Ownership

(Each month I write a column for our Community Newspaper about something related to Rushmore Academy. This is my September column which I thought I would share.)

Some years ago when my runs resembled a pace faster than a plod, I was winding through our streets, and parked in a driveway was a car with a young, teenage girl, I am assuming the driver of the car, standing on the roof. She was stomping her feet up and down yelling to someone inside the house. As I was nearing this crazy scene, I passed a young Mom pushing her baby in a stroller, and the Mom said to me, “Obviously she didn’t pay for that car!”

How true! Obviously this young girl had no idea, no understanding of the price paid for ownership.  

Taking ownership is interesting. In general, people who are quick to own things which come easy to them often do not appreciate the true value of what they possess. And because of this lack of appreciation, or ownership, they do not value what they have to the fullest. In essence, there is a lack of ownership.

As is so often the case, this lack of ownership results in a lack of responsibility and a lack of taking care of what must or should be taken care of. With this lack of ownership so often comes the blaming of others for the failures, misfortunes, or consequences for such actions. 

The opposite side of this is taking full ownership, full responsibility for what is being said or done and not blaming others. When this point is reached in which there is an acceptance of responsibility, we truly begin to appreciate and value what has been worked so hard at to accomplish or achieve.

Every student who enters Rushmore Academy is confronted with the demand to take ownership of the following. One, to take ownership for whatever problems and difficulties took place in the past, two, to take ownership of everything that must be done to earn the required credits to receive a high school diploma, three, to take ownership of all actions and words from this point forward, and four, to take ownership in having a solid post high school graduation plan in working order.

Likewise, the Faculty of Rushmore Academy takes full ownership of being available to serve each one of our students to the fullest, to meet their needs every day so they have every opportunity to be successful.

When ownership is taken by everyone invested in a common goal, great successes will be achieved. We look forward to and anticipate GREATNESS this year at Rushmore Academy!

We wish everyone the GREATEST OF SUCCESS this school year! If you are ever in our neighborhood, please stop in and visit and see the great things our students are doing! We are extremely proud of our kids!