This past week I watched an interview with Diana Nyad, the 63-year-old swimmer who attempted to swim from Cuba to Florida, but because of some unexpected dangers was pulled from the water to safety. In her interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, Diana said "I'm not a quitter...", a comment which struck me given the degree to which she woked to achieve her goal. My thoughts were, "you definitely are not a quitter; I could not even have fathomed that goal!" If the truth be told - I'm not a even a swimmer! Another thing that she said was that "life really is a journey--not a destination." Who first said that quote? A quick search on the internet came up with too many answers. One source attributed the quote to Ralph Waldo Emerson and Aerosmith! Other sources said the quote was anonymous! At this point it does not matter who said it. What does matter is the impact that quote can have on each one of us!
The quote is about our dreams and goals and the whole idea that each one of us is evolving. Every new experience creates a new dimension of our lives. Deep in our souls we have dreams and those dreams can turn into goals; and those goals into challenges and eventually into success or failure. When we are successful in our goals, what happens? We usually set new goals--to do more, write more, go farther, fly higher; thus, we are always evolving. That is the journey--the day-to-day, year-to-year collection of experiences that makes us who we are every single day. Every single day--we are different from the day before because we have new awarenesses, new challenges, successes and failures. The important thing is that we turn those failures into life experiences and work hard not to make the same mistake again.
Oh to get our students to think about their life's journey! The research says that transtion from middle school to high school is the most difficult period in the life of an adolescent. One source even says we need to save the eigth and ninth grades in schools! These are the grades that are most challenging to students on at least two levels. On the one hand, normal adolescent growth and development is hard at work changing a teenager's body. On the other hand, interpersonal relationships are being affected by the psycho-social changes and impacting self-esteem, self-image, and self-concept. Stress is at extremes for adolescents during this time. With so many distractions fueling confusion and indecision, it is easy to see why teens just want to "give up." Indeed, teens in the eigth and ninth grades are at risk for dropping out of school. They lack a support system which only parents and a cadre of significant adults can provide. This support system is a collection guidance, mentoring, support, life coaching, career counseling, friendship and unconditional positive regard--love to help the teens bridge over to their journey to young adulthood. It's a challenge! Is there a teenager in your life that you can guide through the journey?
No comments:
Post a Comment