Keeping it simple

Rotary International.

Do you know anything about this organization?

If you go to their website, the header reads, "Rotary promotes world peace and understanding through local and global service projects."

Until yesterday evening, I had not known much about Rotary International. Last night, I had the opportunity to meet about 20 members of one local chapter. Their chapter was hosting an awards presentation and dessert to honor students completing the tenth grade who have exhibited outstanding achievement and promise in a specific discipline. Our oldest daughter was one of those students.

Seven students had been selected in the areas of: math, science, art, engineering, business, social studies, and English. Teachers in the individual departments selected each student. Out of 561 sophomore students our daughter was selected to receive her award in science. I was especially proud of her accomplishment, since women are frequently underrepresented in the sciences. (The math award went to a young woman as well! Yaaay!)

Anyhow, the dessert was well organized and the presenters were articulate. Each student was called to the front of the awards gathering, asked to introduce their family and then they were asked two questions. The first question was, "What did you like most about your high school experience this year?". The second was, "What do you hope to do with your life in the future?"

Our daughter answered the first question this way.

"This year I've loved participating in athletics. The opportunities to travel, to meet new people and to develop my own skills within the fields of cross country, swimming and track have all been awesome. As students, we are fortunate to have these opportunities and I am very grateful to have experienced, and to have benefited from, the committed coaching here at our school."

She answered the second question this way:

"I don't know what I want to be professionally; but I do know this. Whatever I do, I always want to be a good person first."

I don't think I've ever been more proud of this amazing young woman!

Sometimes I think the world has enough scientists, engineers, politicians and mathematicians. What we do need however, are a few more "good" people. People committed to the welfare of others. People committed to the welfare of our environment. People commtted to peace and equality. Good people.

Does this sound too simplistic?

Maybe it is.

But what's so bad about keeping it simple?