My Life's Blueprint

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave an incredible speech to a group of middle schoolers before he passed away.  He talked about how each of us needs a blueprint for our life.  Here are some of the highlights from that speech.  (The full speech and photo are here.)

I want to suggest some of the things that should begin your life's blueprint. Number one in your life's blueprint, should be a deep belief in your own dignity, your worth and your own somebodiness. Don't allow anybody to make you fell that you're nobody. Always feel that you count. Always feel that you have worth, and always feel that your life has ultimate significance.

Secondly, in your life's blueprint you must have as the basic principle the determination to achieve excellence in your various fields of endeavor. You're going to be deciding as the days, as the years unfold what you will do in life — what your life's work will be. Set out to do it well...

I would urge you to study hard, to burn the midnight oil; I would say to you, don't drop out of school...

And when you discover what you will be in your life, set out to do it as if God Almighty called you at this particular moment in history to do it. don't just set out to do a good job. Set out to do such a good job that the living, the dead or the unborn couldn't do it any better.

For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.

I heard this speech Tuesday morning, and was in awe of the lessons learned.  I see faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works and integrity.  These underlying principles span race, religion, geography...  everything.  They are fundamentally expedient in every course of life.

The teacher presenting this lesson then asked each student to develop an affirmation statement.  A process was given.

1. Write down your name.
2. Write down something at which you are good.
3. Write down a personal goal that you have.
4. Write down a goal you have for your family.
5. Write down a goal you have for your education.
6. Combine all of these ideas into one master affirmation statement.

Each student was invited to be creative, and to build these concepts into a graphic organizer.  I was floored by the amazing images presented.  What a beautiful lesson of empowerment and potential!

So...  I made one for me.  (I can't get the PDF to load, so you won't see the pretty pictures...)

My name is Shannon and I am a good mom and a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father.  I will be participating in a triathlon when I turn 40 and would like to get my Master's Degree in the next 5 years.  I would like for my family to be more healthy, so we have many more years together!

What a wonderful lesson learned as a substitute teacher!