Insights for My Students
Steve Hall
These are my personal insights for students that I have used through the years to encourage and motivate students. Hope you find them helpful!
Being
obnoxious is not a virtue. Never has been. Never will be.
We learn a
lot about your future by watching how you relate to authority!
If you are determined to focus on yourself, why not start with some self-control, some self-discipline, then maybe even a little self-denial.
Consider
Carefully: Some of the richest people in the world are also some of the most
miserable.
A genuine,
heartfelt apology can often heal a broken relationship.
Flowers
smell sweeter and life is just neater when you learn how to keep a clear conscience.
There are
few things that can match the incredible exhilaration that comes with knowing
that you have been forgiven.
Each of us
is given certain talents, certain abilities, certain opportunities. What are
you doing with yours?
There are
those who think they are doing something really cool, when they are really
doing something that is just plain foolish.
If you have
learned to seek out and to listen to wise counsel from experienced people, you
are way ahead of the game.
Are you
going up with the right friends? Or down with the wrong ones?
Be careful
who you listen to! The consequences may be greater than you think!
Saying
"No" to a friend can be very painful. But saying "Yes" can
be totally devastating.
The longer I
live the more I'm convinced that money and happiness are totally unrelated.
Be
exceedingly thankful for the person who will tell you what you need to hear,
even when it is unpleasant.
Do you have a parent who refuses to give in to your
arguments, begging, and pleading?
Be thankful!
What have
you learned from your mistakes lately?
There is a war going on out there—A war for the minds and hearts of people. Stay in the battle!
Only very
foolish people are convinced that they are never wrong. Confess often!
The ability
to accept criticism graciously and without resentment is a mark of genuine
maturity.
The immature
complain and gripe and wallow in their sorry plight.
The more
mature reject that tripe and overcome by doing right!
Loud does
not always mean right. Quiet does not always mean fearful.
Mocking and
ridicule are tools of the cowardly. Courageous people can stand with an
underdog.
Those who
try too hard to be cool will, in time, experience the bitter disappointment of real world consequences.
Are you
strong enough to stand for what is right when you know you will be ridiculed
for it?
If faced
with a choice between "cool" and "right"—
Think: Which
choice will result in no regrets?
The highway
of life is littered with those who tried too hard to be cool.
The future
will arrive sooner than you think. Make decisions now that will lead to future
joy with no regrets.
Have you
learned the incredible power of gracious and kind speech when someone is
verbally attacking you?
Have you
learned the amazing power of keeping a
cool head when others are losing it?
Weak, dull,
and immature people need profanity to express themselves. The mature have
learned to control their tongues.
Immature
people become angry at other people. Mature people become angry at wrong words,
wrong deeds, and wrong thoughts.
As you grow
up, remember: There is a part of your heritage that will do you great good.
Don't discard it lightly!
When forced
to choose between money and doing what's right, many ruined nincompoops have
chosen the money.
The choices
you make now will either lead to great joy or to great regret. Go for the joy!
Many ruined
people have been deceived by the empty promises of pleasure, fun, and
"coolness" offered by
alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.
Just because
some people have the letters "Ph.D."
after their names does not mean they are wise, or even intelligent. The
names of many nincompoops end with "Ph.D."
A little kid
whines and complains, and usually doesn't have much self-control.
A
know-it-all doesn't really know much at all. Keep a teachable spirit.
Do you know
the difference between "gullible" and "teachable?" It's the
difference between the depths of failure and
the heights of success.
What does it
take to convince you to quit trying?
The more it takes, the farther you'll go!
Got a great
idea? Write it down-NOW! Tomorrow you may wonder: "What was that great
idea I had?"
Feeling
bored? Find a worthwhile PROJECT! Get absorbed in it! Make something good
happen!
You are
planting seeds. "Harvest time" will come! What kind of seeds are you
planting?
Watch your
attitude! You are not a jerk, are you? Don't make people think that you are
one!
YEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAH!!!
(When was
the last time you enjoyed a good shout?)
