Hard work always matters

I love to read good books. I am drawn mostly to "how-tobooks" more than anything else. I see in them the avenue for me to learn how to do things for myself that others often have to pay to get done.

I also like books on leadership which occasionally offer tips to quick success. While browsing through the shelves at Barnes and Noble recently I took note of these titles: "Passport to Prosperity," "Winning Moves," True Greed," "Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun," "Winning Through Intimidation," "Cashing In on the American Dream (How to Retire at 35)," "The Art of Selfishness," "Techniques That Take You to the Top," "How to Get What You Really Want" and "Secrets to Quick Success."

What a list. The authors of these books all claim to offer

their secrets to quick success. Who are they kidding? Success

only comes before work in the dictionary.

Occasionally I encounter moms and dads that say they want their child to have a stress free senior year of high school. I am puzzled by this notion. If their child were an Olympic athlete, would they want them to approach the last year of training prior to going into competition in a manner other than 100 percent committed? I don't think so. Failure would be the likely product of this type of training regimen.

High school seniors stand on the brink of going out into a world that is fraught with pitfalls. Both the workforce and institutions of higher learning would not permit them to continue the lackadaisical habits they may have gleaned as high school seniors. I visited with my nephew over the Christmas break about how his study habits had changed from high school to college. He stated that in high school he wouldn't study 13 hours over an entire semester. However, in college he studies at least 13 hours for a single exam.

At THS we have instituted a Leadership course in order to help prepare our students for "what comes next." It may be college, trade school or the workforce that awaits our young men and women. Regardless of the choice, we strive to assist them in their preparation. We alone cannot prepare them anymore than preparing food causes an individual to eat or the presence of water causes an individual to drink.

Together we can prepare our students for what comes next. "Together" being the operative word. If you feel there is something we can do, but have not done, please call or come by and let us know what that might be. The time to become concerned about what your child will be doing after high school is yesterday. Regardless of their current age or grade, there is no time like the present to begin thinking about college or the workforce.

TISD will be initiating several new programs in the spring semester to move our students in the right direction. These programs include, but are not limited to, college T-shirt/sweat shirt days, College Week, SAT Vocabulary, Reality Checks, 6 Year Plans, Research Projects in the high school, eighth grade College Bound Projects and College and Career Day. Please call your campus principal to learn more about these programs.

These investments in planning will pay great dividends regardless of your child's chosen direction. Life is not a fairy tale and fairy tale endings will not just happen. Someone or several individuals must work to make them happen. Together we can and will make a difference.

Remember, you are always welcome in Troup I.S.D.