Real Skills for Real Life: Preparing Youth to Thrive

Type: Article
Topics: College- Career- and Life-Readiness, Leadership Development

September 11, 2025

At the upcoming Real Skills for Real Life Summit, University Distinguished Professor Velma McBride-Murry of Vanderbilt University will join an array of distinguished speakers to highlight the importance of preparing young people with the tools they need to thrive.

With dual appointments in Health Policy and Human and Organizational Development, Dr. McBride-Murry has spent more than two decades conducting research with families and youth.

Resilience helps youth analyze situations, avoid risks, and make informed decisions.

Learning Beyond the Classroom and Building “The New Basicsâ€

Dr. McBride-Murry’s research demonstrates that essential life skills aren’t confined to textbooks. Young people develop problem-solving, communication, emotional regulation, and resilience through everyday experiences—from sports and household responsibilities to volunteering and community involvement. These activities also instill core values like integrity, honesty, and self-love.

Resilience, Dr. McBride-Murry emphasizes, is particularly critical. It helps youth analyze situations, avoid risks, and make informed decisions. Since these capacities aren’t always taught directly in schools, recognizing the environments where they naturally develop—at home, in communities, and during extracurricular activities—is vital.

Self-care practices [are] essential tools for navigating today’s challenges.

She also underscores self-care practices, including mindfulness, exercise, and peer interaction, as essential tools for navigating today’s challenges.

Her insights align with the Summit’s central theme: understanding how executive function skills—attention, working memory, flexibility, reflection, and self-control—lay the foundation for “The New Basics.â€

These are the capabilities today’s students need to adapt, innovate, and succeed in college, career, and life.

Join Thought Leaders in Action

Velma McBride-Murry will share the stage with a dynamic roster of experts, including renowned psychologist and one of the most-watched TED talks of all time, Angela Duckworth and many others, bringing together neuroscience, leadership, and education to chart a path forward.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn actionable strategies for your district. Join us at the Real Skills for Real Life Summit, October 8–10.


Real Skills for Real Life Summit

What if the most important skills for student success aren’t found in a textbook? Join us at Real Skills for Real Life Summit to explore how schools can help students build resilience, executive function, and essential life skills through everyday experiences—both inside and outside the classroom.

Grounded in brain science and research like Velma McBride-Murry’s work with families and youth, this two-day summit offers practical strategies to help educators support the whole child.

Register Today

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