It’s a fact that limited education equals limited income, a limited lifestyle, and limited opportunities.  But don’t count on high school alone to make your future bright.  These days it’s only the beginning.  College graduates are unemployed far less than high school graduates (2.4 to 4.7, respectively) and have 80 percent more earning potential, making college, yes college, the new end.

Technology is the wave of the twenty-first century.  You’ve got to come hard or go home if you want to take part in it.  Consider that it took nearly 110 years to go from the original phone to the cell phone.  But in the last 28 years since, the cell phone has learned, not just to talk, but to roll over and do tricks too.  And the phone is but one of many things technology has improved on and, I might add, with the same incredible speed.

The unemployed already know what everyone else is just realizing:  Blue collar work is phasing out, and chasing the remnant is both exhausting and unlikely to bring unemployment down.  The money is in corporate America, and corporations are looking for specialized skills.  To get in you must bring something to the table.  So keep it moving.

The young attendants were inspiring. On a Saturday they could have spent on other things, this group turned out to devote the equivilant of a school day to receiving empowerment tips on dressing for success, making a good impression, exhibiting confidence, and preparing for college. Whether they knew it or not, they were making an investment into their future.

What I didn’t know until I heard one of the presenters say it is that Louisville is considered one of the top ten cities promoting youth education, good news in a market that requires less manual work and more technical training. I was equally impressed to find out what some of them are.  In case you’re in the dark like I was, I have taken the liberty to list some of the programs that were represented there (and a few others) for you because the better our youth are prepared, the brighter their futures will be.  

Louisville Urban League Youth Development and Education (YDE) Programs, 502/566-3383
Rising Academy (4th-5th-6th grades)–to improve reading and literacy skills and to support transition to middle school.
Street Academy (4th-5th-6th grades)–to improve reading, literacy and behavioral skills for male students.
Parent Leadership Academy–to empower parents to become active partners with public education.
YDE Parents for Successful Youth–to engage parents for greater impact on student learning and development in required sessions.
S.E.S. Leading II Reading (4th-12th grade)–an after school tutoring program for students who meet certain criteria (call for more information).
S.T.E.M. Focused (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math)–academic prepaation, individual college planning, social/leadership skills, global/cultural awareness.

Vision to Victory, 502/566-3381–a dropout prevention community service project created by young people in an effort to keep their peers in school by campaigning to raise awareness about the importance of graduating high school and going to college.

The Steward’s Staff, 502/742-6927–a Louisville-based non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth and young adults through leadership development, community engagement and positive reinforcement of self-esteem.

Governor’s School for the Arts, 502/562-0192–auditions Kentucky’s most promising high school sophomores and juniors in nine different arts disciplines: architecture, creative writing, dance, drama, instrumental music, musical threatre, new media, visual art, and vocal music to, for three weeks on the campus of Lexington’s Transylvania University, breathe, eat, and sleep the arts.

Transitions Mentoring Group (TMG), 502/7426927–assists youth and young adult females as they transition from adolescence to adulthood by acquiring life skills and wisdom from in-touch young professionals. This program is designed for high school junior and senior girls.

Black Achievers, 502/587-7405–a mentoring program to help youth set career and educational goals, improve academic performance and college readiness, and strengthen developmental assets and leadership skills.

Peace Education Program, 502/589-6583–equips young people with the tools they need to take control of their lives, resolve conflicts constructively, and accept responsibility for their actions.

Girl Scouts of America, 502/636-0900–building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Boy Scouts of America, 502/361-2624–promoting duty to God and country, duty to other people, and duty to self.

Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana, 502/561-5437–to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy.

The Cabbage Patch Settlement House, 502/634-0811–a Christrian-based non-profit organization empowering families and children to be self-sufficient by helping them maximize their spiritual, social, emotional, physical, moral, economic, and educational potential.

Outrage over transportation already had the busing controversy in the hot seat, but it was the hundreds of bus riders who arrived home late the first day of this school year (two dozen after 9 p.m.) that took parents to the boiling point.  To get their kids off the bus, they’re willing to throw the busing plan under it in exchange for the good old days, of all things—neighborhood schools.  Are they serious?

Neighborhood schools did limit the use of the bus.  Attendants walked to school.  They were able to sleep later.  And getting home from after school programs didn’t put a strain on their parents.  But busing brought money to disadvantaged schools.  Busing gave parents more enrollment options from which to choose.  And, though some might question to what extent, busing has and continues to be a balm with regards to the race issue. 

And there’s more.  Our governor, Steve Beshear, who apparently is unaware of Kentucky’s low national ranking in education (47^th and improving), went on record with the Courier Journal saying he favors the neighborhood schools bill and supports local control of decision-making in our schools, yet claims to be open-minded.  Is it me or does anyone else see the irony in this?

If transportation is the problem, it can be fixed without a neighborhood schools bill.  But, if we’re talking about anything else (and I suspect we are), uncover the hidden agenda and come clean because it’s clear that transportation is not our biggest problem, and neighborhood schools can’t resolve what is.

I will happily support any movement that propels the educational system forward.  I will not entertain the foolishness of those who wish to deceive us by diverting our attention with pettiness.  The stakes are too high.  The consequences are too big.  And the price is too much to pay.

