Grad school
Both of my children are applying to colleges. One is preparing for four years of college, the other for graduate school. In both cases they are preparing resumes, preparing for tests and listing all of their contributions to society. In helping them remember all the times they have helped to feed the homeless; participated in sports, plays, or clubs; provided examples of their leadership and team work; stuck with an activity long enough to win a letter or the top prize; I started to think, what if every adult had to account for the use of their talents and time every four years. Would we be accepted?
Colleges look for students with great or almost perfect grades, did each of us do that well with our jobs or professions last year? Even if we were unemployed or chose to stay at home would we receive an A for our parenting, housekeeping, cooking, yard work, job search, relationships?
Colleges look for students with extra-curricular activities; did we spend our free-time wisely with activities we love? Did we improve our bodies, our minds and our communities?
Colleges look for students who can be a member of a team and lead a team. Did we provide support, help others, and lead when appropriate and necessary.
Did we stay with our activities long enough to help the team win, to complete our commitments, to support our teammates?
Could we also pass a test requiring math skills, reading and writing skills. Colleges look at the results from standardized tests. Would we find that we have kept our skills in these areas?
When reflecting on how I would measure up in these areas; as a parent I certainly do better in some areas than in others. If I am allowed to consider my family my team, by getting children to graduate and move to the next level, my team is doing pretty well. My math skills mostly require those for the family taxes and budget, my vocabulary has increased due to leisure reading, (mystery writers use many adjectives) my writing skills have improved although I rarely write an essay, and much of my conversation with my family consists of those words I can text. Certainly I have more time now that my children are older and I contribute much of that time to causes I find worthy.
In my last article I challenged each of you to determine the difference between your wants and needs, financially. Now look at how well we are doing with the use of our talents and time; and again the difference between our wants and needs in these areas.