I couldn’t pass this one by as I listened to the morning news. Somewhere in the United States a school has decided to do away with the honor of “valedictorian” because it hurts the feelings of those not receiving the award. In case you don’t know what that big word stands for it is an honor given to top A students who have done well and accomplished great things with their grades throughout school. Therefore they are given the honor to give the commencement or farewell speech at graduation.
Unfortunately there are people who think that things like this should be done away with to help spare the feelings of those who don’t get such an honor. I never got it in school and it didn’t seem to harm me or at least I don’t think it did. In fact I had two sisters above me that was given this privilege. They earned it over the years. They worked hard for what they accomplished. Both of them even made “American’s Teen of the Year” award broadcasted in a book nation wide.
I was way too busy being “me” that I didn’t care what they did. As much as my parents probably wondered what in the world happened to “Karen” their third daughter they never brought up the subject of being like my sisters. My listed accomplishments were chasing boys, playing volleyball, dancing on the drill team, and running around with the church youth group.
The answer isn’t taking away from one person’s accomplishment to compensate for those who don’t achieve the same thing. I would never want my sisters to lose their honor because I didn’t care about achieving what they did. Bringing them down wasn’t going to bring me up any higher than what I wanted to be.
That’s like saying no one should have the honor of being president of a country or organization because others can’t be on that same level. The achievements of others give us something to strive for. It should never be used as a stick to beat ourselves down with. That unfortunately is a choice we make for ourselves.
Put the stick down, if you don’t make it all the way to the top that’s okay too. If others pick the stick up and try to beat you over the head with it wondering why you aren’t better, walk away but look back. Ask yourself, “Are you trying as hard as you possibly can? Could you do something better?” “What can I learn from this to help me in the future?” If you are doing your best and applying all you can to accomplish what you can then hold your chin up high and walk forward.
Don’t ever anchor yourself at the doorstep of “if only I could be like them,” “if only I was smarter,” If only I was prettier, smarter, richer, or more outgoing.” “If only they wouldn’t honor people like them I could feel better about myself.” Wrong, you can feel good about yourself no matter what others are achieving.
The true valedictorian or honor student is the one you are in your heart and your attitude. No one can take that away from you. Following Jesus and being obedient to His word will help you accomplish that in a very big way. Don’t bring others down, lift your own self up with Jesus.
© 2009 Karen J. Gillett @ Pencil Marks and Recipes Publishing
Unfortunately there are people who think that things like this should be done away with to help spare the feelings of those who don’t get such an honor. I never got it in school and it didn’t seem to harm me or at least I don’t think it did. In fact I had two sisters above me that was given this privilege. They earned it over the years. They worked hard for what they accomplished. Both of them even made “American’s Teen of the Year” award broadcasted in a book nation wide.
I was way too busy being “me” that I didn’t care what they did. As much as my parents probably wondered what in the world happened to “Karen” their third daughter they never brought up the subject of being like my sisters. My listed accomplishments were chasing boys, playing volleyball, dancing on the drill team, and running around with the church youth group.
The answer isn’t taking away from one person’s accomplishment to compensate for those who don’t achieve the same thing. I would never want my sisters to lose their honor because I didn’t care about achieving what they did. Bringing them down wasn’t going to bring me up any higher than what I wanted to be.
That’s like saying no one should have the honor of being president of a country or organization because others can’t be on that same level. The achievements of others give us something to strive for. It should never be used as a stick to beat ourselves down with. That unfortunately is a choice we make for ourselves.
Put the stick down, if you don’t make it all the way to the top that’s okay too. If others pick the stick up and try to beat you over the head with it wondering why you aren’t better, walk away but look back. Ask yourself, “Are you trying as hard as you possibly can? Could you do something better?” “What can I learn from this to help me in the future?” If you are doing your best and applying all you can to accomplish what you can then hold your chin up high and walk forward.
Don’t ever anchor yourself at the doorstep of “if only I could be like them,” “if only I was smarter,” If only I was prettier, smarter, richer, or more outgoing.” “If only they wouldn’t honor people like them I could feel better about myself.” Wrong, you can feel good about yourself no matter what others are achieving.
The true valedictorian or honor student is the one you are in your heart and your attitude. No one can take that away from you. Following Jesus and being obedient to His word will help you accomplish that in a very big way. Don’t bring others down, lift your own self up with Jesus.
© 2009 Karen J. Gillett @ Pencil Marks and Recipes Publishing
No comments:
Post a Comment