Listening to advice: learning expensive lessons on the cheap. There are two ways to learn lessons in life. One is through experience (the hard way), but this comes at a steep price. The other is to listen to the advice of others and learn the easy way. It is up to you, but I’d definately suggest going with the easy way on this one. (Pfanstiel’s recurring advice: 16, Work/Study, plan ahead, make your free throws [master the things in your life that you can control])
Dihydrogen Monoxide: Listen to others, but ultimately you have to think for yourself. I tried to fool you a number of times this year with the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide (H20), the sermons of Hitler, China Winds (The KGB hat), and in our discussions. While it is good to listen to advice and respect your leaders (parents, teachers, leaders), ultimately you are still responsible for how you act and what you do. Being a stooge (Kronk in ENG) or just saying that you were “following orders” doesn’t cut it. Think for yourself and do the right thing regardless what other people are doing.
Social Hierarchies: Remember every social structure is basically formed in the pyramid shape. The leader remains in power because the people directly below him support him and suppress (bully) the people below them. There is nothing evil about the pyramid structure, but just be aware of this if you are ever in an organization that uses you to hurt / bully those at the bottom. Remember the pyramids were tombs and if you don’t escape bad pyramids you may get buried in them.
History Repeats Itself: This doesn’t mean its ever exactly the same, what it does mean is that patterns in history will repeat. I noticed an interesting pattern recently. It seems that America goes through a crucible / testing time every 80 years or so. Our first major test was the Revolutionary War (1776), then 85 years later the Civil War (1861). Exactly 80 years later we were in World War II (1941). If this pattern continues America will enter a time of major testing in the next 10 to 20 years. What will America’s next crucible be like? What role will you play? Stay tuned and get ready. No roller coaster goes up forever, but our climax could still be ahead of us a country but it will take some work.
Base Motivations: Most humans are motivated by five emotions: Greed, Fear, Vengeance/Anger, Love and Forgiveness. Watch out for these. When a leader tries to motivate using greed, fear or revenge (or all three) watch out, this wont end well. (See Hitler, Mao, Stalin, pretty much any dictator in history). Those who lead by motivating people to love (sacrifice) and forgive have much better results. (See Lincoln, Gandhi, Mandela, etc…) Editor’s Note: I forgot to add Pride. So really there are 6 base motivations unless you want to add inflation…
Karma / Reap What you Sow / What goes around comes around. While I haven’t developed this as much as I would have liked, the pattern of the Golden Rule (“Treat others the way you want to be treated”) is so simple and yet powerful. Remember this the next time you want to insult someone, cut in line, lie, steal or hurt someone. Also remember this when you give, help, care and respect others. It doesn’t happen right away, but you will reap what you sow.
Parting Thoughts: I have enjoyed the opportunity this year to teach each and every one of you. I pray and hope that the things I taught you will help you in the future. You are a very talented, smart, funny, entertaining and creative group of young men and young women. It has been a pleasure teaching you. Please keep in touch, visit me wherever I am next year and if you invite me to your games / events / performances I will try to make it.
Thanks again and have a great summer, 7th grade year and a long and healthy life.
Your 6th grade Asa Low Social Studies teacher,
Philip Pfanstiel
philip@pfanstiel.com
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