The Rules . . . .

Hey All!

Since most of you are still in a school of some kind, and live with some kind of parent or guardian, there are some rules that you have to stick with.  Some of them may seem nonsensical.  Ridiculous.  Brainless.  Designed just to keep people stuck, powerless, and annoyed.

This isn't something you're happy to read, but at this point in your life, you need those rules.  You've learned a lot, but you haven't learned everything.  You have logical reasoning, but you lack worldly experience.  You may have common sense, but it's not as common as it will eventually need to be.

Yep, as frustrating as it truly is, if you truly care about your future, you'd better follow those rules.  While your "cool kid" counterparts probably don't, they make that choice at their peril, and not yours.  There are many temptations out there that "all the cool kids do" that the rules say you can't.  And they never seem to face cosequences for breaking those rules, do they?

Or don't they?

If you keep yourself clean, you prevent anything from sullying your character or reputation when you grow older.  You prevent the risks and pitfalls of engaging in this behavior from ruining your future.  You allow yourself to learn a few lessons in life the easy way, and not to attend what my mom once called "The School of Hard Knocks."

If you're interested in going to college, it's also a great way to avoid being rejected.  By the college of your choice.  I remember hearing, during my senior year of high school, that college admissions offices not only look at your grades and accomplishments, they also look at your school disciplinary record.  No, it is not your "permanent record," but it does get kept around long enough for colleges to ask for, and receive, them.  Let's not give them any red ink to see, shall we?

But does this mean you be a good little soldier the rest of your life?  Perish the thought!  Rather than rebel against the rules you hate, and fight battles that you'll never win, document what you see.  Take notes of why those rules you hate are wrong, stupid, and nonsensical.  And then when you graduate, both academically and emotionally, from your junior status, make it better.  Show them why they were wrong.  Tell them all about your better ideas.  And, oh yeah, an even better idea -- make something happen with it!

To be a leader, one must first be a follower.  But there will eventually become a point when we not only will, but must, stop being followers.  And your time will come, rest assured!

I EXIST.  I MATTER.  I BELONG.  I DESERVE.

Happy Monday tomorrow, OK?