CHOICES

Working at SLCC has opened up my eyes to the life of a student. Their concerns, intrests, struggles, happy moments.. just LIFE!! Every now and then I get an interesting student come in with a request. Can you help me pay for school? Can I take a loan out with your department? Who can pay for my books? and the ever popular.. Where's the restrooms? Every student is different and they come with their view on the whole COLLEGE LIFE thing. Some LOVE it.. others.. Ehhh it's school.. Some play the victim of .. THE TEACHER JUST HATES ME. I love when they come to my office and I have the perfect program for them, or I can refer them to a certain person or a certain department. I especially love when they come to visit. But not every visit is pleasant. Every now and then I'll get a student who wants me to do this or that for them. I'll get a student that will complain about everything under the sun and why the school won't accomodate them, why the school didn't teach them this or that... for example, I work the our ethnic students and if they have a concern from their classes we can make sure that its taken care of. If they are interested in the programs we offer then I can give them a schedule, invite them to th different gatherings we have etc. HOWEVER, we can't go out and pay your rent, we can't pay your bills, we can't find a cheap house or a cheap car for you. We can't go and buy you groceries. WHAT WE CAN DO is get you the information.. It is then..YOUR CHOICE to go and research the information, get the goods... DO THE WORK. Some people are constantly looking for a handout (but that's beside the point). I had a student come and tell me that WE (the school) needs to teach ethics.. as I asked him to expand on his theory. He said we needed to teach the students not to drink and smoke. I asked "Why is that" (sidenote: I don't drink or smoke). His reply "Cause it's not right and its not ethical and it interupts the students from learning." MY REPLY: "These students are all grown and can make their choices.. I can't kick everyone out of school that smokes or drink" he still disapproved. I tried to explain that.. WE ARE ALL TAUGHT WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG.. IT IS THEN OUR CHOICE TO CHOOSE OUR ACTIONS. His mentality was that we need to FORCE them to DO THIS or DO THAT. I could see that this conversation was going no where. As he walked out of the office I said... IT'S STILL THEIR CHOICE TO COME TO SCHOOL and WHAT THEY DO IN THEIR FREE TIME IS UP TO THEM. He seemed to see what I was talking about but his PRIDE would not let him let me know that he sees what I was talking about... Our life is made up of many choices some will be good and some will be bad. Our father in heaven loves us enough to LET US MAKE OUR OWN CHOICES so that we CAN LEARN from every choice that we make. "EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER" - Once you've learned that the stove top is hot and can burn your fingers.. YOU"RE PROBABLY NOT GONNA TOUCH THAT STOVE TOP AGAIN (unless your crazy) LiveLaughLove Lee