Opportunity in America has many doors, and the keys to those doors can be earned through commitment, hard work, and passion for what lies behind them. Some doors are prerequisites, that once opened, provide access to many other doors. You get to choose the doors that will allow you to pursue your dreams. Be daring and bold in your choices, but also choose wisely.
As teenagers, one of the first door you must choose is a prerequisite. You hear it from everywhere, “get a good education”. This isn’t just something for your parents and teachers to dwell on, it’s an invaluable opportunity and a necessary one. To derive its rewards you must put forth a strong effort (it’s called work ethic) and get as much out of it as you possibly can. Look at going to school as being a job. Your employer expects you to show up every day, to give your best effort, and to produce a product that meets their standards. If you don’t do that you may likely find yourself out of work. No money; no way to support yourself and your family; and no way to acquire and enjoy the pleasures of life. So it is with school. Being a good student requires you to show up every day; give your best effort; and learn as much as you possibly can. Set that as a goal for yourself. I guarantee that you will feel personal pride when you pass that test, get a diploma, go to college, or land that first job.
Allow me to offer a personal experience. I was one of those kids in school where things came easy and I was able to get good grades. I’m thankful for that, but I in no way looked down on people that had to struggle to get good grades or had to work harder than I did to learn. In fact, they have my respect and I was excited for them when they succeeded. My only caveat was that they had put in a strong effort and made good choices. I almost always put academic success above all else and I hope you will do the same. In sharing my personal experience I need to start by telling you that I grew up on a farm and like most farm kids I was skinny and didn’t have a single ounce of fat on my frame. But I was also pretty strong for my size (lots of physical work will do that for you) and because of that I had the potential to be a pretty good wrestler. So, when freshman wrestling season started I thought I would go out for it. In my school the freshmen team practiced during the 11 o’clock hour and so to make practice I had to juggle my schedule. That meant transferring from the highest level physics class (this class also met at 11:00) to the general physics class. No big deal, I thought, but a necessary step to facilitate my sports participation.
On Day One of wrestling practice, I participated at 11:00 and then attended the general physics class later in the day. As strange as this may sound, at the end of that day I felt out of sorts. I went home, did my farm chores, and went through my normal routine while all this time reflecting on the day I had just had. Believe it or not, I missed the other physics class and the greater challenge it offered me academically. Crazy, right? Maybe so, but the next morning when I got to school I went straight to the principal’s office. I had decided to drop out of wrestling which allowed me to go back to my original class schedule. At 11:00 I was back in my old physics class happy and relieved. Through that experience I validated a belief that academics needed to be at the top of the priority list. I’ve never regretted that choice and I never looked back. I hope you can see the wisdom of this decision and can have the same clarity in your priorities.
We all have different capabilities and some of us have to try harder than others, but I don’t accept that as a reason not to work hard and learn.. Learn the math, science, English, foreign language, history, and the rest. But as your schedule permits I encourage you to take skill development classes to learn skills and gain talents that will serve you well throughout your life no matter what career or vocational choices you make. Education doesn’t necessarily have to mean being able to derive the quadratic equation, reciting verses from a Shakespearean play, or understanding the make-up and functioning of cells in all living lifeforms. No, education can also be understanding how an air conditioner works, how to make chicken soup, or how to build a doghouse.
I know that many of you (and certainly many of your parents) view college as the measure of academic success after high school. A laudable goal, no doubt! But I would suggest that not everyone needs to or should aspire to college or an occupation that requires college training. Many of you may prefer skilled occupations such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, or masons. Others may choose to be farmers, business owners, or service providers. No shame in any of that! These types of occupations are admirable as well and I might add will earn you a good living. The choices are broad indeed. I say fantastic! We need people in these occupations just as much as we need engineers, accountants, doctors and lawyers. Everyone has unique talents and skills and I only hope that you will choose to apply them. Work hard and be glad, learn well, and do yourself proud.
If you make good choices and have availed yourself of sound educational and occupational opportunities, other life choices and livelihood will be well within your grasp. You will get to choose where you want to live, the place you will call home, hobbies and pastimes, and many other things that will bring joy to your life. Everyone deserves that! With that said, I offer this caveat. Manage your expectations! Unless you are born to royalty or in some other way are reared with a silver spoon in your mouth, do not expect to start out at the top. You have to work your way up; and again with good choices, that can and will happen. On Day One you will likely not be pulling down a six figure salary, or living in a 4,000 square foot, four bedroom, house. But, to reiterate, that is within your grasp. Patience and hard work can offer those rewards.