Part
of our trip to Utah I was able to speak several times to students about life
and what I do for work. Some have said, “ …that is not much of a holiday” and
they are right, the first few days in my hometown were packed with assemblies
and presentations—yet, I enjoyed it. (hopefully the students did too).
My
hope was that those students could see that I too sat where they were sitting
when I was a student. I had no idea what I wanted become or what career to pursue.
I did not even know that the Foreign Service existed! Yet here I am. My goal
was to show them that no matter what their family is like, how wealthy they
were, what they looked like, or how they come from a small town, they could
still succeed and accomplish their dreams!
I
started out at the High School Assembly by telling them that in my Senior
Yearbook my “Ambition” under my photo says: “To travel the world and get paid
for it!” I am lucky that I have a job that I am doing just that. I then gave
them the following steps to make their dreams and ambitions come true—no matter
what they are:
1-
Set
Goals
a.
Set
concrete goals
b.
Write
them down
c.
Remember:
“Eventually you hit what you aim for; therefore, aim high!--Henry David
Thoreau”
2-
Believe
in Yourself
a.
Because
I believed I could do it I was able to get my job in the Foreign Service and
publish a book—WHITE LILIES IN AUTUMN
3-
Surround
Yourself with people that Support You
a.
People
along your journey will tell you that you cannot do it or that you should not
try, don’t believe them
4-
Work
for it
a.
Never
quit!
b.
Nothing
is just handed to you, you have to work for it and work hard.
5-
Take
Opportunities that Come Your Way
a.
I
was able to learn Tagalog. I wanted to learn Chinese or Spanish to have a
language useful outside of the Host Country, but now I have been on TV and
Radio several times and have multiple service opportunities in the Philippines
because of it
b.
Things
may not go as you had planned, but as opportunities come the journey becomes
unique and wonderful
6-
Be
Thankful for What you Have
a.
We
are given so much growing up in the United States
b.
There
are people that do not get to go to school as youth because they have to work
so their family can eat
c.
There
are people that live in homes that we could never imagine.
d.
THERE
IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAD DAY! Bad things happen, but among the bad things
there are myriads of positive, uplifting and merciful things that happen.
I
enjoyed speaking to the High School. I hope that they students were able to get
something out of it.
The
elementary school was fun in a different way. I did five different
presentations to them. The sixth grade was interested in my book and what life
was like in the Philippines. Details about driving, money and homes here. I had
to laugh when one of them raised his hand and asked, “Aren’t you so glad to be
back in Utah and eat normal food?’’ I had to pause and think about it and then
tell him that after you live in several places, there IS no such thing as
NORMAL food. All of it is different and good in its own way. Lady Hiva and I
have learned to love the food we eat no matter where we live.
The
Fifth Grade is learning about American Government and so the presentation was
all about what I do for work and how the government functions. They were very
educated and informed kids. I was impressed with their answers and questions.
The
younger grades were more interested in seeing photos of the cars people drive,
food they eat, and hearing stories about the cool things that are in the
Philippines. They laughed, gagged and talked at all the right places during my
presentation! It was a good time! I hope that they know there are so many
opportunities out there for them to take. Most of all I hope they build their
courage to take the risks!
