Letters to my grandchildren (2) …

Dear Chilliwops,

In my last letter I gave you some challenges, the principal of which was to think about what you want and can achieve in life. Don’t expect others to deliver your aims in life. It is entirely up to you and I know you are capable of succeeding.

Fundamentally, you must stay focused. First and foremost, stay focused on your education. Everybody will tell you to do your best at school and whatever level of education you choose after school. But your “best” is to some extent constrained by your past experiences and your expectations.

You must forget your past school experiences and raise those expectations. Your “best” of past years is not really your best. Deep down you know it. Am I right? Of course I am – remember the glass half full principle.

Don’t just work hard to achieve better results than your best friend, or to make your parents happy. You are the one that needs to be happy and I know you will not be unless you maintain the highest possible standards. The other things are short-lived. Within a few months your best friend will have forgotten your results but you won’t.

It really doesn’t matter how good or bad your past performances have been.

You know those wrinkles I have on my face? They are wisdom wrinkles. You might think your grandparents to be old and “beyond it” but be assured those wrinkles and the silver streaks in my hair come from years of experience. Yes, wrinkles equal wisdom; the silver hairs are wisdom streaks.

It is never too late to start putting your nose to the grindstone. I write from experience. When I was at school I merely sought to do enough to pass. Pushing myself academically was not really on the agenda. It wasn’t until I decided to return to University as a mature aged student that I felt the need to achieve more for my own satisfaction.

I wish I had remained focused and pushed myself harder when I was a kid. I know I could have done better. I should have listened to the wisdom of my parents and other “oldies”.

So what’s it to be? Are you going to focus? Don’t give me that nonsense that you are already working hard. We both know you can go even harder.

Analyse your results in every subject. Think about your weaknesses and strengths in each subject. Above all, don’t be embarrassed to ask your teacher for help. If you don’t understand something just say so. I will have a little wager with you – there will be other kids in your class who don’t understand and are too shy or too embarrassed to ask for help. You may not know it but they will be there.

Take a big deep breath and put your hand up for the teacher’s attention. Ask the question. Be big enough to do that and you will succeed. Your teacher will be proud of you even though she or he may not say so. Privately the other kids will be so grateful that someone had the intestinal fortitude to ask for help. Some might even snigger but don’t worry about that. You are the brave and smart one.

It is crucial you understand what the teacher is trying to tell you. If you understand you will remember.

When I was in fifth year high school – I know, they call it year twelve now – I really detested my economics teacher. I didn’t think he was a nice person for the way in which he treated younger students by belittling them in front of our class. After failing miserably at my mid-year exam (for no other reason than I didn’t work hard enough – I wasn’t motivated) I was also belittled in class. It was very public.

What was my reaction? I decided I would show him I was no fool. I became self-motivated to succeed not just for the purpose of showing that silly old fool but, more importantly, to satisfy myself that I could obtain good results. My glass was certainly half full but I filled it with a very good grade.

Do you have a teacher you don’t like? Does it affect your grades? It shouldn’t. You are better than that.

Have you heard of Henry Ford? He was the founder of the Ford Motor Company that manufactured the Ford Falcon and many other motorcars sold around the world. Henry was born in 1863 on a farm in the United States. As a young boy he applied himself very hard to learning about mechanics and engineering.

Henry Ford could have been a farmer, that was his father’s wish, but instead he drove himself to learn as much as he could about other things he loved. From a humble farming background Henry aimed higher than the expectations of his family and friends. He decided he could do better, setting his sights and applying himself to making a mark in a new industry.

Henry Ford once said, “There isn’t a person anywhere who isn’t capable of doing more than he (sic) thinks he can.” How true is that. It applies to you as much as everyone else.

I want you to make a little pledge with yourself. You don’t have to tell anyone – in fact it is more meaningful if you don’t and it remains your private little challenge – if some of your results could be better for whatever reason, think about why that is so. Look up; you are capable of doing more than you think you can. You can do it.

Until next time.

Love always,
Popple

*Anton Clever is well into his seventh decade … a former teacher, soldier, farm hand, lawyer and businessman (not in that order). He has travelled extensively for business and for international clients. More recently he has started writing … currently a thriller (which will probably not be worthy of publication, he says) and has written but not published a series of “postcards” from various places (specifically, Victoria, Papua New Guinea, France, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Iran) referring to experiences in those places. He has also written for several magazines on unusual subjects but matters worthy of debate.