Are your students ready for the future? According to a recent national Gallup Student Poll, which was conducted in the summer of 2010 and given to 642 U. S. students, only 34% of students in grades 5-12 considered themselves to be ready for the future – they are hopeful, engaged, and thriving.

The Gallup Student Poll consisted of 20 questions that determine hope, engagement, and well-being, which is referred to as thriving. Students who scored high in all three categories are considered ready for the future.

Hopeful is defined as having clear goals and the plan of action to accomplish those goals.

Engaged is defined as involvement and enthusiasm for school or work.

Well-Being or Thriving is defined as how we think and feel about our experiences.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these categories? Are your students hopeful, engaged, thriving?