Drop-Outs…

In a day such as ours, it is urgently essential that every young person prepare his mind, and improve his skills as fully as he can. There are many studies to prove that, even selfishly and financially, young people cannot afford to quit school before acquiring the competence that would give them their greatest satisfaction, and service, and security.

Life goes on, whether we are prepared or not, whether we waste it or not, and this trend toward quitting, dropping out, drifting has its tragically serious side, as young people shortsightedly give up long-range preparation for things of immediate moment. Often they blame this on the spirit of the times, on an irresistible restlessness. But preparation has always required effort, sacrifice, and self-control. Learning wasn’t ever easy, but it is always important. Furthermore, learning is not likely to be easier later. And youth have an urgent, earnest obligation to continue their training to qualify as fully as they can and not drift and follow lines of least resistance.

Dr. Harvey Fletcher has said: “… everyone of you has been ordained for a certain mission on earth. But will you find it? God has given you the freedom to choose…. About the first third of your life span can be profitably spent in preparation for your life’s work. Do not be impatient but learn during this part of your life because it will be one of the most enjoyable parts.”¹

As “it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance,” so it is impossible in indolence or indifference. We must have faith and willingness to prepare as fully as we can, while we can, if we want to live to the fullest without the gnawing frustrations of “what might have been.”

To cite a sentence from Shakespeare: “There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in misery.”²

We cannot afford to drop out, to quit, to fall short of the fullest competence that we can reasonably acquire.