Greetings To All My Spiritual Family,

I have something to share with you today that, at first, may seem a bit odd to find on a site such as this one. Yet, once you read it I have a feeling you will see that it does indeed have a very spiritual message within its words.

As a homeschool mom myself, I may be inclined to be a bit biased on this subject, but I think this young woman has struck a nerve within our society that needs to be more fully exposed, looked at, and then healed.

At the end of her speech you will find a link to her blog site where she has posted her Valedictorian speech.

To you, Erica Goldson of New York, I send you my respect, adoration and loving energy to light the patheway for you as you begin your journey anew.

Thank you for your words, your message, your courage and the love, hope and joy you have already given to this world.

In Lak’ech Ala K’in

Blessings to You from All Realms of Creation

Essence Ka tha’ras

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

I now share Erica’s words with you all.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Coxsackie-Athens Valedictorian Speech 2010

Here I Stand

Erica Goldson

There is a story of a young, but earnest Zen student who approached his teacher, and asked the Master, “If I work very hard and diligently, how long will it take for me to find Zen? The Master thought about this, then replied, “Ten years . .” 
The student then said, “But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast — How long then?” Replied the Master, “Well, twenty years.” “But, if I really, really work at it, how long then?” asked the student. “Thirty years,” replied the Master. “But, I do not understand,” said the disappointed student. “At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?” 
Replied the Master, “When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path.”

This is the dilemma I’ve faced within the American education system. We are so focused on a goal, whether it be passing a test, or graduating as first in the class. However, in this way, we do not really learn. We do whatever it takes to achieve our original objective.

Some of you may be thinking, “Well, if you pass a test, or become valedictorian, didn’t you learn something? Well, yes, you learned something, but not all that you could have. Perhaps, you only learned how to memorize names, places, and dates to later on forget in order to clear your mind for the next test. School is not all that it can be. Right now, it is a place for most people to determine that their goal is to get out as soon as possible.

I am now accomplishing that goal. I am graduating. I should look at this as a positive experience, especially being at the top of my class. However, in retrospect, I cannot say that I am any more intelligent than my peers. I can attest that I am only the best at doing what I am told and working the system. Yet, here I stand, and I am supposed to be proud that I have completed this period of indoctrination. I will leave in the fall to go on to the next phase expected of me, in order to receive a paper document that certifies that I am capable of work. But I contest that I am a human being, a thinker, an adventurer – not a worker. A worker is someone who is trapped within repetition – a slave of the system set up before him. But now, I have successfully shown that I was the best slave. I did what I was told to the extreme. (more…)