As graduation sneaks up on the Class of 2017, it’s only natural to look back at our time in school. Yes, I may have graduated in December, but I still haven’t walked the stage.
Looking back, there’s 3 big lessons I learned in my 12 1/2 years in the public education system.
Your age does not define your success, your hard work does. Everyone has dreams growing up, but how many people become their younger self’s hero? In 2nd grade, I decided I wanted to be a lifeguard when I grew up. When I was 16, that’s what I did (Though, only because I needed a summer job at the time). When I was in 6th grade, I knew for a fact that I wanted to become a first responder. Just yesterday, at 18, I became a certified EMT. If you had told me my freshman year of high school that I would graduate high school early, with a year of high school completed, AND be an EMT by the time I walk the high school stage, I wouldn’t have believed you. But, here I am.
You’re never too old or too young to accomplish your goals and become your own hero. So DO IT.
Sometimes you have to make the door of opportunity yourself. Towards the end of the fall semester of my senior year, I walked into my counselor’s office with an odd request. I wanted to leave campus two FULL days a week, to take college classes. I told my counselor (who is up there next to a fairy godmother) that I had a way to rearrange my schedule to allow it, however the answer was “I have to ask the principal”. In a school of 1800 kids, it still is crazy to me that my principal knows who I am. When I came back the next week to ask, yet again, about my schedule, I was told that my request was the topic of a staff meeting.. an ENTIRE MEETING just because I had some crazy idea that would let me be in the EMT Academy at the college.. and that I was the FIRST person to ever ask to do something like this. It was such a crazy idea that my principal had to send it up to the district officials and the Superintendent.
The answer may have been “no”, but they figured out I could graduate early because of the 5 college classes I had taken throughout the previous year. The moral of this is that if I had sat back and not challenged the traditional way of education, I would not be where I am. I have gotten so much further by taking the “road less traveled” and by clearing my own path.
Don’t be afraid to do something radical and unexpected. Make your own path. You won’t regret it.
Traditional thinking is good, but sometimes it needs to be challenged. Looking back, I’ve marched to my own beat through most of school. And that’s okay. We aren’t made to sit back and not question anything. We’re made to be bold. To be ourselves. To do more. And to be more. You were made to be you, NOT someone else.
Along with that, I still can’t believe the Lord has invited me to go on the Race this next year. I am super stoked to get to do what I love, all while traveling and living with my Squad mates, whom I adore. This next year will not be easy, but it is essential. (One of my Squad mates mentioned that there are people around the world praying for someone to come to them, and that we will be their answered prayers…. wow) If you haven’t already, please consider making a financial donation to help me go on the Race, or commit to praying for my Squad an I over this next year. None of us can do what we need to do without your support.
Tomorrow Starts Today. Be Bold. Be Passionate. Fear None.
Peace Out,
Deirdre aka Dre
