Features: A Message from Claes Nobel A Message from Outgoing Student Council Advisory Board Highlights New Student Council College-Bound Advice The Value of Taking AP Classes Begin College Applications Now My Take on the SAT Getting a Head Start Never Hurt Anybody Spotlight on Service -- From your own Backyard to a Nicaragua Village The Power of Committed Citizens -- Helping the Poor in Nicaragua J.M.H. Academy Volunteer Effort -- Cordele, Georgia, Health and Rehabilitation Center Giving Back to Your Local Community Special Opportunities -- Students Take Advantage of Exciting Programs AFS Exchange Program -- Living in Brazil Summer Business Institute -- LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) Summer in Switzerland for Natasa Kovasevic Food for Thought For the Devout Carb-Quitters: New Bread that is Literally Nothing Living Successfully Living Successfully by Robert P. Sheppard (page 2) I am no expert on success, but in thinking about my own personal thoughts and experiences, I developed the "Four S's for Living Successfully." It is my hope that these four keys to success will help you achieve balance in your life and make for successful living. My goal for you is to remember the four S's and work at having each of them as part of your balanced life. The first S is Scholastic. And as members of NSHSS, this S is a given for each of you. Scholastic represents your eagerness and enthusiasm to learn and work. Your commitment to education falls under this S; I encourage each of you to never stop wanting to learn new things. I see in my own life and in the lives of my parents and even my grandparents that the desire to learn new things grows even stronger the older you get. A wise person once said, "The best of all things is to learn. Money can be lost or stolen, health and strength may fail, but what you have committed to your mind is yours forever." Your career also falls under "scholastic." Everyone must contribute in some way to providing for themselves and others. This is called work. Hopefully, most of us will like what we do, but some may not. But my point is that "scholastic," your quest for knowledge and your career, is a very important component in living successfully. The second S is Social. Everyone needs some down time--time to relax and enjoy others. "Social" is a key element in living a successful life. Too many people are too driven in their careers or other pursuits to take time for themselves, their families, and friends. You must make time in your busy schedules and hectic lifestyles to have fun. If not, you will regret it. Plan a weekly outing with your friends, spend a Saturday reading a book, make spending time with your family a priority. While you are trying to climb the ladder of success, don't take for granted the value of family and friends. You did not and will not achieve success completely on your own. Your parents and friends nurtured you, encouraged you, loved and supported you. Spend time with them. Remember to thank them and never allow the demands of your life to distance you from your social network. The presence of this S is critical to your quest for success. Lee Iacocca once said, "If you want to make good use of your time, you've got to know what's most important and then give it all you got." The third S for success is Spirituality. Many times our lives are so demanding that we become overwhelmed, but the secret to dealing with this stress comes in the spiritual. I am not going to get into religion; one's beliefs are personal. But I do think that it is necessary to believe and trust in something beyond ourselves. From time to time, take a few moments for personal reflection. Making spirituality an important part of your life will help ease the daily stresses and help you realize that there are things in life that are out of your control. I think often about the horrific events of 9/11 and the many, many people who continue to suffer as a result of this unbelievable tragedy. I have watched countless news reports on the people who lost loved ones or were affected in some way by this disaster. And the common element that seems to prevail in these stories is the faith and spirituality of the people. America will never be the same, and the presence of the third S, spirituality, in your life, is more important than ever before. Finally--Service, the final S. I am a firm believer that "the greatest leader is the greatest servant." You may wonder how giving of yourself for the benefit of others can make you successful. Remember that you add value to your own life by adding value to the lives of others. Gandhi once said, "By sharing your time, your talents and your compassion for others, you can truly change the world." I believe this. Even giving just a little of your time to serve others will guarantee you lifelong learning, the development of humanitarian values, and social and spiritual success. Make a commitment to my fourth S of service and combined with the other three, your potential for success will be unbounded. Scholarship, Social, Spirituality and Service--These are the power words that make up my life. My formula for success is actually pretty simple. However, it's achieving balance and getting the right mix that can be a challenge. My four-way scale gets off balance often. And when it does, I take the time to reflect, get refocused, and be thankful for all I am blessed with. So in closing, my challenge to you is this: From time to time think about the four S's. Give yourself a checkup and think about what you can do to bring balance into your life to ensure unlimited success. You have already demonstrated your ability to succeed. Continue that path of success. I am inspired by your success and by your commitment to making excellence a way of life. << Back to Journal Home page