Let’s take a look at how the pictures of all the different places in the world became part of Abby Sue, Where Are You? It goes back to having been at high school so long that I began to become aware of all the wonderful things our graduates had done and were currently doing. To paraphrase Dr. Zeus, “Oh the places they went”.
I wanted to show current students what success looked like for others who were from the same town, similar environments, walked the same hallways and graduated from our small town school. SHARE was a program in which our past graduates from all different careers and pathways came back to high school to spend the day, speak to classes, and interact with students putting a face to success! In addition we put up huge bulletin boards in the cafeteria area with the caption-MHS The Road To Success -and plastered it from top to bottom with pictures and stories about past graduates. I never ceased to be amazed at how far some of our graduates had gone and had accomplished.
There is an endless list of careers such as educators, physical therapists, speech pathologists, foresters, financial planners, occupational therapists, biologists, researcher scientists, physicists, biologists, surgeons, psychiatrists, pediatricians, ophthalmologists, other specialty physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, medical technicians, dentists, dental hygienists, chemists, dental assistants, fireman, emergency response technicians, attorneys, FBI agents, state troopers, other law enforcement agents, electrical engineers, chemical engineers, computer engineers, computer programmers and other IT specialists, mechanical engineers, space engineers, business executives, architects, electricians, builders, plumbers, radio personalities and executives, optometrists, bankers, photographers, talent agents, accountants, special forces and other military heroes, large scale farmers, judges, small business owners, pilots, and many more I don’t have the space to mention.
Yes, many of them have gone on to live in other towns, other states, and many in other countries. In fact, I was proud to find former graduates living literally all over the world. However, I am equally proud of those graduates I found and know who have been led to bring their education, skills and training home to give back to the community from which they came. I see the fruits of their labor on a daily basis.
The purpose of the pictures in the book showing Abby Sue visiting several different places around the world is to send the message to your child that there is a big world out there open to anyone, including them.
Well, will probably be happy to know that we are almost to the point in which all of these experiences culminated in the writing of “Abby Sue, Where Are You?”. Next time we jump to retirement and a look at how that became the catalyst for bringing Abby Sue to life.
Biblical Inspiration: Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Biblical Inspiration: Ecclesiastes 3:13 – And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
Lesson in a Nutshell: It is God’s will for some people to go away from their original home and God’s will for others to remain or return home in order to complete the plans He has designed for them. Neither is better or more prestigious than the other in His eyes! Remember that God’s eyes are the only ones that really matter!
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