Day: November 6, 2025

“All you need is the plan, the road map and the courage to press on to your destination.” — Earl Nightingale

As parents, teachers, friends we do our best to encourage young people to follow their dreams, realistically decide how to so and then keep trying in spite of setbacks. What we too often forget  to understand is that sometimes that kind of journey can be far more difficult than anyone ever imagined and sometimes life makes it impossible to reach for the stars. 

In working with underserved, often misunderstood students I have learned that the roadblocks that some young people face feel insurmountable. Little wonder that many of them set their hopes aside and give in to the realities of their situations. Depending on a person’s situation in life it can be harder to press on to a destination. 

Children with loving parents, financial security, good health, excellent education systems, average to above average intellect and multiple support systems are more likely to be able to trudge forward to fulfill an imagined destiny than those living in abusive situations, poverty, and learning disabilities. Removing any of the safety rails that make life more likely to lead to success creates barriers that are sometime all but certain to overcome the determination of even the most dedicated individuals. We don’t all have the same start down the road. Being pushed far behind can be devastating and yet there are those who seem to believe that it is unfair to provide such a person a break when it is apparent that they will demonstrate all of the positive qualities necessary if given a fair chance to succeed.    

I can see the faces of students who found the courage to press on because a teacher or relative or even a friend saw something in them that nobody else was able to see. Instead of consoling them to accept their deficiencies someone helped them find the tools they would need to reach goals that seemed far out of reach. We all know someone who seemed to have it all who gave up after only a few disappointments and someone who was not deterred in spite of many naysayers and setbacks. 

I am particularly proud of a young man whose dreams seemed so far out reach that many adults tried to help him accept that his limitations would not get him where he wanted to be. He lived in the shadow of downtown Houston in an area with schools that regularly ranked low in academic excellence. His family did not possess the kind of wealth that would buy him tutors or experiences or references. He had some learning difficulties that tended to hide his actual brilliance. When he announced that he wanted to be an engineer few took him seriously. Even his grades seemed too average to get him a slot in a program at a university and yet he was unwilling to listen to the negativity. He knew that he had a propensity for mathematics and that he had always been fascinated with how things work. He applied to a college that was created for young people like him and eagerly dove into his classes. 

He benefitted from the fact that the university was in a place with little to do beyond taking classes and studying. The tiny town was perfect for keeping his attention focused on learning. He encountered challenging classes that threatened to change his trajectory but he gutted through each of them. After more years that he had expected he finally graduated with a degree in engineering but the fates were not going to be kind. His search for a job came during a downturn in the economy and then Covid hit. He worked but not at the kind of jobs that were worthy of his hard work and his degree. It seemed that in spite of his efforts he would never reach the heights that he knew he was capable of achieving. 

Out of the blue a friend from college called to tell him about an internship program at a small company in a small town. He was not too proud the take the offer even as he realized that he already knew everything they were teaching him. He worked harder than anyone. He was willing to arrive early and stay late. He worked on weekends and even holidays.The senior engineers saw that he was different from the others, more dedicated, more curious. They hired him for a regular engineering position. An older engineer became his mentor. The young man demonstrated that he was willing to work anytime they asked and for as many hours as they needed. They saw the go to attitude that had always been his. They encouraged him to take the exam to become a Professional Engineer. He will soon be trying for that distinction.

He has surpassed peers who at one time appeared to be more likely to succeed. He did it because he never stopped believing in himself. He did it because there was no amount of work that was too much for him. He continues to press toward a destination that he always believed he was capable of achieving. He had a plan and he stuck to it. He worked hard, was always nice and continues to plow on. He knows how its done even when everything seems to be stacked against reaching the destination. He is a success because he saw the road ahead and never stopped moving along. He’s not finished yet.