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May 30

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Where Everyone is Above Average

Remember the opening to Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor? It went something like this...

"Welcome to Lake Wobegon...where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average."

Classic radio. But I feel like many people never quite got that last punch line there.

...and all the children are above average.

It's funny, because if all the children are above average...then...they're average by definition. Right? At least in relation to teach other.

As piano teachers, we have the unique perspective of having worked with hundreds of students over the years. Seeing the trends that occur as students get older.

The greatest challenge we all face is the race among children to be above average.

To get the highest grades, to participate in the most extracurriculars...to do everything possible to fill that college resume.

But in the end, it's the same problem. It's a sad irony, in a way.

Because by bending over backwards to become above average, they're doing the same thing everyone else is doing, for the same reasons...and as a result, are average.

So, what's the answer?

Well, there's no one right answer to it all. But, as parents and educators, we can't go wrong with helping our kids find their passion.

The curiosity about many kids running the college-prep rat race is that by the time college applications come around, they have no idea what they want to do.

But by allowing children the space and freedom to find what they're passionate about, they can get a real leg up on the competition.

Because they can begin studying and preparing what will help them excel in that particular field of study before application time.

I often say that the student who started his own business at age 15 will have a much better chance at getting into the best business schools than the student who did 16 extracurriculars and isn't sure why he wants to go into business.

By finding your passion, you can be above average. Better yet, above average on your own terms.

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About Jonathan Roberts

I am the founder and director of the South Shore Piano School, and I have been teaching the piano for nearly 20 years. My work centers around bringing music to the lives of kids, parents, and adults in an enriching, meaningful way. At the South Shore Piano School, my incredible colleagues and I accomplish this through skill-based teaching, community, and an innovative, people-first business model. You can read more about me here.


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