On the surface these three topics might seem unrelated, but they are! This evening I will take out to dinner four young men who just graduated high school. These guys are the core members of my S.N.I.P Lego robotics team. After having coached S.N.I.P. for six years ... since their elementary school days, I wondered how I could recognize these boys, and the fact thay they were moving on in the world ... to various engineering schools around the USA. Each young man has already shown me that they are socially conscious, but I wanted to encourage them to continue following this path.
Eureka! A quick visit to Amazon yielded four copies of Leaving Microsoft to Change the World. Ever since last year when my own effort started to build schools in the mountains of southern China, I've been inspired by John Wood. He was Microsoft's second highest ranking executive in China, and he gave everything up to build schools in rural Nepal.
Last night I contacted John Wood via email, and asked him if he might send me a dedication I might put in each book. Here are John's direct words ... they're good:
"To whom much is given, much is expected. The true test of your education will be in bringing that same opportunity to others, throughout your lifetime. Good luck, and make the world proud!"
Feel free to chime in with your own advice via the comments section for Caleb, Erik, Matt and Tim. In closing, here are two podcast interviews with John Wood, author of Leaving Microsoft to Change the World.
What an amazing journey you boys have taken throughout these past six years, and what a great foundation for your future studies! It's been a priviledge to watch the team grow, learn and mature, and I can't wait to see each of you continue to develop through college. The unique aspect of this group is that you all have a strong spiritual side as well, and I know that will lead you to avenues and opportunities to "give back" using the gifts that you have been given.
I wish you all the best in college, and can't wait to see your contributions thereafter!
PS I'll miss those robot testing sessions that dominated our dining room floor, the pre-competition all-nighters, and dying your hair pink. Ah, memories!
Posted by: Molly Hoeg | July 09, 2008 at 02:09 PM