I frequently remind our learners and their leaders:  “Plan your work; work your plan; autograph your work with personal excellence daily.”  Having a plan and seeing it through is one of those life lessons that no curriculum or state assessment can measure.  As part of MISD’s “College . . . Go Get It!” Week, Miller learners, Riley and Avery, joined me on the north porch this morning dressed in their finest academic regalia as the ticket to their future dreams.  Staff members spent time today sharing their own college experiences, talking about the importance of strong study habits, building team with school spirit (we’re playing college fight songs all week on the announcements), and other interesting college details (the appropriate ones, that is).  These discussions will hopefully encourage our young learners to begin thinking about their future plans beyond their high school education.

I know what you’re thinking . . . why talk to a 6-year-old about college?  As a mom of two daughters (MISD grads) currently in college and graduate school, I speak from personal experience when I share it’s never too early to have these family conversations, let alone to financially plan for this continuing educational journey (this could be several other blog entries).  As with any plan or future goal, we want to encourage our learners to aim high in order to succeed to his or her personal best.  As Coach Rogers tells our students everyday:  “We don’t expect everyone to be the best; we expect everyone to give and do their best!”

Without dreams and leaps in our imagination, we lose the excitement of possibilities.  Dreaming is, after all, a form of planning.  Learning to work that plan at a younger age teaches the discipline and responsibility needed to succeed in life.  Higher education, in all its many forms, is definitely a “ticket to dreams.”  As my friend Avery noted this morning, “Mrs. Van, I’m a super college girl saving the world one degree at a time!”  🙂