a mentor who was once just like them, surrounded by friends who don't think they're weird... they think they're interesting.

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COMMON QUESTIONS

Questions Parents Ask.

Everything you need to know about Young Scholars Academy.

What is Young Scholars Academy?

YSA is a WASC-accredited virtual village for gifted, twice-exceptional, and differently-wired students ages 5–25. We offer 200+ live online courses (from Minecraft Redstone Engineering to AP Psychology to Mock Trial) with a maximum of 6–8 students per course, taught by 20 hand-selected mentor teachers who are neurodivergent themselves. We serve 1,200+ families across 47+ states and 17 countries. This is not a marketplace. It's a school and a community.

How does it work?

During Fall and Spring semesters, courses meet once a week, live on Zoom, 50 minutes per session. During Summer, camps run Monday through Friday, one week at a time. When your child enrolls in 3 or more courses, they get free access to Homeroom Social Club — a weekly gathering with a consistent group of friends. Between courses, students hang out on our virtual campus where they walk as avatars, eat lunch together, and build real friendships with kids from around the world who finally get them.

Who is this for?

Gifted, twice-exceptional, and differently-wired students, including kids with ADHD, autism, giftedness, anxiety, dyslexia, and PDA. No diagnosis required. If your child is clever, quirky, and hasn't found their people yet, they belong here. About 65% of our families homeschool. The rest use us alongside traditional or charter schools.

Is this a low-demand environment?

Yes. Enrichment courses have no grades and no traditional homework. However, for-credit courses include assignments and letter grades. Cameras always optional. Challenge by choice. Students are never cold-called, never forced to participate, and never penalized for how they choose to engage. For students with PDA, demand avoidance, or anxiety, this is the difference between a program they resist and one they ask to log into.

How much does it cost?

Semester courses start at $624. Summer camps are $149–$169 per camp. Payment plans, sibling discounts, referral credits, and ESA/charter funding accepted. We're an approved vendor with 10+ state ESA programs.

Will my child actually make friends?

This is the part that surprises parents most. Your child joins a course about something they love and meets 6–8 kids who love it too. Same group all semester (or all week for camps). Parents tell us their children are more connected with this community than with anyone physically around them. 93% of families re-enroll because their kids won't let them stop.

What if it doesn't work?

100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Switch courses, receive a credit, or stop payments. No questions asked. We can offer this because we know what happens when these kids find their people.

What do parents get?

Virtual Coffee & Connect hours every couple of weeks. Regular Expert Talks with leaders like Seth Perler, Debbie Reber, and Dr. Temple Grandin. A Facebook group where families connect and support each other. Progress updates from mentors. And the ability to watch your child's courses anytime (just stay off camera). You're not just enrolling your child. You're joining a village.