The past two weeks I have thought much about leaving a legacy. My dad died on Oct 2 and he was a man who definitely lived life in a way that inspired, motivated, blessed and served countless people during his many years as a public high school social studies teacher as well as his time here at El Camino as director (1989-1991) and teacher. But not only in his professional life did he serve as an example, but his life in church, in his family and in any circle he entered was one of integrity, responsibility, service, calm strength, wisdom and respect.
How is a reputation like my dad’s built? A step at a time! My dad never sought the lime light nor did he wow people with showy speeches or dramatic acts. He did not dominate conversations or bore people with “me stories.” Instead, he cared for others and served them genuinely. He spoke with wisdom and was a life-long curious learner who knew how to share those interesting bits of knowledge with others. He was faithful in all the little decisions, in the unseen acts of kindness, in the responsible follow-through, and in doing what was right when no one was looking. His character was strong, stable, and full of integrity, so that being around him brought a sense of calm confidence. Wow! What an act to follow!
All of us that are involved in education need to be very aware of the legacy we are leaving. With so many eyes watching us, we need to seek God’s help daily so that all those little decisions we make will add up to a lasting and powerful legacy. As we make decisions daily from what we wear to what we laugh about, from who we encourage to what deadlines we meet, from how punctual we are to how kind our responses are, from our diligence in preparation to our enthusiasm for learning, my prayer is that each of us are investing positively in the lives of those around us, especially the students who count on us to show them the way.
Just as I desire that my life is worth emulating, that my life and my words are coherent, I encourage each of you to evaluate your decisions today, even the little ones, to ensure that you are building your legacy NOW and not waiting to leave one when you reach your golden years.
