| During my travels, I asked more than 500 | | | | of life. |
| students from across the country the | | | | * Solve your own problems through the |
| question, "What are the three most | | | | power of God. |
| important lessons that you've learned in | | | | * Knowledge is power. |
| life?" Below is a compilation of their | | | | * Never pray for something you can't |
| responses (all duplicate/similar answers | | | | handle. |
| were either combined or eliminated): | | | | * Respect your parents...your life will |
| * Put God first in all you do. | | | | be a lot easier. |
| * Be yourself. | | | | * Always respect yourself. |
| * Do unto others as you would have them | | | | * Do for yourself. |
| do unto you. | | | | * Think before you run (to or from it). |
| * Love yourself enough to love others. | | | | * Build a strong family. |
| * Measure your success by how many times | | | | * To thy ownself be true. |
| you refuse to give up. | | | | * Stay in prayer. |
| * Be thankful and grateful for what God | | | | * Be an example, not an excuse. |
| has given you. | | | | * It's much cheaper to borrow experience |
| * Set long-term and short-term goals for | | | | than to buy it (learn from other |
| your life. | | | | people's mistakes). |
| * A lie never dies...so don't give birth | | | | I must admit, it was surprising, as well |
| to one. | | | | as refreshing, to see that students are |
| * If you can't get excited about living, | | | | actually paying attention to what we say |
| you might as well be dead. | | | | and do. Contrary to popular opinion, our |
| * Follow your heart. | | | | work is not in vain. |
| * Have faith in your life because you're | | | | As the father, I can't begin to tell you |
| here for a purpose. | | | | how much I appreciated each student's |
| * Everything happens for a reason, and | | | | participation in this exercise. These |
| everything will eventually work out. | | | | are definitely lessons I would like to |
| * Stand behind your convictions (keep | | | | pass on to my son. I'm sure you would |
| your integrity). | | | | agree that we could all enrich our lives |
| * The best thing you can leave behind is | | | | tremendously if we just took action on |
| a good impression. | | | | only 25% of the lessons listed on this |
| * Choose your friends carefully. | | | | page. |
| * Value education, not only classroom | | | | I personally believe that the hardest |
| instruction, but life lessons as well. | | | | lesson in life is our failure to master |
| * Love the Lord with all your heart. | | | | the easy ones. When we fail to master |
| * Speak up for yourself. | | | | the easy ones [lessons], they soon |
| * Build bridges...you never know when | | | | become hard ones. Don't you become a |
| you have to cross one. | | | | victim to the easy lessons. Make sure |
| * Have faith when you're in the valley | | | | all of your mistakes are new ones. |