It's All About Attitude

Janie Mauzy, FUTURES Program

According to Thomas Henry Huxley, "Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not. This is the first lesson to be learned."

Having worked with welfare reform for the past five years, I feel qualified to at least make an observation about why some individuals are successful in their endeavor to become self sufficient and others seem to be stuck in the system indefinitely.

Personal drive, determination and motivation are priceless. These cannot be purchased or 'charged', stolen or given. These qualities come from within and, in my opinion, make the difference between success and failure for any and all of us.

I have been fortunate to work with a huge number of individuals in a six county area. Regardless of locality, it is rapidly evident when drive, determination and motivation are present, though often hidden due to current circumstances. It is equally evident when drive, determination and motivation are neither evident nor attainable within someone. These folks, fortunately, are few and far between.

My favorite success is a woman who I met years ago and who admitted to me that she just 'couldn't do it' when we discussed going to work and/or taking a class to improve her marketable skills. She was a littler older than the average FUTURES participant, but her problems

were similar and she had been 'in the system' for quite some time. She indicated to me that she was 'willing to do what I can' when asked what her ideal job would be, but she was quick to point out her limitations.

Her decision to make drastic changes in her life began in 9-95 when we first visited. It was agreed she should begin by doing volunteer work at a local agency to develop some work habits and gain work experience. As it turned out, she became one of the best volunteer workers I have placed, but she didn't stop there. She decided on her own to enroll in classes at a vocational technical center and she followed that by continuing her education in the medical field. This process has taken three years but the hurdles this woman has cleared are worth noting. I watched her struggle through transportation problems, and illnesses of her child and husband, but never once did I hear her say "I can't" She has remained driven, motivated and determined to succeed. I was pleased to have a visit from her last week and was touched when she presented me with a beautiful pink rose and with tears in her eyes said, "I couldn't have done it without you. I'll be graduating in May." My only response was "thank you."

The Missing Piece | Educational Opportunities | Article Archive

Nancy Flood, floodn@missouri.edu Consumer & Family Economics Specialist Putnam County University Outreach and Extension Center Last Update: May 23, 2001