We have even had staff take us up on this offer. Losing a staff member the night before opening is MUCH better than losing them the day of opening. Cause the next day, staff looked around and knew. Knew we were all committed. Then we are off and running. Giving people as many chances to get off the planet before the zombie apocalypse shows the people who CHOOSE to stay WANT to be there. Bringing this around to this year’s training theme – the Green Lantern rings choose their wearer, but the wearers must also choose to put the ring on. But if your heart isn’t in it – putting the ring on is only going to bring the rest of the team down. A lack of will is the ONLY thing standing in the way of a great staff member – and if your will is only in it for the free room and board, you won’t make it.

I will challenge Ryan on one aspect of this post. Not ALL parents want to drop their kids off and leave. My heart breaks for the parents struggling to let go. I had a parent this year at parent orientation share that she disagreed with me that talking everyday on the phone was not healthy. I shared she was entitled to her opinion, but that research backs it up. Then something amazing happened. That parent asked the only parent in the room who had sent other kids to college if what i had said was true. The other parent responded that she WISHED someone had told her that when she dropped her third kid in college off. She said her first two went to college without technology that would allow daily communication. Her third and her talked every day. This parent said when she grew up, she was unable to handle basic issues without checking in. She was ill prepared for life after college. The first parent who challenged me had her sister with her who completely agreed and said her sister just couldn’t let go. The first parent started BALLING when she realized that talking every day was more for HER benefit than her kid’s. Seeing that tells me that we need to remember, these parents are dropping their precious cargo off. When I was single with no kids, I didn’t understand the way I do now. These kids are being entrusted to OUR care. That is an AWESOME power – and with great power, comes great responsibility. This from a guy who went to college for a REALLY long time. We need to remember – we have the power to not only “hold off” the zombie hordes – but to understand the cause of their “zombification” and work to turn these zombies to work FOR us and not against us. Moving our parents from protectors to educators is 10% of what we do during the year, but 50% during opening day!