Frequently we hear of how a young person overcame difficult circumstances to get an education and be successful in the adult world.
In such cases, there was usually a family member, minister, mentor, teacher, coach or principal who provided encouragement to help the student flourish in spite of the odds.
What we do not always realize, however, is that often for a young person to make the transition from a disadvantaged background to one of success it involves a great social risk.
He or she must enter a world that may include new peers and one that fosters a strong belief in workplace expectations.
Hard work, discipline and an appreciation for learning are all crucial, but in truth, those factors are not always encouraged in some circles.
To put it another way, some students, as a result of the company they keep, are taught to believe that it's not cool to be smart. And the risk comes when a student tries to make a transition from the world that does not value education to a world that does.
This can be difficult.
But even though it is difficult, the idea of it being a risk shouldn't be surprising. All of life involves risks.
During our recent spring break I had an enjoyable time in San Clemente, Calif., and the surrounding area. There, never far away from the beauty of the Pacific Ocean, I enjoyed meaningful companionship and interactions with others, and a simple time of mental rest.
It was certainly time well spent.
But because there are no guarantees in life, the trip itself had a certain degree of risk. Coming back alive from California was never promised. All of us, however, make vacation plans at times because, quite simply, the odds of having an enjoyable and memorable get-away are tremendously greater than the chances of suffering a tragedy.
To look at risk another way, when a person of any age enters in to a romantic relationship, as most of us do in life, it involves risk. Uninterrupted bliss and happiness are never guaranteed, but we risk it, having the full knowledge that painful heartache may come if things don't work out.
In addition, becoming a parent is a risk. While children indeed are a joy, to have children is to run the risk that they may hurt themselves or others, or that they may suffer from personal injuries or life-altering setbacks. In short, to be a parent is to know that anguish that may come when bad things happen in the lives of our children.
So what are we to do?
To prevent the pain that accompanies failure or difficulties, do we never travel? Do we never love another? Do we refuse to have children?
Of course not. Most of us understand that certain risks must be factored in as we navigate our way through life.
None of us are immune from disappointments or pain. But through experience, we learn to manage our risks so that life is both safe and exciting at the same time.
The same is true in education, personal growth and fulfillment. There is a risk that we might fail or that after a lot of hard work life still doesn't work out the way we had hoped.
But does that mean that we don't even risk it?
Not hardly. We try to be judicious as we take risks to better our lives and our families, but we take the risks nonetheless.
Dean Alfange was an American politician who wrote in his American Creed: "I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon - if I can. I seek opportunity - not security ... I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of Utopia."
We must teach our children how to take reasonable risks to equip themselves for the future. It is something they must continue even in adulthood. And it's a part of what a real education in life is all about.
David Wilson, EdD, is one of the assistant principals at Jefferson City High School. You may e-mail him at [email protected].