Let graduates of all ages follow their dreams

The month of May is marked with many celebrations including graduations. There are graduations for preschool students to postgraduate degrees. These graduations celebrate the accomplishment of finger painting to the accomplishment of mastering brain surgery.

Beginning with a preschool graduation, plans are in place for what’s next. What does the future hold?

A few months ago there was a big news story about affluent families buying and cheating their children’s way into prestigious colleges. Large amounts of money were being used to bribe admissions directors, coaches, test proctors and who knows who else to ensure family members were accepted into the “right” school. My first thought was probably the same as many others. If one has half a million dollars for bribery and cheating, why not use some of that money to hire a tutor for the struggling student! My second thought was that many parents have been cheating, bribing, and pressuring their way through their children’s lives since the beginning of their preschool years. Parents rationalize that they want the best for their child and will do anything to get it. I do question whether these prestigious colleges were the best fit for their children. If the students’ grades and test scores weren’t high enough to qualify for admittance how will they maintain the grade to stay? My final thought concerned the students. Did they really want to attend these prestigious colleges or was it their parents’ dreams? Maybe the children had lesser but equally significant dreams.

Recently I attended an education conference, and the speaker spoke about parents’ unrealistic expectations in regards to their children. He said a parent may need to mourn and say goodbye to the child that they dreamed of having and come to embrace and love the child they may have. A parent who was a college athlete may have to mourn the realization that his child does not have the talent to be an accomplished athlete but may have a talent for music. A parent who graduated from Harvardwith honors may have to grieve the realization that her child has a learning disability but celebrates that the child never gives up. A parent may mourn the fact that her child will never be prom queen or king but can be proud that her child is kind.

Attending a prestigious college, winning high school state titles, breaking athletic records, and being crowned the winner in a pageant all provide diplomas, trophies, and crowns for the fireplace mantle.

After the dust has settled on these awards, what will matter more is who the person has become.

History has shown us that greatness has come from students who have attended Harvard, state universities, community college, or have no college experience at all. Greatness has come from people who know what it is to fail but keep trying. Greatness has come from people who empathize with others and want to make a difference in their lives. Greatness comes from people who use their gifts and talents to be the change they wish to see in the world. Greatness comes from people who have developed confidence, resilience, acceptance of others, determination, passion, and a desire to make the world a better place.

Congratulations to all graduates and to anyone else who is following their dream.

APenny

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y thoughts