A Dad’s Blueprint For Academic Success – Part 2
This article is a follow up to another article I wrote, “A Dad’s Blueprint For Academic Success Part 1”. In this article I talk about the importance of having an academic blueprint.
Because I lacked an overall vision for my life, I thought having an academic blueprint was not important. But, I later found out how wrong I was!!!
After a few years of working as a computer programmer, I was doing pretty well financially, as a matter of fact; I was earning more money than some of my friends who had college degrees.
However; I decided that management provided me the best path to the destination I desired, so I returned to school to pursue a degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Management when I was 28 years old.
I looked at several local colleges and universities that had a management program and made a final selection. Based on my assessment, it was going to take me 7 years to obtain this degree, since I was on Plan B, meaning I would have to work full-time and go to school part-time at night.
When I met with the advisor at the local community college, I told her the school I had chosen and the program. She suggested that I get an associate degree on the way to earning my bachelor degree. I told her that was fine as long as all the credit hours for the associate degree would transfer to my bachelor degree, because I did not have any time to waste. She helped me develop my first academic blueprint.
After 3 years of attending classes in the fall, spring and summer I completed the requirements for the associate degree. I needed 61 credit hours for my associate degree, I had 63 credit hours when I finished.
After 4 more years of attending classes in the fall, spring and summer I completed the requirements for the bachelor degree. I needed 129 credit hours for my bachelor degree, I had 131 credit hours when I finished.
One of the benefits of having an academic blueprint, it shows you the shortest path to your destination!!
Dads, we have a great amount of influence in our children lives. It is through our actions they will establish some of their values. For example: If we only show up for sporting events, they will come to the conclusion that sports are more important than academics.
Unfortunately, too many Dads have made this mistake and sent their kids down a path that sacrifice their life and academic potential to the “sports gods” of our society (i.e. football, basketball, etc.).
When my son was about 8 years old, he came to me to discuss if he could play football. At first I was opposed to the idea, because he was an outstanding student and I didn’t want football to distract him from his academic pursuits. We agreed that if his grades started to drop, I was going to execute my own version of the “No Pass, No Play” rule regarding him.
As a Dad, I wanted to make sure my children did not repeat my mistakes. I wanted them to understand the importance of education in helping them to accomplish the overall vision for their life.
I used my life as a college student as a “teachable” moment for my children. I wanted them to understand that through commitment you can have academic success, but I wanted them to not do it on a Plan B path like me, because the cost is much higher.
I helped each of them to develop a blueprint for their academic success!!
You are probably asking by now, “What did you do to develop and implement the academic blueprints for your children?”
We started implementing their academic blueprints as early as Pre-K or earlier if you consider the training they received at home. When we purchased toys for them, we made sure they were teaching tools (i.e. word board games, speak & spells, etc.). We purchased lots of books for them to read, as well as enrolled them in reading programs at the local library during the summer months.
Also, we used BIG doses of encouragement when they solved math problems or spelled words correctly. We taught them that they were as smart as anyone else at their school. These actions boosted their confidence and self-esteem.
We used a reward system to help motivate and keep them focused. When they received their grade reports, they would receive additional money on their allowance for their grades. The amount they received was based on the letter grade and their grade level, because we knew the course work was harder in the higher grade levels.
During the 7th grade year, we implement phase 2 of the academic blueprint. In the midst of the body changes, increase interest in the opposite sex, peer pressure, etc. that your child is going through; the blueprint will provide them a sense of direction and stability. During this period, we mapped out the main courses they would take each year through their senior year.
Another benefit of having an academic blueprint, it provides direction and a road map to your destination.
In “A Dad’s Blueprint For Academic Success Part 3”, I will share more details on the benefits of having an academic blueprint.
Please provide me your comments on this topic. If you have additional topics you would like to see us discuss, please send me an email or post a comment.
Also, refer this site to other men you know, so we all can journey together!!
For the woman in your life, my wife (Sylvia) has a personal development site focused specifically on the needs and concerns of women. The site is called, www.thedashlady.com.
Also, we have a joint site focused on the needs and concerns of couples (i.e. married, engaged, and seriously dating). This site is focused on helping couples to grow together through personal development. The site is called, www.marriagerhythm.com.
Please visit these sites and leave us a comment about the current posts.
Again, thanks for visiting this site.
Randy
The “DASH” Guy
