HOW TO BE A GROWNUP 1. BE RESPONSIBLE Most people think of a grownup as someone who takes responsibility for his/her own life. And being responsible shows your parents that you are growing up and can handle more freedom. Here are six ways to be a responsible person: * Take care of your own affairs. * Follow through on commitments. * Answer for your own actions. * Be trustworthy. * Don't procrastinate. * Always use your head. 2. CHOOSE TO DO THE RIGHT THING Some decisions are easy to make, others are more complicated. When it's a choice between right and wrong, you don't need to weigh the pros and cons. Choosing to do the right thing is an act of self-respect and responsible decision making. Here are some guidelines for deciding what's right: * What do my heart and conscience tell me? * Could it hurt anyone - including me? * Is it fair? * How would I feel if somebody did it to me? * How will I feel about myself later if I do it? * What would adults I respect say about it? 3. RESPECT YOURSELF Respecting ourselves helps us make good choices. And making good choices lifts our self-respect. Good self respect helps every aspect of our personal and social lives, and makes it a lot easier to get through the tough times. Here are some things that are almost guaranteed to make you respect yourself. * Take responsibility for yourself. * Always do what you believe is right. * Be true to yourself and your highest values. * Respect others and treat them right. * Set goals and work to achieve them. * Say "no" to negative pressures. * Don't let others make your choices for you.   "The 3 Rs of Growing Up " The Video This video teaches young adolescents: *  That taking responsibility for their choices and actions is an essential part of growing up. *  That making choices based on what is right usually produces the best results. *  That when we respect ourselves we make our best choices. see story synopsis . . .     "Big Changes, Big Choices" the 12-part series In Big Changes, Big Choices comedian/teen counselor Michael Pritchard helps young adolescents discover that they have the power and the responsibility to make the right choices for themselves.  more. . . For more information about individual videos in this 12-part series, click on the title below. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What is a grownup? How do you know when you are one? 2. The kids in the video said that the process of growing up involves becoming more responsible. Do you agree? What do you think they meant by that? 3. Exactly what does being responsible mean? Name some responsible behaviors. 4. What are the benefits of being responsible? 5. Is there a connection between responsibility and freedom? What is it? 6. Does being responsible have any effect on your self respect? How, in what ways? 7. In the video, Michael Pritchard gave his own version of the story of the three little pigs. What point was he was making, and what did it have to do with self respect? 8. What does self-respect have to do with growing up? 9. The kids in the video identified several of the signs of self-respect. What were they? Can you think of any others? Make a list. 10. Do you think your self-respect sometimes affects the way you make choices? In what way? 11. Do you think the quality of your choices sometimes affects your self-respect? In what way? 12. Agree or disagree: When it comes to making choices, it's okay to do anything you can get away with! Why do you agree or disagree? Can you give some examples from personal experience? 13. When Pritchard asked the kids what they'd do if they saw somebody drop a $50 bill, some of them changed their minds during the discussion. Why do you think that happened? Did you change your mind? Why, or why not? 14. How often do you think about whether something is right or wrong before you decide to do it? 15. Why do people sometimes do the right thing even when it's not as easy or as much fun as something else? 16. Do you think you usually know right from wrong? How? What are your guidelines? 17. What is the "golden rule?" Does it help you distinguish between right and wrong? 18. What are the benefits of doing what you believe is the right thing? Does it make your decisions any easier? How? 19. Agree or disagree: By the time you are 35 years old you are certainly a grownup. Why do you agree or disagree? 20. Did anybody in this video say anything you disagree with? What would you say to that person?