Polonius gives Laertes advice when he sends him off to school. He encourages him to not dress to flashy, to not borrow or lend money, to listen to others but be mindful of sharing his opinion with others, and he ends with the following: "This above all to thine own self be true."You are about to embark on your own journey. Think about all of the advice that has been given to you. What advice will you remember? What advice is repeated and why does the repetition matter? Think about why this advice is given, and what is the hope in sharing this advice with you? Tell us a little story about the advice.
My example:
My senior year of high school my grandmother and I were breaking beans for dinner. We sat at the kitchen table, and I was excited to tell her that I was getting the Louie Armstrong Award for Jazz Band. I was incredibly excited and proud. My grandmother never looked up from her beans. She simply stated, "Pride goeth before a fall." My only response was silence. I didn't know what to say. Later, I told her that I wasn't being boastful, just excited that I was getting the award.
I have never forgotten that advice. To never be too proud. There is a line between pride in accomplishments and arrogance. I always will have my grandmother in my ear to keep me in line. She reminded me to be humble in accomplishments and to recognize the lesson in every situation.
