|
August 29, 2007 (you may need to refresh your browser to view the latest issue)
A Parent’s Letter to
My Children In School
Written by Jeff Thredgold, CSP, President, Thredgold Economic Associates
To my children and grandchildren…
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:
|
Thirteen years ago, we published this letter as “A Father’s Letter to My Children in School” and the response was amazing. We had dozens of requests for permission to reprint more than 150,000 copies. Since then, just as students around the country are getting ready to go back to school, we run it again. We hope you enjoy it.
Due to its strong demand, we published it first as a soft-cover book. This year we introduce a brand new illustrated version of A Parent's Letter to My Children in School.
|
|
• Recognize that the only limits you face are those you set for yourself
• Be the BEST that you can be
• Recognize that YOU are responsible for your successes and failures
• You must earn your way
• 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,
 Ordering A Parent’s Letter
This attractive illustrated soft-cover book can be purchased for $8.95. Quantity discounts are also available. Learn more and enjoy a special inside look.
Email this article to a friend
|
|
Subscribe to the Tea Leaf
Like what you just read? Have Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf emailed to you free each week. Subscribe today.
|
|
|
“Tea”sers
Professions that just aren’t for me:
• Doctor—no patience
• Historian—there’s just no future in it
• Tailor—a so-so job for which I’m not really suited
Send us a “Tea”ser of your own.
“Tea”stimonial
“Thanks for your excellent presentation to our international assembly of real estate regulators. You received the highest marks of any of our speakers. It is unusual for us to bring in an economist for a conference on real estate law. We took a big risk, and you made us look good.”
—Craig Cheatham, EVP, ARELLO (Association of Real Estate License Law Officials)
More testimonials
Invite Jeff Thredgold to speak at your next conference, meeting, or client function
If you like the Tea Leaf, you’ll love Jeff Thredgold’s live presentations. Jeff takes your audience on a timely, engaging, and entertaining tour of the U.S. economy and financial markets. Debunking some of today’s most common economic myths, he offers a clear picture of how the American economy is really performing and what that means for the future of your finances.
|
