Brain science reveals that there are two periods of heightened plasticity, a time when the brain is especially prone to change: The first period is from birth to age 3; the second is during adolescence. The author, Laurence Steinberg, suggests that this finding should stimulate interest in secondary education as an opportune time to intervene to improve students' lives. Specifically, schools should focus on strengthening students' self-control because it turns out to be a stronger predictor of success in the classroom than intelligence, talent, or standardized test scores. Schools can foster self-control in five ways: by making schools more demanding, attending to students' physical health, bringing in mindfulness programs, strengthening students' working memory, and implementing effective social and emotional learning programs. "We can't afford to squander this second opportunity to help young people be happier, healthier, and more successful," the author writes. "Adolescence is our last best chance to make a difference."