a letter to my children.....

this was a letter written in the deseret news that i want to share with my children and their friends...

to my children,

with your focus on education, i often find myself thinking about how much the world has changed since i was in your shoes. the world is now a much "smaller" place - people of all cultures can communicate and travel with ease. you face great challenges today-just as i did, just as my parents before me. these words of advice might be helpful:

*recognize that the only limits you face are those you set for yourself.
*be the BEST that you can be.
*recognize the YOU are responsible for your successes and failures.
*strive for excellence-not perfection.
*see the glass as half-full, rather than seeing it as half-empty.
*focus on positives, rather than on negatives.
*look to praise, rather than to criticize.
*look for ways to succeed, rather than excuses to fail.
*commit yourself to constant improvement.
*understand how important education is to success.
*school is the key. technology rules. you need better skills to succeed.
*learn what is being taught, but most importantly, learn "how" to learn.
*develop other information sources to verify, or challenge, what you are being taught.
*"history" is routinely twisted or rewritten to support a particular point of view. get other ideas.
*treat teachers, administrators and fellow students as you would like to be treated.
*be the first to say "hello."
*develop your mind in school, but also develop other skills and interests, including music, art and physical fitness. this is where teamwork develops its roots.
*be a well-rounded person.
*resist taking "easy" classes.
*dig into math, the sciences and computers. these form the technical foundation for future success.
*study language.
*speak and write english correctly.
*appreciate other cultures by learning another language.
*be honest in your approach to learning.
*resist the temptation to cheat - you only hurt yourself.
*develop a keen interest in the outside world.
*pay attention to the "news." the "real" world can be very different from the student world you live in today.
*avoid the temptations of alcohol, smoking, drugs, gangs and irresponsible personal behavior.
*understand the steps you take today have lifelong implications.
*choose your friends wisely.
*do what you can to make a teacher's job easier, not harder. teaching is one of the most important, most difficult and most underpaid professions in the world.
*participate - but don't be a pain!
*be a friend to all. extend a hand of friendship to all other students, regardless of race, creed or color.
*make a special effort to be a friend to those less fortunate than you.
*as you mature and face new challenges, don't hesitate to discuss with me what is on your mind. you might learn from the mistakes of others.
*recognize how LUCKY you are to live and be educated in this great country. people from around the world are dying every day trying to get INTO this country - not out.
*don't forget to have fun!!
*school can be a great time in your life.
*experience it.
*live it.
*enjoy it.

many of these suggestions will be useful throughout your life - learn them well. i wish you the greatest success in your efforts and hope you find school both rewarding and enjoyable.

love,
mom

(written by jeff thredgold - i changed it to use as if from me.)