Opportunity is an interesting phenomenon and means different things to different generations. As I write this, I sit in a room that was built for my husband’s grandmother. In her generation, opportunity was the chance to board in town 20 miles away from her home so she could complete her high school education. For her son, opportunity was hitchhiking to a two-year college located 50 miles away. He had no extracurricular activities in high school because he came home each afternoon to work on the farm. For my husband’s and my generation, opportunity was sought in high school sports and a degree from the big state university located 100 miles from home.
Opportunity Today
In this generation, opportunities have exploded and so have our lives. Today opportunity for young people is found in extensive travel to exotic locations. It is found in expensive private lessons for anything you can imagine – music, tennis, ice-skating, acting, etc. It is found in a myriad of clubs to join, places to go, camps to attend, classes to take, tests to prep for.
The Down Side of Opportunity
And yet, in all those opportunities, we’ve lost something. Kids who’ve done it all, have. . .well . . done it all. I don’t see the wonder in their faces, an excitement for what might be around the bend, the joy that used to be found in the new and different. When too many opportunities are crammed into a young life, there is not the chance to master something or find out what they were created to do in this world.
Opportunity and College Admission
From a college admissions standpoint, these kids all look the same. I have found as I daily work with students to tell their story to colleges, that joining every opportunity found in their school or homeschool group is counterproductive. Most resumes coming out of a specific school or group look pretty much the same. These students have worked really, really hard and now they blend into the crowd and don’t catch the eye of a busy admissions officer.
Saying No to Opportunity
Rather than seizing every opportunity available to your family, I encourage you to say “no” to the good and the better and “yes” only to the best and the excellent. Maybe it is time to fast from opportunity and regain perspective. You have only a few years to spend with this child before they will leave your home. Don’t pack life so full that you miss who they are and who they could become.
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Coming to Boston!!
My son, Austin, and I will be in Boston from June 27 – July 2, 2013. We’d love to take a couple of hours to have a free question and answer session with local families. If you are interested, contact me here!
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