The True Cost (Opportunity Cost) of Senioritis

In order to get something, something must be given up. For example, if I choose to get a different motorcycle I must give up that new TV. If I choose to go to Washington DC on vacation, I do not get to go to Seattle. In economics we call that which is given up the opportunity cost ... a lost opportunity. Now, on to the point.

For some students, the senior year is like a sprint. They start hard, and they finish hard. They take difficult classes, and do their best. They are rewarded by getting scholarships and attending the better universities. When they graduate, and "if all the stars are aligned," they get good jobs.

For others the senior year of high school is like a vacation. They start with the idea that it does not matter. They take classes that may produce the best GPA. They believe that grade point is more important than content and learning. They only do the minimum to get by.

High Expectations

A fundamental shift is taking place in the world’s economy. It is an evolutionary change. ... evolution at the speed of light.
After WW ll products made in the USA were considered the best on the market. “Made in America” became the gold standard. The American worker became the most productive on the planet. As a result, our standard of living soared. There seemed to be no end to this trend of prosperity. That is changing.
Then a serious challenge came from Japan, a country devastated by war. At one time products produced in Japan were considered inferior. However, the Japanese had a vision. It is best described by the word “kaisen,” meaning continuous improvement. It applied to all aspects of life. Products were continually being upgraded. Schools and students were also being pushed to the limit. The desire for a high quality education became famous worldwide. Parents paid extra for their children to attend Saturday School. The standard of living for the Japanese worker soon skyrocketed.
The economic revolution took hold in other countries in the region; South Korea, The Peoples Republic of China, and India. It is a testament to the capitalistic spirit. These countries, like Japan, are investing heavily in education. They hold their students to very high standards. Their high school, technical school, and college graduates are considered some of the best in the world. They are very competitive and their standard of living is increasing by leaps and bounds.
Are we up to the challenge? Are we willing to make the sacrifice to remain competitive? The historic trend has been for each American generation to “have it better” than the previous generation, but there is evidence that this trend may be reversing. High expectations, hard work and opportunity were the keys. However, opportunity is created, it does not happen by accident.
The key to opportunity is preparation and the key to preparation is education. A well educated person is the result of quality teaching, hard work, and meeting high expectations. We must hold each student to high expectations. Consider this your gift to future generations. You can be sure that there will be increased competition for the worlds scarce resources. Each of us holds a key. This is our opportunity to positively impact the community, state, and nation.

A Rerun: A Trophy Case at Home

We value what we show the world. For example, walk into any high school you will see a trophy case. It is filled with artifacts that represent accomplishments. There are trophies, autographed balls, jerseys, pictures and other items that help us "remember the past."

They serve two functions. The first is to remember accomplishments. They represent times when individuals and teams met high expectations. They stand for excellence and high standards. They also tell the current generation: "Try extra hard and you too may be awarded this honor." In other words, it sets a high expectation and rewards its accomplishment.

Very few homes have a trophy case, but each does have a refrigerator. When you combine a refrigerator, a magnet, a great paper, note from school, or report card you have your very own trophy case.

Invest in Yourself

Pick up a newspaper or magazine, and you will find an article on the impact of the recession. There are reports of reduced consumer spending, reduced profits, reduced wages, and reduced employment. Combine these factors with reports of increased competition, both internal and external, and the news is bleak. It will get worse.

Yet there are opportunities. Many of the best were not around fifteen years ago. Life is changing rapidly, and the pace is expected to increase. We will be expected to keep up.

One way to prepare for this future is to invest in yourself. Set academic standards very high. Study to meet these goals. Do not underestimate your potential. By preparing a solid foundation, you have postured yourself to take advantages of new opportunities. With high personal expectations, hard work, and a little luck, you may find yourself recession proof!