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Learn to take responsibility and control of your life to ensure future success
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IN 2006, I had the opportunity to meet an inspiring man, Tony Maynard. You’ve probably never heard of him, and probably never will beyond these few paragraphs.
At the time, working in Tanzania, I attended a workshop led by Maynard, a native of Australia, who was then spending six months in Africa volunteering in the local and international community. His specialty was personal development and his training outlined a paradigm for taking control of one’s life. He began by drawing a line across the whiteboard. Below it he wrote the following words: “Blame Others.” Above the line he wrote: “Take Responsibility!”
This summer parents across China and the world will send their children to summer camps in record numbers. This should not come as a surprise. We live in a historical epoch of rapid information flow and high paced development, which has increased competition for places in the best prep schools and top universities. Parents and families will spare no expense should there be an opportunity for their child to get ahead through summer enrichment. As the 21st century speeds on, one certainly wonders how many youngsters will have a voice in planning their summers.
Summer camps will bring opportunities for competition, struggle, winning, losing and lessons learned. The days will be long, sometimes structured much like school. Trips will be taken and the roads traveled hard. The destinations reached new, and sometimes not entirely what was expected. Students will gain memories that will last a lifetime, yet there will also be disappointment, even disillusionment, as I experienced as a pre-teen attending a summer sports camp that felt more like military boot camp.
As Maynard continued to explain his lines and words, the message became clear. Keeping it above the line was taking responsibility for life, and functioning below the line was making excuses for all the things that don’t go as we plan.
If we truly seek to inspire our children and students this summer, perhaps better than any summer program is instilling within them the importance of living life “above the line.” Why wait? Involving them in the decision process about their summer might alleviate resentment towards you and prevent the “blame game” children are prone to when the going gets tough, or if their summer experience is anything like my sports camp misadventure. Moreover, it may also be the first step towards helping them take control and responsibility in their life, an enrichment opportunity that will keep on giving, and potentially be more valuable than a camp experience itself.
If this resonates, thank Maynard.
Richard Eaton has served SUIS as a teacher, middle leader, building principal, and group level executive.
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