Personal Security for College-Bound Teens

As Sun Tzu said some 2500 years ago in the Art of War: “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” This is why,

Rule #1 of all personal protection is to DENY OPPORTUNITY.

In the simplest sense “denying opportunity” means to avoid putting yourself into bad situations. But dating, parties, and social interaction are a big part of college life. So what denying opportunity means here is the ability to recognize danger—specifically if you are being targeted—so that you can adjust your attitude and behavior to avoid or escape potentially bad situations.

The process begins by recognizing and accepting this reality: 

• Dangerous people exist;  

• You may be targeted; and 

• Ultimately, YOU are responsible for your own personal protection. 

Without the above mindset, you are a soft and inviting target … but once you accept these truths, it's easy to develop the baseline skill sets and mindset to ensure you can engage in all that life has to offer without compromising your safety (or your parents' peace of mind).