Page 137 - Keys to College Success

revisit RISK AND REWARD

What happened to John? John was still struggling with “roads:” discipline, (be)
reading following his probationary period at the radio responsible, (no) excuses,
station, but his risk paid off when his high level of focus accept (the hand you’re
got him promoted to news editor. “I worked hard,” says dealt), (embrace) mis-
John. “I left Dominica as a government information ser- takes, stick to it. As you work to
vice officer after nine years at the broadcasting corpora- discover and maximize your strengths, how can
tion, and I have never stopped reading since.” After these roads help you? Choose two that you think will
immigrating to the United States in 1993 with $2,000 in help you the most, noting what risks you will need to
1 his pocket, John continued to earn rewards from his risk- take in following them and what reward you hope will
CHAPTER taking. He cleaned toilets for $4.10 an hour to help pay result. Then describe what you plan to do to begin mov-
ing down each road.
for his undergraduate degree. He earned a master’s in
human resource management, then a doctoral degree in
organizational leadership. He now owns Goalmind
Loblack overcame his challenges with reading to become
Career Coaching and Consulting, a company that helps What risk may bring reward beyond your world? John
clients identify careers that suit their personalities. He’s a college dean, an author, and an inspiring force. Today,
also a faculty member and dean at Strayer University, as there are many more resources to help students overcome
well as a published author. Having had every excuse to reading challenges. Check out the website www.literacy-
fail, he chose the alternative and is experiencing the connections.com, which offers a multitude of ways that
reward of a full expression of his abilities and talents. people can get involved with improving literacy for adults
and children. Find one that makes sense for your stron-
What does this mean for you? John is currently working gest learning preferences. Consider making a commit-
on a book entitled Six Roads to Fulfilling Your Dreams. ment, however small, to use how you learn best to help
The letters of the word “dreams” stand for each of the someone become a better reader.

GLOBAL RI SK AND REWARD Looking at the high cost of transporting water for many Africans,

including time, effort, and injuries from carrying heavy water
containers on the head or back, South Africans Pettie Petzer and
Johan Jonker had an idea and took the risk to develop, build,
and market it. Called the Hippo Water Roller, it enables people
who do not live near a water source to transport water in a roll-
ing container. As a result of this innovation, thousands of Africans
experience the daily reward of saved time and energy as well as less
physical wear and tear. 11

100