Tag Archives: 4th of July

Holidays, parenting

The Freedom to Choose

freedom

Today is Independence Day and along with all the fireworks, barbecues and festivities, we should always reflect on the meaning of freedom. Our college bound teens would tell us that freedom means they don’t have to be under the constant supervision of parents when they leave for college. Our upcoming seniors would say freedom means they have the right to choose the college they apply to and attend.

While the freedom to choose is at the center of our independence, we are also responsible for those choices and the consequences they might bring on ourselves and others.  That’s why it is extremely important that parents explain the consequences of a wrong college choice. What constitutes a wrong college choice:

  • Choosing a college that you simply cannot afford causing you to incur too much student loan debt
  • Choosing a college that you really know nothing about based on the choices of your friends
  • Choosing a college because it’s far away from home or close to home without investigating other factors like graduation rate, course availability and student population
  • Choosing a college because your boyfriend and/or girlfriend is going there and you don’t want to be separated
  • Choosing a college that does not match your social interests (i. e. a college that everyone goes home on the weekends, or a college with a predominant Greek life culture that doesn’t interest you)
  • Choosing a college because someone else has chosen it for you (parents, friends, teachers)

As you can see, all of these choices will result in an unhappy student who will most likely drop out freshman year and result in a large monetary loss as well as student loan debt that will have to be repaid. Teach your teens who crave for the freedom of choice that along with it comes the responsibility of making that choice. Choose wisely after you have all the facts.

Happy Independence Day! Enjoy your family and your freedom!

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

Happy 4th of July: Attending a Military Academy

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4th of july

A few years ago my family and I attended the 4th of July celebration in Boston, Massachusetts. It’s an overwhelming experience to stand there while they read the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House. There’s nothing like standing on the bridge in Concord where the first shot of the revolutionary war rang out our country’s desire to be free from the tyranny of the British. It’s one of those surreal experiences that makes you realize the cost of freedom and all the sacrifices our men in military make every day to protect that freedom.

Serving in the military is one of the noblest of sacrifices and each year college-bound teens aspire to attend one of our nation’s military academies. So today I would like to share a previous post about the steps needed to attend a military academy.

Steps to attending a service academy and/or getting an ROTC scholarship

Happy 4th of July and as you’re celebrating remember that freedom only comes when people are willing to sacrifice for that freedom.

 

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With freedom comes responsibility

 

4th of JulyToday is the day that our nation celebrates freedom and remembers the struggle and sacrifices our forefathers made for independence. Every year in Boston, they read the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House. It’s a life-changing experience to be there for that reading.

Freedom is something we all crave. It’s a natural born right. It’s what our kids look forward to after high school graduation: freedom from parental control and supervision. But with freedom comes responsibility. We are responsible for our choices, our decisions and the paths we take. Teach your kids this truth before they leave home for college.

Have a happy 4th of July with your family and celebrate freedom!