The Student Within

“without mr. pfaff, i would not be pursuing my dreams at usc. he is the type of teacher that does not only teach you in the classroom setting, but he challenges and motivates you to be a better version of yourself. he made it possible for me to be the first person in my family to go to college and i know that he will open up that path for many students to come. he is invested in his students and has a passion for teaching: a quality that not many teachers have.”  ariel vieira, former student, pre medical student - usc

"fantastic school guidance, but what's equally impressive is mike's ability to help one navigate through the maze that is life."  lat le, former student, pre-medical/psychology student - umass

“mr. pfaff was one of my favorite teachers in high school because he always managed to make learning both fun and meaningful. in the student within, mr. pfaff presents some great strategies to help all students find enjoyment and meaning in their educational pursuits!”  elle fanning, former student, actress

everyone needs a purpose in life and “the student within” can help guide one through the path of self-realization, motivation, and reflection. so inspirational and thought-provoking! mr. pfaff’s real-life experiences as well as his passion, perseverance, and generosity will empower young adults in finding their own life purpose and inner strength to become a better version of themselves. and if you ever feeling lost, read mr. pfaff’s takeaways! --thao nguyen, former student, registered nurse

mike pfaff perfectly captures the inner struggle a student feels, and offers detailed and valuable advice on how to develop a personalized plan to navigate this crucial point in a person’s life. the wisdom in this book is exactly the type of advice i would have wanted to hear in high school, but it is now perfectly laid out in a comprehensive and accessible way. being a former student of mr. pfaff, i can say that i am proud he has created an effective medium to share his knowledge on education; i hope anyone who reads this book takes the lessons to heart. as a premedical student at stanford university, who is dealing with his own struggles and hardships, i can truly say that education is personalized and The Student Within offers a flexible set of guidelines. Good luck on your journey ahead.  Eric Smith, former student, pre medical student - Stanford

mr. pfaff was one of the main highlights my junior year of high school. he made me excited to come to class and learn! he was so encouraging not only in the classroom, but also outside of the classroom. mr. pfaff doesn’t only care for his students’ academic achievements, but for each individual’s personal growth achievements. i can honestly say that he set a standard for what i look for in engaging professors as i wrap up my senior year of college, even as i look to get ...

Michael Pfaff was never a great student in high school. He wasn't a bad student, he just wasn't that good and like many kids opted for a quick, half-hearted attempt at homework, usually on the day it was due. However, through his real passion-athletics he was able to achieve college scholarships and soon learned inspiration is contagious. If he could just apply the same energy and tenacity to the academic areas in his life... THE STUDENT WITHIN is that journey toward finding one's life-force and finding it through education.
The combination of teaching, acting, and performing give Mike a powerful gateway toward empowering students to find their own sources of passion, motivation, and innate strengths. The reality that the art and science of learning can truly be applied when aligning what's in your heart to what you're choosing to do with your life inspires Mike and his students on a daily basis.

• introduction                                                                          


• forward                                                                         


•   1 your teachers are good people


•   2 the value of mindset                                   


•   3 intrapersonal fuels all intelligences                          


•   4 bloom’s taxonomy                                                  


•   5  kinaesthetic intelligence                         


•   6 interpersonal intelligence            


•   7 visual-spatial intelligence                         


•   8 linguistic intelligence                                          


•   9 habits of work and mind 


•  10 assessment                                                  ...