Elevating with Dr S L Young

07/29/2026

Many of us talk about the things we want to and/or plan to do. But for various reasons, we never get started. Nevertheless, life isn't waiting for us to get going and before we know it... our lives will be over. What will you have accomplished?!

So, once your time expires, will you look back wondering... what if I would've, could've, or should've done?!

As your time expires, will you be satisfied with the things completed during your lifetime?! If not, then get working now to "Get It Done!"

07/27/2026

Music for your soul!

Dr. Young's journey toward the future began with a choice and purposeful action to make his dreams a reality. Well, today, a dream he never imagined (especially after nearly ending his life in March 2014) came true. Dr. Young's debut album "Holding On For Tomorrow" (available now) is his testimony and an inspirational anthem for anyone going through difficult moments and/or times. This curated album takes listeners on a journey of belief in self, faith, resilience, determination, and perseverance to not give up on this crazy thing called life. So, if you're looking for guidance (based on his lived-experiences) to learn to reclaim your joy by "Turning Darkness Into Light" (book about his journey from near-su***de to becoming Dr. S. L. Young with a 4.0 GPA), then this collection of songs is for you.

07/25/2026

About the other night... As an independent artist, you must always be hustling!

I happened to stop by this restaurant, which was playing music. I asked the bartender, Angela, if I could make a song request. Without telling her anything, I asked her to play my song "Celebrating Me." Once it was playing, I told her that I wrote and produced the song.

Dreams don't get realized without effort! And, the irony of my song being played at a restaurant called "Songbird" right before my debut album is released this Monday, 7/27 (on my late mother's birthday).

Angela, as I told you last night, "You'll always be my first!," but fortunately not my last. 😉

Dr. S. L. Young is a mental health advocate, educator, thought-leader, and inspirational speaker who helps others to be and do better.

07/23/2026

Too many times, our challenges and/or our past unnecessarily keep us from moving forward. Unfortunately, this can also be used as a weapon against us, because secrets held in the wrong hands are very toxic. Therefore, once you're ready, reclaim your life, your story, and redirect your path with intention to purposefully build the life you want to live.

06/24/2026

The best reaction to someone's mindless and idle chatter isn't providing a response or silence, instead it's indifference!

"Don't let people who don't matter too much matter too much." --- Wes Moore

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." --- Bernard Baruch (also Dr. Suess)

05/18/2026

As a student, I learned to overcome my educational challenges to excel. As an educator, I learned ways to help students to overcome their challenges to do better. As a researcher, I learned and developed student engagement strategies to better connect with students. Yet, with all these experiences and knowledge, I reverted to being a struggling student until the clinician began to diagnose and treat himself.

The greatest "C" grade that I've ever earned was received this past spring semester! It was in my second semester college-level piano class. This was literally one of the hardest things that I've ever done, which caused me to learn more about myself, learning, and teaching.

01/08/2026

It's a New Year; Move Forward with Intentionality!

08/01/2025

This article is a roadmap for someone to push forward to achieve their goals, especially during or after tough moments. Oftentimes, the hardest part of a new journey is the first step. Therefore, be ready to TEE OFF by using your (T)ime, (E)nergy, and (E)ffort (O)n (F)ulfilling (F)antasies. Otherwise known as dream chasing.

There are times that you might think something isn’t possible because you don’t believe it, or others have told you that it’s not possible…

05/19/2025

The photographer surprisingly and thankfully captured this picture of me at this year's commencement ceremony at the NOVA Community College.

I wanted to go to commencement this year to be there for students (I've done it before), but this time in my doctoral gown. I was asked to participate as a faculty marshal, but I declined this honor because I didn't want a working position (so I thought).

During the commencement, I took a break. As I was about to reenter the arena, I was in the location that students would exit after the ceremony. Some of them were leaving early. These students didn't get the celebratory send off after graduation, as the cheer team wasn't fully assembled. So, I cheered for a few of them with one or two others. As I was about to return to my seat, I noticed that the students really appreciated the congratulations I was yelling, along with the pom pom waiving.

About an hour into my cheering, a woman (who I never met) passed by me. I asked her to cheer with me, which she did. By the end of graduation, I had a cheering squad that filled the hallway from the arena to the exit door. I had a great time not because it was fun. It was a great time because of the smiles on the students' faces. This made me think... what if some of these students didn't have anyone cheering for them at graduation?! Then, I was determined to cheer as loud as I could for all of them.

A few days later, I was at a professional development seminar. As I went to the bathroom, I ran across the woman I described earlier in the cheer line. She asked me if I saw the pictures of me from commencement, which I hadn't. She agreed to send them to me.

The next day, she sent me one picture until she could locate the others. This picture (included with this post) made me very emotional, as I realized that it was more than a picture.

This picture symbolizes a person with joy, happiness, and someone who wants to share it with others. Given my long educational journey after multiple setbacks and my near su***de, I never truly believed that I could find pure joy again. Yet, this photographer (who I will try to locate to thank) seemingly held a mirror up to me to capture my unbridled spirit in a genuine, unsolicited moment. This picture immediately made me emotional because I didn't recognize that man as the person I've grown to become. Without words, I seemingly understood that this picture was a celebratory moment that highlighted that with my determination, perseverance, and resilience... I discovered that I can still be truly happy again regardless of the extremely difficult things that I've been through in my life.

*****
This is the message (with minor edits) that I sent to the woman who shared this picture with me.
*****

Thank you so much for sharing this picture!!!

It spoke to my spirt and moved my soul!

To know that I was directed to leave high school in the tenth grade after failing 6 of 7 classes and graduating 280 of 303 students with a 1.52 GPA.

To have been nearly academically dismissed from three schools.

To have almost given up on my life in 2014 by nearly ending it.

This picture is a culmination and celebration of my journey and impact on others as an educator.

Thanks to a serendipitous moment of meeting you at commencement and running into you a few days later... This validates and confirms the reasons I still exist and my desire to still be in the world.

So, THANK YOU!!

03/31/2025

There's no need to go through challenges alone, as there's always someone who is ready and willing to assist.