Getting Through the Lions

Lions hunt near water. This is not because they need something to wash down a fine kill or because they just bought a great set of waders. They do this because they know that their prey have to eventually come to the water. The trick for the prey is to get past the lions to get a drink. They may do this by taking the long way around, by traveling in packs, or outsmarting the lions.    Sometimes they just have to go through the lion to get that drink.  That lion can wreak havoc on the plans of many animals. 

We have to get kids ready to go through the lion.  Sure, we can pass it off, find a way around the real issues, maybe wish that the lion wasn’t there…or, you can load up and go through the lion.  What does that mean to us?  Recently, the Workforce Development of Indiana identified the top skills that businesses are looking for in graduates they wish to hire.  Three of these are a direct result of what you do: Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, and Writing. All of these can be looked at as a ‘Lion” to get through.  Amazingly, that is the same stuff that I have been preaching about since we opened our doors.  When kids get here, we can see who took a route of avoidance, who runs with the pack, and those who compensate to mask skill gaps.  It doesn’t matter.  We have to meet them where they are and make them better – make them grow.  We have to get them to the water when so many things may be getting in the way that is ready to devour them.  We did sign up for that.  There are a lot of kids with a lot of baggage that they are not ready to handle; nor should they have to at this age.  You may be the only adult that shows them kindness and patience and takes the time to make it all work.  They need to get to the water and we need to get them there -  whether that is around the lion or right through it.