Good Guys Really Do Finish First
Please join me in congratulating my son Ryan, who was awarded the “Faculty Citizenship Award,” for the “Outstanding Student of the Year” at Mesa High School in the Senior Awards Assembly on Friday. Mr. Baser, who presented the award, commended Ryan for “dedicating himself to serving the students of Mesa High,” for “taking the dirtiest jobs for himself,” and for “never saying anything bad about anyone.” He said further that Ryan was on a short list of 2 or 3 young men who were “pre-approved to marry my daughter.”
Ryan, who served as Senior Class President and was voted Homecoming King, will attend Arizona State University this fall on a full ride academic/leadership scholarship.
It is times like this that my wife and I stand in awe at the wonderful children God has entrusted to our care. Make no mistake; they just come this way. We just try to keep up.
Technorati Tags: Family
Congratulations! He looks like a wonderful young man. If you have time, please write a blog about what you did to raise such a good kid. I have a 4-year-old and a 6-year-old and am always looking to successful parents for advice.
Melanie:
I’d be happy to discuss this with you, but I don’t think this blog is the right forum to address the subject in detail.
However, I will share two foundation principles we have tried to teach of our children (all six of them):
1. Each is a unique and special child of a living God.
2. Each child has infinite personal worth.
I believe if children really know who they are and what great potential they really have, they are much better prepared to avoid things that conflict with their sense of personal Identity, and will be much better prepared to choose positive things that capture their potential.
Mr. Baser, who presented the award to Ryan, starts each of his school classes with two questions: “Who are you?” (answer: ‘A miracle!) and “What can you become? (answer: ‘Anything I want to be’).
And yes, this is in a big public high school (3,000 students). We are fortunate to have inspired teachers in our childrens’ support systems to reinforce what we try to teach them.
Thanks again for asking.
If you would like to discuss this further, please drop me a note at mark.g.dixon “at” sun.com.
Thanks,
Mark