Life is Composed of the Results of Our Choices.
Life is a series of choices. The pattern of our life is composed of the choices we make and their results. I am not only talking about “big” choices that at the point they are made alter one’s path in life. I am talking about those and the myriad of “little” choices we make every day.
It is the compilation of the little choices that reflects our values and our character: what we choose to eat every day; how and with whom we choose to spend our precious free time; when we choose family over work and vice versa.; when we stop to assist a stranger…and when we don’t; whether we go to the ballgame with friends or to our kid’s elementary school program; and on and on. The fundamental necessity for even having choices, large or small, is knowledge that choices exist and being able to recognize their viability at a relevant moment in time.
So if choices make up the fabric of our lives, and we have a goal of improving and strengthen our lives as a whole, having knowledge of what choices exist becomes fundamental to each of us. Therein exists the awful vacuum created for our youngsters by the current economic environment.
As school districts make their own choices about what remains after cost-cutting, students are deprived of choices…and knowledge of choices. Cuts take away music, art, drama, athletics, interest clubs, alternative classes, and field trips: all things that bring exposure to students and open up the choices available to them as they head out into life. One cannot choose among alternatives if one does not know the choice exists.
If the quality and success of our lives depends on the choices we make or the opportunities available to us, it is illogical to expect young folks to make “better choices” and take more positive paths if they have no idea the choice or the opportunity even exists. Using another analogy from sports – visualization is critical to success. If you can’t visualize yourself doing it, you can’t do it. That applies to jumping high, hitting a ball, running fast…or going to college.
Therefore, the awareness of choice, the exposure to opportunity, and helping a youngster to visualize is all left to families and the larger community out of self-preservation. We cannot raise our family’s economic well-being or improve the quality of life in our communities if our young people cannot grow and flourish and have good choices in their lives. Think about it. It is an awesome responsibility and one we are, as a community, struggling to meet.