WOW Word-Of-the-Week #497: Excuses
February 13, 2014 by Susan Clarke
Excuses – things you make up to justify the reasons why you can’t accomplish something.
Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions? How have you done so far? They say it takes 21 days to create a habit and it has now been 42 days. Have you made excuses as to why you can’t stick to your resolutions?
This week’s WOW comes from Sade who some of you know about. I am on the board of Fostering Opportunities Dollars for Scholars. Our mission is to continue expanding post secondary educational opportunities for the foster youth of San Diego County, by providing them mentors and financial support. And I have been so fortunate to be a mentor to Sade since 2006. She graduated from Cuyamaca College in 2009 and went on to SDSU with the Alex Smith Foundation Scholarship. She graduated in May 2012, with a degree in Social Work.
In September 2013, she started her Masters program at USC. When I told her how proud I was of her and how she had so many reasons “why she could fail” she said, “Excuses are my motivation.” When I asked her to share her thoughts she wrote this:
“Excuses are simply reasons to why you should better yourself as a person, and as an asset to this world. While most people view excuses as a negative view of life, you as an 
asset to this world, must view excuses differently. Take all of the excuses you have and write them down. For some it may be, “I can’t give back to my community, I have no money to give.” For others it may be, “I don’t have the knowledge or leadership skills needed to be promoted.” Whatever the excuse is, use it to motivate yourself. You may not financially be able to give to your community, but if you’re an able-bodied person, you can contribute time and be of service to your community. If you’re not a natural born leader, luck is on your side, we now have classes to teach us how to become an effective leader. Remember, excuses are reasons to better yourself; it’s the motivation you need to further yourself.”
Several key points that I have not shared with my fellow Team Crisafulli donators until now are 1.) Sade got pregnant and her beautiful baby daughter was born in the summer of 2010. 2.) 13 months later she delivered a big, bouncing baby boy (they call those Irish twins, and he is as big as his sister) and 3.) Her marriage fell apart. So, if I were Sade I would have lots of excuses as to why I couldn’t go to college.
All I can say is, “If Sade as a former foster youth, and the first woman in her family to go to college (and who got straight A’s last semester) can dream big and go on to get a masters degree, with all of the hurdles she’s faced, then so can you! What’s your excuse?
P.S. If you would like to be part of my team, click on the link and make a donation. All I ask is that you let me know so I make sure you get credit for being on my team. And THANK YOU!