The real test…

Today’s society tells us that college is the answer and the ACT or SAT determines value.  One test is NOT a true assessment of a person.  Your future and you are not that simple.  In our family we have many different ranges of test taking abilities.  Tests made me nervous.  I scored under a 20 on my ACT.  Our oldest child scored over a 30.  In today’s world, I would have not had many offers at Universities.  He had several full scholarship offers.  NEITHER of these scores determined our future.

College is not for everyone.  There are college graduates with good grades, student loan debt and no career. There is a 20 year old that went to work in a trade last year and is making close to six figures this year.  Trades are all but forgotten and are extremely valuable.  When the power is out, who do you call?  When there is no water in your house or to much, we are thankful for plumbers.  Speaking of your house, I imagine without carpenters there wouldn’t be many.  Look at what job opportunities welders have in engineering, robotics, and project management.  Growing up in a steel town, I know many that have mastered trades.  They are respected in their fields and did not pay thousands of dollars for years, to earn or learn it.  They did put time in training!

There are a multitude of careers paths in this world and ALL are important.  Our military defend our country and your freedoms.  If you choose a military career you can also attend college during or after in return for your service if you so desire.  Hair stylists, make-up artists, athletic trainers all help us look our best.  Many of them own their own businesses.  For some of us, it takes a  lifetime to figure out that the dollar volume of pay does not equate to happiness.  If you begin each day and think…if today was the last day of my life, did I make it count?  If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.

It is disappointing to think that anyone rate themselves on one test, instead of their whole being.  Faith, common sense, attitude, serving, leadership, determination, communication, and respect are all a part of you.  There are much bigger tests ahead with more important outcomes.   Remember, we learn everyday and a test you take at age 17 does not truly determine your future.

Peace and love,

MamaC

And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.  Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong–not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed.  2 Corinthians 13:6-7

Photo:  Our kids…all gifts, all different, all important, all loved.  September 2014.