Charmed Integrity School teaches youth the forgotten skills

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• Courses teach youth integrity, manners

Most parents work hard to give their children a comfortable life, to ensure they will be happy and fit in with their peers.

But while youth may have all the latest clothes and gadgets, many of today's teens lack things that are much more important - manners, integrity and self respect.

Be honest. How many times do you stand and shake your head at the lack of these virtues in today's society, especially in this generation of teens and young adults?

When Lisa Rosano noticed, she decided to do some thing about it.

In January, Rosano launched Toronto-based Charmed Integrity School with a mission to give today's youth a renewed sense of purpose through teaching them integrity.

Rosano has been working with youth for many years as a mentor for the Summer Company Program, which gives young people the opportunity to start their own summer business, complete with guidance and mentorship.

Every year she visits area schools encouraging teens to apply for the program. When she first began going, she said students were really enthusiastic.

"They used to talk about their dreams and inspirations and then over the past three years I noticed their enthusiasm was dwindling," she said. "Last year I got nothing. In fact, they looked at me like I had two heads."

So a year later, Rosano launched her integrity school, offering her program to youth 11 and older, teaching them the importance and tools to live with integrity.

"My goal is to give them the same teachings that everyone 40 or older received so they can have the choice to live with integrity," she said.

Rosano's teachings are about integrity and its traits. This includes having grace and tact, manners and respect and, most importantly, self respect.

"This is the No. 1 thing," she said. "You need this to be able to live with integrity, which means you live honestly, walk proud, believe in yourself. ... These traits carry over to every avenue of your life."

Rosano also teaches self-enrichment and character development, which shows the importance of the good and bad ways to communicate and dealing with things in the appropriate manner.

As teens naturally push boundaries, Rosano said she teaches not by preaching but by showing them how to develop these skills through emotion-based role-playing.

"Later on if they know how to treat that bank teller well, they may get that loan. No matter what it is they're achieving, if they know the art and value of integrity and manners they have a much better chance of getting it."

Two Toronto youth, Larry La Gamba, 19, and Marlon Teekah, 22, can testify first-hand the effect Rosano's teachings had on them.

Both were a part of the Summer Company Program last year where Rosano incorporated her Charmed Integrity School lesson plan within the program.

La Gamba, who started his own pool maintenance business, and Teekah, who started a personal training business, both said Rosano as a mentor was invaluable for both their business and personal success.

"There was a lot of practicality involved and I liked the course because there's a lot of stuff that directly applies to your life and business relations," La Gamba said.

Teekah agreed.

"Her teachings are something that carries on beyond the realm of your business life, these principles can carry you throughout life, whether it's going to an interview or out on a date," Teekah said.

One thing stands out for La Gamba is the self-enrichment lesson where they were asked to think of a role model.

"She said you should treat yourself in that fashion and I thought, that's true because in many ways we don't give ourselves the respect we deserve," he said.

Both said they feel this is a much-needed program for youth of today. Teekah said it's especially important in today's world where parents are often too busy to spend time with their kids.

"Parents used to be able to teach their child proper etiquette, manners and integrity but these days parents are away either because they're working or separated, so kids often don't get the chance to learn those important things from them," he said.

Rosano hosts private lessons and day programs.

Visit www.integrityschool.ca call Rosano at 416-361-0095 for details.