Tuesday I had the honor and opportunity to address the members, new inductees, school personnel, family and friends of the Colby High School National Honor Society.
As I traveled west on I-70, I was surprised to see traces of the snowfall that delivered between 6 and 8 inches of white, fluffy moisture the previous weekend. The lingering patches reminded me of the quickly approaching holiday season (for which I am not prepared).
I arrived in Colby a little early so I checked out the shopping area that originally housed an outlet mall. Most of the storefronts have been matched with new businesses and owners, and “business as usual” described the bustle – even though a Bobcat was still removing mounds of snow from storefronts that faced north. I enjoyed visiting the shoe store and the antique mall, two of my favorite passions.
The national honor society ceremony was continuing validation that rural schools in Kansas work! The new inductees were honored that evening, a beautiful flute duet of “When You Wish upon a Star” performed by Barbara Bickner and Heather Griggs and a rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was sung by Claire Johnson and accompanied by Chase McNinch. .
My remarks congratulated the membership and reminded them of the 4 pillars of the organization -scholarship, leadership, service, and character – and finally reminded them of their roots in rural Kansas and implored them to consider returning home to live their lives. I implored, “Don’t forget the value of your rural routes. Technology has made it possible for many occupations and careers to be completed in areas that at one time seemed remote. Come back to us. Go test your wings, continue your educational aspirations, but strongly consider returning home with your scholarship, your service, your leadership, and your character. Kansas needs you!
“One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something,” observed Henry David Thoreau, poet, writer, and philosopher.
Find a way to do something here! ”
Thank you so much for the invitation. As a teacher for 38 years, I know the quality of the students and the educational system that we enjoy. Kansas ranks in the top ten states in every national standardized assessment and usually in the top three. We do it very well, even though the “cultural centers” of the nation are usually quite some distance to travel. Rural America works and education is the engine that drives her.
A copy of my remarks follows.
Administrators, Educators, School Board Members, other School Personnel, parents, friends, and you the 2009 inductees into the Colby Chapter of the National Honor Society.
I want to thank Ms. Jones, Kalen Rasmussen, and Mr. Nichols for extending this warm invitation to visit with you this evening.
What an honor it is to be present at this auspicious event. Before me sit the students who are among the best and brightest that Kansas has to offer. Schools all over the nation celebrate their finest with ceremonies much like this.
As for the parents, I know how filled with pride you are right now. I, too, was blessed with 4 children honored in similar celebrations.
But, along with this honor, goes much responsibility. Let’s review the 4 Qualities of Membership in this august association.
Scholarship means a commitment to learning. In your generation, the venues of scholarship are more varied than ever before.
You don’t just read, your search for knowledge and social networking has gone beyond the textbook, the print media, even television. You are getting your news from the Internet, through emails, ipods, iphones, ichats, YouTube, texting, tweeting, Skyping.
In fact, we don’t even know how to categorize you yet. The Z Generation (following X and Y, obviously) was quickly substituted with Generation Next, The Internet Generation, Net Generation or, my person favorite, the iGeneration (I’m part of the Baby Boom generation following WWII and Korea, which, of course, is still better than the Lost Generation )
You have an amazing ability to multi-task. You don’t just read and research, you do it at the same time you are texting, responding to your mother’s pleas, and listening to music, with 3 or more Internet sites open at the bottom of the screen.
Your abilities are a wonderful example of unharnessed energy. You are the leaders of tomorrow. Keep up the search for truth. Continue to reap the rewards of learning. My father, who strongly believed in education, always espoused that it was the one thing no one could ever take away from you. Value it and continue to seek it.
Service to others is the payment you make for your space here on earth. Mohammed Ali
Service is an important component in a republic. The founding fathers, borrowing the term from the Greek and Roman city-states, called it classical republicanism – civic participation was the responsibility of every citizen. In fact, idiote was the term given to someone who did not vote, did not realize the responsibility of citizenship. Placing the public good above private interest is the cornerstone of a community. In order for all of us to prosper, we must all look out for our fellow man. Don’t forget that your many talents were not a result of any good deeds that you may have done. But because you were freely given the gift of intellect, of acumen, you must use it to the betterment of mankind. You must not waste it. Not everyone was awarded the same measurement of intellect. Use your talents to help others and give of yourself willingly and without the expectation of reward. Earn your success based on service to others, not at the expense of others.
We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.
Winston Churchill
Leadership – The price of leadership is sacrifice. You must be willing to relinquish your personal interests for the good of the whole. The leader is the one who leads the charge, but gives the accolades to everyone else. We do not go through this life alone. Many people will come to depend on you. Live up to the promise that leaders instill in their followers a hope for success and a belief in themselves. Positive leaders empower people to accomplish their goals.
Character is difficult to define. It is the inner strength and drive that you have to stay true to your principles. It is a measure of your moral fiber. Character is doing the right thing when nobody is looking. It is being honorable, sincere, and reliable. This is not a gift freely given, this one you have to work for, it must be achieved – and sometimes at great expense.
My mother used to post quotes on the refrigerator. She wouldn’t explain them, she just posted them innocuously and waited for her 4 daughters to notice them. This was a common activity all the while we were growing up. We were at the farm where I was raised, that my husband and I now own, this past weekend. The house is kept up for our visits to the farm to mow, check the fields, and play and for our son who visits often with his daughter to hunt or fish, or ride the 4-wheelers, or target shoot. I hadn’t noticed those bits of wisdom, still on the refrigerator, until Sunday. They are still there. Two that I always thought were the most poignant, perhaps because they tore at my conscience, read:
“Do not become broad-minded by stretching your conscience” and “Reputation is precious, but character is priceless.”
Food for thought, of course.
I think that I have probably worn out my welcome. I want to thank you again for allowing me to share this time with you.
Remember, much will be asked of you, much will be expected of you. Stay true to yourself. Be mindful that no matter what career path you take, what challenges you are required to overcome, you are the master of your destiny.
And I would speculate that the majority of you will remain citizens of the United States and, hopefully, residents of Kansas. Don’t forget the value of your rural routes. Technology has made it possible for many occupations and careers to be completed in areas that at one time seemed remote. Come back to us. Go test your wings, continue your educational aspirations, but strongly consider returning home with your scholarship, your service, your leadership, and your character. Kansas needs you!
One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something.
Henry David Thoreau, poet, writer, philosopher
Find a way to do something here!
Thank you.
