Nebraska speaker details challenges for high school students

NORFOLK, Neb. -- High school can be confusing now more than ever.

“The social pressure that young people face today is much greater than it was 20 years ago, and even 10 years ago,” said Mike Donahue, founder and director of Value Up.

Donahue has spoken to more than 1 million students over the past two decades to help them navigate these challenging years.

He tours the country speaking to students through Value-Up, a Nebraska-based company that focuses on fostering positive school culture.

On Monday night, he spoke to Norfolk parents, offering suggestions on how to improve communication with their children.

His talks come in the wake of recent stressors, such as the deadly school shooting in Georgia and the incident at Omaha Northwest High School, where a 15-year-old was shot.

Donahue emphasized that social media has also added pressure to students' lives.

“Because of social media, these kids are now connected to peers in Detroit, Boston, and Texas. Their worldview is being shaped by different parts of the country,” Donahue said.

In addition to these connections, Donahue stressed the importance of parents understanding what their kids are going through.

“What I try to help parents with is understanding the pressure their kids are under today and why it’s different from when they were in high school," Donahue said.

Donahue will continue his tour of Nebraska, returning to Norfolk on Tuesday before heading to O’Neill and Humphrey to round off his talks.