While I find the mother’s own abuse appalling, it’s her complacency towards the boyfriend’s actions that disturbed me the most.  Through her silence, she allowed a relationship not worth having to take precedence over her daughter’s well being, and the damage done as a result of it was devistating.

How she got to that moment is probably not all her fault, since she, herself, was more than likely abused.  What resulted from the choice she made, however, was.  Therefore, she is not excused.  Standing on the sideline doesn’t make you innocent; and what you ignore can hurt you, as well as the ones you love.  The boyfriend played on her insecurities, silence prevailed and fear won.  Had she chosen to speak, perhaps they both might have overcome.

It’s no secret that men have a reputation for cheating.  So we are not necessarily surprised when a new name joins the ranks.  Yet, women still have high hopes that there are men who don’t, and secretly root for the ones who are unblemished.  We were led to believe Tiger was one of them.  It was a blow to discover he was not. Furthermore, his affairs imply more that bad judgment.  The smack of intent is what has left people (particularly his endorsers and women) offended.

You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t deceive everyone forever.  Sooner or later your sins will find you out.  And when they do there will be hell to pay, as he is realizing.  Whatever kind of life we have or whatever we’re blessed to accomplish, at the end of the day it’s our character, not the things, that will define us. Either Tiger didn’t know or failed to properly consider it.  Now he must deal with the consequences.

In October I identified one when I stepped off the elevator of the visitors’ bureau in my town and noticed a camera crew taping a promotion for the city.  Curiousity got me noticed.  But it was the chit-chat which followed that got me invited into the piece.  Because time was a factor, we improvised.  And one take later I was being recognized on the street.

I could have conducted my business in the bureau and been on my way.  Instead, I chose to smile and be friendly and a moment that cost me nothing paid me.  Who knows where it might lead? 

Louie was right.  Opportunities are out there.  We just have to pay attention to see them.

Click on the link to see the clip:    

http://www.friendoflou.com/whos-a-friend-of-lou/

While I can’t personally relate to what he shared, my own mountains have taught me a lot about gratitude.  But it doesn’t take a mountain to make one grateful.  Gratitude is the way you feel when favor has been bestowed upon you, and you can get that feeling even from simple things.         

Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays of the year because, food aside, there’s no particular way to celebrate it and there are no gifts to buy.  Pure love doesn’t need the fluff.  A grateful heart  is all that’s required. 

I hope as you gathered around your Thanksgiving Day table you were reminded of what makes you grateful, that you thanked God for your blessings, and that you shared your appreciation with the ones who love you.

Sometimes they are blessings in disguise.  Just ask Melissa Rycroft.  She’s the woman Jason Mesnick became engaged to on reality show The Bachelor, only to be embarrassed by him a few days later when he changed his mind in favor of runner up Molly Malaney.  Mesnick’s “mistake” gave Rycroft enough notoriety to claim a spot on Dancing with the Stars (another reality show) where she danced her way to a finalist spot.  I hear she even rekindled love with her former beau to whom she is now happily engaged.

Mistakes are great teachers, too.  Judge Joe Brown testifies in the introduction to his court reality show Judge Joe Brown that it was his bad behavior (or mistakes) that led to the fork in the road which changed his future.  According to him, he has his mistakes to thank for the position he now holds.  Granted, there are easier ways to learn, but, for those who take that path, the results can be very effective. 

Mistakes summon strength.  I’m sure the Mickey Mouse Club audition rejection Jessica Simpson met at the start of her career left her wondering what went wrong.  The loss of a big opportunity can be crushing, if not devastating.  But, rather than waddle in her defeat, she chose to get better prepared; and when opportunity knocked again, she walked through another door.

And mistakes narrow the choices.  The best decisions aren’t easily seen when in the midst of too many others.  That’s when the process of elimination can be helpful.  I’m sure we all have a story to tell involving a few trial and error moments when discovering what worked was as simple as crossing off what didn’t.

Of course, the goal is to minimize mistakes.  After all, it’s the victor who takes the spoils.  But since we know mistakes are inevitable, it would behoove us to know how to master them.

I grew up with Michael Jackson.  We were born in the same year; and our age and humble beginnings made me feel a connection to him that caused me to be especially proud of his trailblazing accomplishments in the music industry, as well as his humanitarian efforts around the world.  I’ve been equally impressed by his longevity.  He was gifted, not lucky.

It hurt me when the child molestation alligations were brought against him (which I never believed for a minute).  But it hurt even more when, despite his acquittal, the media nor the general public would allow his former life to return to what it once was.  So I find it ironic that his death came on the eve of the musical comeback he both nervously anticipated and desperately needed to restore his legacy and resolve his financial woes.  It turns out through death he is giving the best concert of his lifetime, and his merchandise is flying off the shelves.  God moves in mysterious ways.  He will have his rightful place in history afterall and as it should be. 

God bless you, Michael.  You will be missed.  May you rest in peace.

Athtletes don’t endure hours of rigorous training simply to hit the mark.  Their goal is to master it.  They know that the more they rehearse a movement, the more they will be able to do it.  Practice makes them better, but perfect practice makes them victorious. 

Like the athlete you, too, must immerse your goals in practice.    Long-term, committed, repetitious practice.   Not for the mere sake of memorizing movements, but for the perfection that mastery can produce.  The road will lead to victory, and the reward at the end will be great.