Postponing Growing Up

We've all heard the sayings offered when a person needs to become more adult. "Get over yourself," is one, and of course, "Grow up."

The younger generation seems to have a tougher time than older folks did when it comes to the necessary acceptance of responsibility.

I cite two instances lately that have come to my attention.

1.  Students at Columbia School of Law were offered a chance to postpone their exams if the situation at Ferguson and in Cleveland were upsetting to them.  Honestly.  A few years ago a few universities made it known that a student's dies, he/she could postpone exams.  Ditto for a death in the immediate family.  The latter examples are simply kindness and understanding, something that most professors would offer without a rule about it.

But if a student is so upset about Ferguson and Cleveland to the point where he/she can't study, or if a student is willing to dump study time to demonstrate for three days, then life is going to be very, very difficult.  Megan Kelly made a little fun of the situation last night on Fox.  She was indicating that during her days as an attorney, any such excuse would have been unthinkable.  She wonders too what these coddled students are going to do when they get a full bore dose of the "real world."  How long will they last?

2.  There was an article in the Beacon Journal the other day about students being upset that they couldn't graduate in four years.  Why?  Because the student in question changed her major three times.  Oh, my goodness.  That should not be a shock to anyone.  It is common sense.  When a person changes their major, it necessitates an entire schedule change with a new list of courses and prerequisites.  Depending on how radical a change is made, this can add some length to obtaining a bachelor's degree.  The young woman in question should have been able to accept that she was the cause of the delay in getting her degree, and if she incurred additional costs that added onto her student loans, then she needs to be able to accept that.  What could a university do about that?  The article never should have been printed in the first place.  It's more of the "entitlement" thinking out there. 

So in both cases the first statements I listed apply -- "Get over yourself," and "Grow up."

I empathize with students who have student loans that they will be paying off for years.  It is difficult, but again, college is an option.  There have been some proposals made that students willing to work in certain areas for a period of time could get their loans forgiven.  I would be in favor of that.  An example might be a student who works in a legal free clinic, or in a school that has a high drop-out rate, or who works as a nurse in the poorest areas of the U.S.

Well, that's about it for today.  Time to bake cookies!!

I have a take-away for you from the Magnificat breakfast that I attended this past Saturday at Walsh.  Kitty Cleveland, the speaker, was talking about her tendency to worry into the future about things that might not even happen.  I've heard that called "disasterizing."  It isn't just a negative outlook; it's wallowing in negativity.  Nothing good comes from it.  Kitty said that she realized something one day like a bolt of lightning.  God promises us grace to get through TODAY.  There is no future grace, so when we allow ourselves to project into the future, we aren't covered with His marvelous grace.  We're out there alone.  Doing that means we aren't enjoying life to the fullest right now, and we are treading in dangerous territory.  It takes work to stop being a disasterizer but it can be done.  She has managed to identify the problem in her own life and take the steps to address it.

God Bless all of you today!!  The manger scene is up in Canal Fulton at the corner of Cherry and Canal Streets.  When the bank burned down several months ago (and it has now been razed), the Lions lost their central location for the manger scene.  So thanks to the businessman who allowed it!!