By Jane Rosenthal
Part of In Their Own Words, USC Rossier’s series of student blog posts
As often happens when I walk around downtown Los Angeles, I often see signs that are usually cues for finding sets and important locations. Sometimes the names seen on the signs make me think. On this particular day, I was walking down the street and saw this sign saying “AIM HIGH” with an arrow that seemed to point to nowhere. It made me think philosophically about what we often to for kids and people in our lives – we tell them to aim high, but with an arrow pointing off to nowhere or pointing them in a direction in which they don’t know where they are doing.
It is important to aim high, but if we don’t help them get ideas of where they are going or how to get there, are we really helping them? Maybe, but it is also possible that in all our rhetoric we are leading them to aim high without direction or support. It made me think about the students I work with and the kids I mentor – telling them to aim high without direction, support or follow up is not enough. My goal is to help these students find their way to their goals by instilling them with the skills and resources to achieve their own high expectations.
Aim high indeed!
Jane Rosenthal is a 4th year Ed.D. (Educational Psychology) student. She earned her Bachelor’s in Linguistics and Education from UC – Santa Cruz in 2001, and her Master’s in Educational Linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003.
That is very true, Dr. Rosenthal.
How does the old saying go? Aim for the moon!! If you miss, you’ll land among the stars. Setting high goals with a plan to reach them is essential for anyone wanting to make a difference in their careers. Providing students with resources and skills can only help to lay a solid foundation. This guidance and support is priceless.
Mindy Castillo