Sep 2, 2008
Isn’t the first day of school grand!! Isn’t it the best day of the year for all students and teachers at every level? I think so! I spoke today to a group of freshman students at a local college. Had a great time, fun group. Before the presentation I was chatting with the Vice-President of the college and noticed a few students skipping out to do… well to go… they were on their way to.... well actually that’s the point. They probably went to wander around, sit somewhere, go to the coffee shop. One guy said he was going back to bed!
I couldn’t help but think, they don’t get it. They are missing out. I know as a fact then when you are in school it seems like it will last forever. But trust me as someone who left college almost 20 years ago, it doesn’t last forever, not even close. After the presentation as 57 year old man walked over to me and thanked me. I asked if he was a teacher at the college? His response was brilliant…
“Nope, I am making up for a lot of lost time, pissed away my youth doing pretty much nothing. I am going to get some of that time back. It’s a privilege to learn!”
Why does it take us all so long to realize the good things. So, as you start another school year today commit to fun and make sure you also commit to celebrating every day the opportunity you have to learn! Be obsessed with the learning opportunities you have in front of you! It’s a chance for a FRESH start!
Here’s today’s question… Read it, write it, answer it and SHARE your answer here on the STUpendous BLOG!
“How will you take advantage of your NEW school year? What will you different to learn and grow?
Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Sep 2, 2008 at 8:50 am | Permanent Link | Comments (8)
Comment posted on Sep 2, 2008 at 10:36 am by Vicky (YLCC Member)
To take advantage of my new school year I’ll make more friends and try harder
Comment posted on Sep 2, 2008 at 1:14 pm by kaila (YLCC Member)
Well, since I’m lucky enough to be spending my school year working at YLCC, I’ll make it my mission to help students reflect and make goals based on this very question! I’ll work to be the best example possible for the school groups coming in on retreats to YLCC and to give them all the tools necessary to rock student leadership in their own schools this year!
Great question Stu, and interesting blog!
All the best back at school ladies and gentlemen!
kaila.
Comment posted on Sep 2, 2008 at 3:09 pm by Pamlamb (YLCC Member)
I am going to stay on top of things this year. Last year I let my history books collect dust, and my french grammar pages stay blank. I also plan to explore the city, and make great use of the public library. I figured out that reading calms me, and that is how I most love to spend some me time, a good book and a hot cup of tea! I also plan to look into volunteering in schools to be a teaching assistant, and getting involved with school more. My roommates are very connected this year, so I have no excuse. More importantly, every course I am taking is a course I chose, and was not forced to pick, so for the first time I am excited to be studying what I want!
Pam Lamb
Comment posted on Sep 2, 2008 at 4:42 pm by K (YLCC Member)
Seeing as it’s my last year of high school i’m really going to enjoy every possible experince. Ever dance, assembly, themed day etc…
Not only that but reall focus on the fact that uni’s looks at this year and i need to make it count!
This is also my last year with many of the people i got to school with, but those few who i truly appreciate need to know how important they are in my life.
There are so many things i want to do differently and that’s why my last year is going to be one for the books. I think i’ve come to realize that i don’t have anybody to impress but myself and they’re not that tremendous amount of pressure if i don’t put it there.
K
Comment posted on Sep 4, 2008 at 3:12 pm by Christy* (YLCC Member)
This year, i’m joining a club, and going to try my best in all my classes.
Also, i’m going to help whenever I can, and try to be the best role model i can be for the young kids i’ll be working with.
Much lovee. <3
Comment posted on Sep 7, 2008 at 8:31 am by Pat J (YLCC Member)
During my senior year, I’m really going to soak up school. In the past I’ve put alot of pressure on myself being in multiple sports and many organizations. Not to say that these teams and organizations didn’t benefit me because they did and I got alot out of them but I missed out on my friends and the opportunity to learn. I got alright grades and had alright friends but I was missing the “meat” of school. The real reason I’m going to school this year is to put my all into class, the teachers have so much knowledge to share and so do the students around me with their own views and takes on the subject. I’ve been through a week and a half of school already and I’m finding out that I love school, now that I have time to appreciate it. Not being part of everything I could be part of is probably the best thing I’ll do for myself this year, and it’s worth not being stressed.
Thanks Stu,YLCC
Pat
Comment posted on Sep 8, 2008 at 2:23 am by ElizabethB (YLCC Member)
Last credit of University for me (potentially...maybe grad school) and i have the unique experience of doing it as an internship. This gives me the rare opportunity to explore the field i want to spend my life in which could possibily be the best thing scholastically that has happened so far. I’m going to go into it knowing i can succeed. It is inevitable to me that by the end i will have changed forever by learning.
Comment posted on Oct 16, 2008 at 10:31 am by Ashley Parker (YLCC Guest)
Hi you were great at sherwood school. It was fun to see you dance on stage and not fall through it !!!!