Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-05-10
LET THE BOY SELECT
There Are Many Boys And
Young Men in Grand Rapids
Who are Seriously Considering
What His Life Work Shall Be.

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What His Life Work Shall Be.
The boy who drifts into an
occupation for which he is united is
inDocently committing murder upon
the highest and best in himself. He
is suicide galvanized into capacity
for toll by pecessity.
Forcing young people into the first
situations they can possibly fill,
regardless of aptness, is wrong that
is often irreparable.
1t is serious business, even for a
parent, to stifle God-given ambition,
to dampen divine aspiration. II a
decided talent has been put into a
child, parent should think many
times before taking the responsibility
of counternlanding the Creators order.
Every child comes into the world
with sealed orders from the Infinite
hand, and even the fondest parent
cannot certainly read the secret
message written within that bit of
clay. The child has certain
inalienable rights which even the
parent has no right to question or to
try to modify.
In order to develop strong
independence and individuality, there
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thousand times better for boy to
make mistake, now and then, when
acting on his own responsibility, than
to 90 always just right while
walking on crutches, or being led OF
coerced by some one else. It is better
for him to wobble a little when
walking alone than to follow an
absolutely straight line when being
led. 1t is better for him to acquire
self-confidence, even though he must
pay for it by suffering defeat, than to
be always led by some one else.
Selecting a life-work is serious
business. 1t should be done only
after careful study and test of
apititudes, fitness, and tastes, by both
the person choosing and those having
authority with him, unless his bent
speaks so loudly in his blood, and his
dominant faculties are so imperative
in their expression Of choice that he
cannot mistake the calling for which
he is fitted. 1t is everything to a boy
or girl to get into just the right
place, where the higest and noblest
faculties will find healthy and
delightful exercise, instead of the
lowest and meanest. To do the kind
of work for which one is fitted by
nature, and to do it to the best of ones
ability, is working along the lines Of
ones strength, which increases with
every well directed effort.
In making decision as to what his
work in life shall be, a man who
would WOO success should heed the
God-given message that speaks in his
blood. Ones natural inclination,
developed by encouragement and
education, and controlled by
conscience and reason, is the surest
guide to an employment most likely
to be rewarded with success.
There is no greater fallacy than the
assertion that man can be what he
wills to be. Do not be deceived by
such suggestions. Analyze carefully
your temperament and tastes. If
then in doubt as to choice, look
into the conditions attendant upon
all the occupations and professions
under consideration, try to realize the
qualifications necessary in each for
success, and consider whether or not
you are fitted by nature for any OF
them. Then ask yourself if you have
the courage, perseverance, and
physical strength to stand by your
calling, no matter what hardships OF
trials you may be obliged to endure.
Having thus chosen, do not waver OF
reconsider. Start right, and right
away!
You may be very sure, my young
friend, that, il you do not feel your,
self growing in your work and your
life broadening and deepening, II your
task is not a perpetual tonic to you,
you have not found your place. II
your work is drudeery to you, il you
are always longing for the lunch hour
or the closing hour, to release you
from the work that bores you, you
may be sure that you have not found
your niche. Unless you 60 to your
task with greater delight than you
leave it, it belongs to some other man
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