A Life Well-Lived, Part 7; 100 percenter!

Once upon a time, Timothy asked me if he had to go to college. He knew plenty of people who didn’t use their college degrees, and he didn’t want to waste time if it wasn’t necessary. I assured him he did not have to go to college, especially if he was planning on being an entrepreneur, so he went about his happy way. But as high-school graduation drew near, the pressure began to build from near and far that he simply must get a degree. He begrudgingly resigned himself to the educational mandate, but wanted to do it ASAP. Enter *CLEP tests! In short, you read a college textbook for each class, study it on your own, and take a test over it. The tests are pass/fail and cost 97.00 each (at the time)! Timothy secured the money for the program by dragging locally sourced "junk" to a scrap-yard to sell.

Timothy made himself a study area in the garage and began taking one test per week, while he worked part-time doing appliance repair (and scrappin’ junk!). He was passing the tests fairly easily, so he wondered: could he pass the test if he only studied 4 days instead of 5? Passed it! Could he do it in 3 days? Smoked it! 2 days? Bingo! 1 day? Nope! Not only did he fail the test, he lost his 97.00! He laughed and said he wouldn’t try that again. But he did realize he could save gas money by taking 2 or 3 tests at a time with just one trip to the testing center in Tulsa! Lol For the upper level classes, he did some fast-paced online (they often had a one-month-free trial introductory offer, so if he could finish the class in one month, he won!) and distance classes, eventually transferring everything in to Thomas Edison State College. In about 18 months of study, he had his Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Check college off the list! In the interest of full disclosure, about half-way through, Timothy began to doubt his decision.

He got frustrated with the whole thing and wondered if he should have gone the traditional college route – it might be more fun! Or maybe just skipped college altogether? But he didn’t quit or even slow down. In fact, he seemed to speed up, just to be done with it!

“We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who, through faith and patience, inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:11-12

Heavenly Father,

Bless me with strength, energy, determination, and motivation to do the necessary and "un-fun" responsibilities of life, knowing there will be a pay-off in the end. Help me to endure to the end! In the name of Jesus, my Strength, Amen.

PS: We focused on a different character quality every month throughout Timothy's childhood, and when we studied "diligence," this poster went up on the dining room wall. Anyone who knew Timothy would agree he was a "100 percenter!"

When I showed Timothy this poster of Roosevelt, he promptly hung it by his bed and adopted the quote as one of his life mottos. "Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."

*College Level Examination Program. beunbound.us