Graduation Advice from an “Old School” Educator
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008
by Dave Potchak
PO's Peek at the Past
The last of my nieces and nephews will be graduating from high school this June and he'll be heading off to college in the fall. I doubt he or his parents will seek any advice from his Uncle Dave. But, if any of them should ask, I'm prepared to pass on an old lesson that my dad taught me back in 1970, the year I graduated from high school.
I was heading home from college for a weekend in mid-September of my freshman year. I did not enjoy my first few weeks away from home and frankly I did not like the college experience at all up to that time. I was ready to hang it up - ready to quit after only three weeks of taking classes. The social life was a drag and the work load in the sciences was more than I bargained for.
Besides all that, my girl friend from high school was still residing only four miles away at her home with her parents.
I knew neither Mom nor Dad would take the announcement well, so I rehearsed diligently what I wanted to say and planned for just the right time to break the news to them. Naturally, nothing works according to plan, as I soon learned.
During supper that Friday evening, I broke the news to my parents. My younger sister and brother were there. And my older sister, already a college graduate, was living at home too, but had already begun her teaching career in a local school district.
When I made my declaration, the facial expressions of the family spoke huge volumes of shock and dismay. Mom glanced at Dad, and only he began to speak. Astonishingly, and much out of his character, Dad proceeded to give me his advice in a low, calm, non-threatening voice.
"That's fine with me," cautioned Dad. "I'll get you in the steel mill with me as a laborer. I know the foreman, and he has told me many times to let him know if I have any family members who might want to work."
In shock myself, I couldn't believe my ears. This was going way, way too easily.
"Maybe he'll assign you to my drill press area, and you can sweep up the metal shavings from my work station. That way, we could see each other throughout the day. I will also ask him if he'll give us the same shift assignments, so we can share rides too, and save on gas and parking expenses."
I had seen and dealt with those metal shavings while employed one summer in the mill. It was a year earlier. Each one was about the size of a tennis ball. The metal was a quarter-inch thick and coiled like a SLINKY. They were heavy and sharp and they sliced into your shoe sole if you accidently stepped on one. The broom used to sweep them up was heavier than any shovel and as large and as rigid as a huge pitch fork.
Dad, no doubt was counting on me, remembering that employment experience and all that went with it.
The cautious but firm explanation continued.
"I'll talk to him on Monday morning. He'll have you working the first thing Tuesday, after you pick up your steel-toed work boots, and we get you a lunch pail. They'll deduct those from your first pay check. You will need some blue work shirts and heavy-duty jeans too. And starting with that first pay period, you will owe your mother for rent, water, electricity, and room and board too. Please pass the mashed potatoes."
I graduated on schedule, four years later, in May of 1974. I eventually went on to earn my master's degree in education and completed a 32 year-long career as a teacher and coach.
Today, I really don't know if Dad meant what he said that day or not. The main emphasis of that lesson was that I thought he was serious at that time. I really believed everything he said was going to take place. It was enough to get my behind back in school, and to eventually graduate.
I thank my dad for his novel, old-school advice back in 1970, and I would gladly pass on his wisdom, with his manner of presentation, should I ever have the chance. Even with my education, I somehow feel that my guidance methods pale in comparison to his.
Without a formal education, he was still a great educator.
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More commentsI wish the present and future were more like the past. That is for sure. This is actually a story that moves the reader to appreciate days of yore and the subtle lessons that are far more valuable than the "Do what I say" kind of lessons. This father gave his son the very valuable tool of foresight analysis which I am sure the writer has gratefully used all his life. The fact that he appreciates the lesson and describes it so vividly decades later attests to that fact. Very good job, Mr. Potchak. Please keep writing. We can all learn from your experiences. Your writing is excellent and your stories keep the reader with you from the first word to the last. I have very much enjoyed your writing. Please keep sharing your stories with us.
Your dad was a wise man, and as usual, your storytelling got that message across. One of your best.
Good article, as always, Dave. I enjoy reading your stories.
Great life lesson and one that applies to many of us. This sounds very similar to my parents' situation as they both left school before graduating to go to work.
Excellent story, my son is going to be a senior next year and my husband has been passing on this same kind of advice. It makes a difference. Thanks for sharing! Teresa
Beautiful! He sounds like a brilliant man to me....and had the same 'tactics' as my 'old school' dad. Love this story~
Yah!! Dave !! Congratulations !! I knew this article was AWESOME !! I am so happy for you and I am not surprised at all that you won... :)
I want to thank you for writing this, but at the same time I'd like to let you know that you dad was as serious as a heart attack. Yes, he was prepared to bring you on in the work place, where you would have been given special treatment only because he was such a great worker and his reputation would have held up, as you were clearly fearful of him. (An OLD parenting trick) You chose to go to college and become a teacher. I send my congratulations to your family on that one (the family you may or may not have now). Being a teacher is hard and pays much too little. Your strive to succeed seems of Piscean nature. Your inspiration and ability to share this story is enough to make me want to become your friend. I am sure that knowing what you know now you would have chosen another profession, as the gratitude of helping another human being become educated far out weighs the income. Without people like you we would have fewer intelligent people in the world. Thanks for all that you have done, are doing and will do in the future to ensure that our world is a better place.
I loved this story. My Dad never graduated from High School (GED after Marines) and emphasized the need for his children to do so. I in turn never gave my children the option of not going to college. Since they were small it was always, "When you go to College" not if. I'm happy to say they all have their Bachelors "Cum Laude" and my daughter is now in medical school. I look forward to reading more of your articles. Kimberly
I love this story. As a young parent of a toddler and baby, I hope to have your father's wisdom and quick thinking! Thank you for sharing - you have a gift for writing and bringing the reader right along with you.
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