Being
STEADFAST gets the job done. Being
STUBBORN can lead to failure. Do you
know the difference?
Who has been
encouraged by you today? Encourage someone right away!
The URGENT
tends to steal time from the IMPORTANT. Do you know the difference?
Little kids
make messes that others have to clean up. They rarely clean up after themselves.
People who
win make the tough, but wise, choices. They turn off the TV and get to work!
Little kids
demand lots of attention. Most grow out of that stage pretty quickly.
People who
have been spoiled don't have to stay
that way! Get over it!
Make up your
mind to stand for what is right-- even if everyone you know is going the other
way. Stand for what is right!
There is far
more to be thankful for than there is to complain about. Make a list!
There are
often two ways to do a thing: The EASY way, and The RIGHT way. Guess which way
leads to no regrets!
It's easy to
copy someone else's work. It's also wrong. Many people with ruined lives began
by making the little soft choices. Do the right thing!
Learn to be
grateful. Think about how much someone else would appreciate having what you
have!
There are
people who go through life making bad decisions, blaming others, and feeling
sorry for themselves. There is a better way!
Many try so
hard To be COOL that they find life leaving them out in the COLD.
Take a deep
breath. Calm down. Relax. Find Peace!
Do you know
someone who has lost hope? Help them find it quickly! Without it there's no
hope!
Did someone
irritate you? Does it seem like a big deal? Big as a mountain, maybe? Get over
it!
It started
with a bad decision, which became a little tendency, which became a difficult
habit, which became a terrible stronghold, which became a monstrous
slave-driver, which destroyed him.
I know it's
not easy. It's tough. You just have to do the work.
You're
right. You MAY NEVER use this math
again! But what we're trying to do is exercise your brain! You are learning how
to think logically and systematically!
The best way
to finish an unpleasant task is to get started.
People
around you may be making bad decisions. So what? You do the right thing.
If you make
enough bad decisions you will one day become dead meat.
Who said it
would be easy? What's the big deal when you've done something that was easy?
If you never
exercise your leg muscles, you will eventually be unable to walk. Wonder what
happens when you never exercise your brain?
Make good
decisions today, and tomorrow will take care of itself.
Remember,
the highest form of love is how you BEHAVE toward someone, not how you FEEL
about them.
When you
love someone you do what is BEST for them even if it hurts sometimes.
You can
destroy your future by making bad decisions in your now.
Have you
experienced the peace that comes from accepting yourself as you were created?
Do you know
someone with great inner peace and strength? Why not ask them for the recipe!
There are
those people who have tremendous inner peace and joy. Make it your business to
learn how they got it!
There are
those people who have a supreme confidence and optimism about their long-range
future. Why not ask them for their
secret?
There are
those who have learned to deal successfully with the problem of personal guilt.
Why not ask them how they do it?
The bait
looks SO-O-O-O good to the fish. Next thing you know, he's in the frying pan!
To attempt
to manipulate by saying, "If you
loved me you would..." is to prove you know nothing about real love.
The attempt
to remove God from schools is an attempt to establish a state religion-- the
religion of atheistic humanism.
It's easy to
gripe and complain! Little kids do it
all the time!
If you want
to show great disrespect, just refuse to listen. Interrupt often.
(And if that
makes you feel good, you have a serious problem.)
A little lie
here; A little lie there; And before you know it, You've earned a label!
Some people
have little control over themselves. If they have a thought, they think it has
to come out their mouths!
Do you know
any arrogant jerks? Don't follow their lead! There's a better way!
Some people
go around looking for clever ways to create problems. STAY AWAY FROM THEM!
Some people
enjoy being a source of irritation to
others. Is that dumb, or what?
Your
creativity can be used constructively or destructively. What are YOU doing with YOUR creativity?
Watch out
for Arrogance! It destroys good things and good people.
Arrogance is
very difficult to recognize-- unless it is in someone else!
Make your
goal higher than just to be "cool." "Coolness" can be a
bitter achievement.
Secular
humanism has had a grip on American education for years. I am not a secular
humanist. And I resist those who try to force me to act like one.