PRIORITIES

Your father didn’t sacrifice to send you to that school so you could join a social club. If those white boys start interfering with your education, then you can get back to me.

—“Aunt†Bennie

Scene: the late 1960s. I was attending Bancroft Junior High in Los Angeles, a school that enjoyed a great reputation. I had complained that a particular group of boys seemed to be ostracizing me socially. I mentioned this to my aunt, and that is when she made her statement.

Obviously, we all want to be liked, and it’s true that social contacts lead to job and financial opportunities. But my aunt’s point was that if I focused on the primary reason I was there and performed well in that capacity, good things would follow, regardless of those boys.

Call to Action: On this day, I will talk to my child about the importance of focus. I will emphasize that if you know what you are looking for from a given situation, you will have the strength to weather storms large and small.