Expectations of Excellence…
Begins in the Home, School and the Community
By Dr. L. Pettis-Patton

Introduction

Whatever we do we must have expectations of the results we want to realize through our efforts. When it comes to the quality of life we want for our children and ourselves, we usually being with wanting a good job, having a nice big house, a jazzy car and enough money to do the things we want to do in life. When we daydream or talk about the things we want in life our imaginations can run rampant and sometimes become overwhelming.

The thoughts we have about things we want can so easily be transformed into the same kind of expectations for excellence that you must have for our children, our students, our sister, our brother, our nieces, our nephews, really expectations of excellence for all of us.

For if we don’t expect our youth to do well and strive for excellence in all that they do, then their standards to achieve will be that of doing the minimal or just getting by. When in fact we all know that doing the minimal and just getting by will not take anyone very far.

1.     What do we mean by expectations? Let’s begin by defining the word expects. To expect means to think (something) will probably come true or happen, look forward to something 2. To look forward to with reason or confidence, desire and feel sure of getting. 3. To count on as necessary or right.

2.     We define expectations to mean the act of expecting or the state of expecting, anticipation. Something expected or looked forward too.

3.     Let’s revisit to the words derived from the meaning of expectation-expect, true, forward, reason, confidence, desire, count-on, necessary and right.

4.     The meaning clearly tells us the importance of having expectations in and of itself.

5.     In the home, school and the community we must have expectations of excellence which transcends into our children and our youth.

6.      What are some of the most important expectations we must have for our youth, we must begin with “Expectations of excellence” to

·        Perform well in school,

·        Exemplify the best social behaviors both in school and in the community,

·        Respect oneself and others,

·        Carry and conducting oneself as a young lady or gentleman,

·        Be conscious of what your say and how you say it,

·        Work smart and achieve remarkable results for the work you do.

·        Perform Well in School

Our children must understand the importance of getting a good education and working smart to achieve excellence in their studies daily, weekly, monthly and completing each grade level being able to reflect that they have given every assignment their best.

Performing well in school just doesn’t happen there must be some expectations instilled in the child to have the desire to want to do well. To understand the importance of school goes far beyond just attending school everyday. It begins with building a foundation upon birth of the value of knowing and learning, it begins with having a thirst and desire for knowledge and not just going through life ideally not understanding the purpose of life.  Your child must know that becoming well educated is important not only to them but to those who love and surround him or her.

To know that performing well does not just make the individual feel good about oneself but makes one proud of self. To know that there are others (family and friends) who are equally proud of what they have been able to do in school.

Every mother and father wants the very best for his or her child. I don’t care where you live, how much you do or do not have; every parent wants his or her child to do well and be successful.  But it takes more than just wanting your child to do well; it takes a life of commitment and dedication to your child that makes the difference. Just wanting your child to do well is definitely not enough it takes your working daily, weekly, monthly, yearly from birth until you the parent exit the bonds or earth. For as a parent you will always be the #1 motivator for your child’s success.

 ·       Exemplify Good Social Behaviors

There are so many ways children can learn how to be of service to others through helping in the community. There is always someone who can use a helping hand if you just open your eyes, you will see your help is needed.  Visiting a neighbor who may be a senior and reading the newspaper or a book weekly would sure decrease the loneliness and boredom so many people feel when they are all along. There is always something for you to do to help others. And helping others is the best thing you can do with giving of yourself.

 
·       Respect of Yourself and Others

Respect is something that is taught it is not picked up in the air. When a child is taught to respect him or herself then it is almost a given he or she will respect others. Respect meaning treating others how you want to be treated, talking to others how you want to be talked to, never trying to bring physical harm to anyone for any reason, realizing that when you have thoughts other than these when it comes to relating and interacting with people then you have something within you that you need to address and resolve so you can have successful relationships with other people. You need to take a look at the most difficult person there is to see in life and that is yourself. YOU!

 
·       Conducting yourself as a young lady and young man.

      Learning how to carry and conduct yourself is something that must be taught. We just don’t know what is
      appropriate and inappropriate without being taught. It is our responsibilities as parents and adults to teach or 
      children how to be ladies and gentlemen. How you act at 3yrs. old is not the same behavior that is acceptable at
      15 or 17yrs. A child must be taught how to look someone in the eyes when they are talking, how to shake hands
      when being introduced or introducing yourself, how to conduct a conversation, how to sit when in public, how to 
      dress appropriately for all occasions. What I wear to the formal ball is not appropriate for me to wear to the 
      workplace daily. What I wear to exercise is not what I should wear to go shopping. What I wear to bed at night is
      not appropriate to wear in public.

      All of these things are taught and built upon as a child grows and develops.

 
      ·       Being Conscious of what you say and how you say it

We must teach our children how to talk, how to present themselves how to communicate with others. Yelling at one another, calling each other names, talking about how someone looks which would make someone feel bad is not being kind or caring it’s hurtful and painful to whomever it may be large. Kindness to others is always a must and a plus to friendships and relationships.