There once was a girl called Sarah, who loved sports. She was very active and could not stay still for a single moment. She was able to dribble a ball from a very young age and ran faster than all her cousins and friends put together. She had great potential to lead, thrive, and succeed. Sadly, her family was not very supportive and would often tell her to sit still and stop playing around with “boys’ things”. So, she eventually did. She conformed. She sat still and stopped doing what she naturally loved to do. With time, her hidden talent and suppressed nature took her in a direction she could have avoided had she been focused and well occupied. She became rebellious, angry, and full of self doubt. Like Sarah, so many people lack passion and purpose and are battling to find themselves in this vast world. They might be walking down the wrong paths and taking up bad habits that could cost them years of joy and health. This lack of identity could bring pain and suffering not only to them, but their families and loved ones as well. 

Norman Vincent Peale, author and Psychologist said “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” No matter what we do, if we do it with all our might and determination, we can set higher standards for whomever comes after.

Could there be something to ensure success and well-being? Might it be as simple as having a healthy self esteem? There might not be an absolute answer, but apart from love, safety and other more common positive factors, goal setting and achievement does create a profound sense of pride and self-esteem at any age, especially in young people. It brings courage, satisfaction, focus and determination, that results in a healthier love of the self. When kids are supported and loved, they can achieve their goals, and change their lives for the better.

The role of education is vital: It goes further than learning to read and write, further than learning to add and subtract…. Education leads to the realization of the importance that each of us holds in life, and the realization of what we are here to do for ourselves, for our families and for the world.