1. Watch and learn from your environment.

2. Don’t bring home anything less than a B on your report card. Anything less than an 84 is too close to a C so be prepared to explain. I may make an exception for Arabic and French class.

3. Remember Yeah/Nah and head nods do not constitute a proper response. Speak my child, speak!

4.Yes sir and yes ma’am will get you far in life no matter the race, class or ethnicity of the person being addressed.

5. Never forget, where you come from does not dictate who you are.

Being born into the welfare system does not deem you incapable of succeeding. Better yet, it should encourage you to strive for greatness.

7. Leave your footprints in the CONCRETE

8. With respect, continue to challenge me and my knowledge and understand that my word is not always the holy grail although sometimes it is. *Tread lightly when applying said rule.*

 

10. At the end of the day, everything happens for a reason. In hard times, pick yourself up and dust yourself off. Pop your collar and keep it moving. Take note of your misguided steps and never look back.

11. Learn from your mistakes. As life continues, I can only suggest to you which path I feel may be best. However, I will respectfully allow you to write each chapter of your own book instead of reciting the words of mine. I will eventually let go of your hand. You are not me and I will not attempt to live my dreams and aspirations through you. As you grow, I remain confident that in time your decisions will reflect the teachings I have instilled in you.

12. Remain carefree and open minded. As you continue on with life, you will encounter people, media and other factors that may negatively attempt to sway the way you feel about a particular culture, area of the world and even a certain race. Never forget these days that as a child you remained open to embracing new experiences and all people of this vast land.

 

13. Just know that no matter what, and despite the fact that our situation is unlike most WE GON’ BE AIGHT!

Whether your roaming the streets of Bangkok or sleeping in the deserts of Dubai always continue to ROAM and be FREE.

As you roam, remember that it is not the quantity of passport stamps you acquire but the quality of the experience on the journey traveled that will mold you.

 

Email: TanaiBenard(AT)Gmail.com

Facebook: 4 Deep Around The World