Once upon a time I was a student. But I wasn’t a very good one.
Well, that isn’t completely true. I remember being one of the top students back in 3rd grade.
I was in the advanced math class as well as reading class.
I worked hard and was loved by my teachers.
But that didn’t last. I got lazy.
In high school I copied homework, I didn’t study, I even cheated – I did pretty much anything I could that would help me get the grades I needed to allow me to go out and play.
I always thought it was strange that grades were of such importance when no one in the business world ever asks to see your report card and that there were many intelligent people who excelled at school only to have failed in life.
Something didn’t add up.
That was a long time ago but I see that not much has changed. Kids today still worry about getting good grades more than anything.
Shouldn’t the most important thing be to understand why we study what we do and to discover our true talents?
Picasso would have failed at science. Einstein would have made a poor artist.
We each have unique talents which can create incredible wealth for ourselves but instead of it being nurtured sometimes it is suppressed.
I got poor grades in English from the 1oth to 12th grade. The only time I did well was when my parents helped me write my essays.
And yet, I believed in my heart, that I was a good writer.
It was the topic that turned me off.
My writing skills pale in comparison to some of my friends and readers, but that doesn’t stop me. I believe I have a message to share so here I am.
I always thought I was meant to be an English teacher but I have found that my skills are better suited for something more.
I may not be a Tony Robbins or a Robert Kiyosaki, and that suits me just fine.
I’m happy being Adrian Shepherd.
I work hard each day to improve myself and my skills. I share just a small handful of the ideas and observations I have here on this blog.
Later this year I hope to share more on my site in the form of books, audio sessions and coaching programs.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Right now I’m focused on two things – one, making myself better and two, passing along ideas to you to help you live better lives.
I don’t worry about passing tests because I know they are just one form of education.
Personally I could care less about whether someone was an A student or a D student.
I judge people on who they are, not what grades they got.
But that doesn’t mean to say that grades aren’t important.
To get certain qualifications we need passing grades. But once we succeed in getting the qualification, the question always is what you do with it.
I just hope more students take this into consideration when they think about their future.
Grades are just a small part of who we become, the rest is up to us.
Adrian Shepherd