Eagles,
The poem above, "If." by Rudyard Kipling, has been a favorite of mine for years. It has been a standard recommendation for students who find themselves without purpose or need clarification about how to live or be. The poem is a laundry list of valuable characteristics of an effective adult. Rather than the gendered theme of the poem, it is the most concise set of guidelines for maturity and some of the best advice to give young people who want to know how best to live their life. The poem asks the reader to take all in moderation, maintain balance, be humble and bold, take risks, work hard, and endure. It illustrates the duality in which a thriving adult must live. I have read it to my children on several occasions, enough that they should have it memorized and enough that I use it as a checklist in my reflections.
This past Friday, I had the great privilege of celebrating the coming of a child for a man my age when I had my first. This poem was among the pieces of advice I was given at the time by a principal. I am glad that I can "pay it forward." (Congratulations to Coach Contreras!) As he begins his story, a chapter in mine is closing. My daughter will graduate high school in May and head off to college shortly afterward, followed by my son in two years. When they leave, I will send them with this poem and the advice it holds.
When we involve ourselves in the lives of children, our responsibility does not end in making sure that they stay alive but that they learn to live. We all have a chance to give others the advice we wish we had when we were younger. We have no chance of advancement as a people If we cannot learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of those who have come before us. All of us should take the time to advise the young people in our charge, and I hope that it sparks a conversation that leads to growth.
Stay Warm Eagles!
