S eventually decided living at camp for the summer wasn’t him. He ended up working a minimum wage job at a meat market. Was it intellectually stimulating? No. Did it provide him a completely different perspective on how difficult life is for people with limited educational experience? Yes. He also saw how hard it can be for a small business to retain good employees. And how difficult it is for people who make minimum wage or slightly more to survive.
He was invited to compete for Governor’s school. While I would have loved to see him in that program, and I recognize what it can do for students, I respect his choice to take a summer break from academics, and appreciate that his work experience has helped shape the adult he has become.
No one experience is right for every kid. As parents, we can only hope to guide our kids to the experiences that will help them recognize their potential.