Jane Meets Mr. Motivator (a message to all high school students and their parents)

52 Stories in 52 Weeks: ## 35 Jane Meets Mr. Motivator

By: Mr. George D. Patnoe., Jr.'s Ambidextrous Brain + Spiritual Mind.

A week before the new school year started, and fifteen year old Jane calmly sat on a park bench, with a boyfriend. Jane was just like millions of other young ladies who knew that their last days of summer vacation was almost over, and who did not want to go back to highschool or any school whatsoever. Jane was a very bored young lady who had not read a single book all summer. But if she had read a few good books, she would not have been so bored with her summer vacation. She knew that she had the freedom to read anything she liked, but she also knew that she had the freedom not to read a single book. Jane choose to not read a single book during her lazy days of summer boredom.

Yet, she knew that her freedom to not look at a book, hold a book, of turning the pages of a book, of even looking at the pictures inside a book would soon be ending. She had watched her little bother read the simple comic books. Her little bother made the process look simple. He held the comic book in his hand, he opened the book, and he started from page one. He then looked at the pictures and read the few sentences in each comic block. It looked simple enough to do, yet she was not inspired to read a single book regarding the hundreds of subjects in and of the world.

Nevertheless, she knew that her free time summer vacation was ending soon. She knew that she would have to carry books just to look like a normal student, just to fit in with her peers, her fellow students. She knew that she would have to hold books, and turn the pages, and read the words, and obtain concepts to make her mind stronger and more prepared for the her last day of high school, a day when she have all of the freedom in the world to find a job and work for money. But her hear just was on into studying, into learning, into become smarter, or even about her future after high school.

Fifteen year old Jane sat lazily on the park bench, just counting away the seconds, the minutes, the hours, the last few days of not holding a book, a pen or pencil, of doing the math homework, of reading assigned material, of writing essays, of listening to teachers who had dedicated their lives and their free time to teach her topics that were important for her future intellectual development; but also to prepare Jane for the tough dog eat dog world of employment; for that life which existed forever after high school. Four years of high school seemed like an eternity when is seems as if high school life would last forever. But four years is not eternity.

Jane silently sat on the bench, seemingly waiting for some kind of motivation, some inspiration to jump start her brain’s neurons into the new school year, to spark the magic of learning.

Maybe an angel would motivate her into studying like her future depended on it; which as a matter of fact, it did.

Lucky for Jane, Mr. Motivator just happened to be riding his bike around the lake. Mr. Motivator had just finished talking to a ten year boy who loved math, spoke three different languages, and he could converse with Mr. Motivator like a mature, intelligent, grownup. Mr. Motivator was really impressed with the ten year old boy. The boy was really excited about going back to school because his brain and mind had been inspired by others to learn all that he could learn. The boy did not need motivational words or a motivation speech from Mr. Motivator. So Mr. Motivator rode his bike with a happy heart because he had met a young man who had learned to use his mind, as his mind was intended to be used. He had realized that he loved studying math while only ten years old. What a grand ten year old boy.

Mr. Motivator’s spirit was happy for only thirty seconds, when he noticed two young people on a park bench. For some reason, he blurted out to himself, ‘A mile and a half jog, a four mile bike ride, and another mile and half mile jog. Lets try it.’ (Mr. Motivator kept in physical shape too.) The two young people must have thought that he was talking to them because he heard some vague mumbling words. Mr. Motivator did a U-turn on his mountain bike, ‘What did you say?’

‘I said I wish I could do that?’

‘Do what?’ asked Mr. Motivator.

‘I wish I could exercise like that.’

‘You can always begin by walking first.’ said Mr. Motivator.

‘Yea, but that might take to much work.’

‘What is your name?’ asked Mr. Motivator.

‘My name is Jane. What is your name?’

‘My name is Mr. Motivator.’ replied Mr. Motivator.

‘You have to be kidding.’ said Jane.

‘Well, it looks like you need some motivation.’

‘So, what are you doing with your life?’ asked Mr. Motivator.

‘I am going back to school in a few days, next week.’

‘I bet you are happy about that.’ replied Mr. Motivator. Mr. Motivator knew that was a really dumb question.

‘Not really happy at all. I do not like studying. I am going to be a freshman in high school this year. My first year of high school. I want to be a fashion / clothes designer when I get out of high school.’

‘So you want to be a fashion clothes designer? But you do not want to study.’ questioned Mr. Motivator.

‘Do you want to work for someone else, or do you want to own your own company?’

‘I do not know, but probably own my own company.’ answered Jane.

Mr. Motivator’s mind begin turning over every possibility question to poke at her dislike of studying. Lets see how long it took for Mr. Motivator to inspire Jane with a desire to learn everything she might need for her future after high school. Everything she might need to operate and manage a successful company, or even if she was working for an employer as a fashion clothes designer. What might Jane need to know to design fashion clothes and / or run her own designer company?

Mr. Motivator looked out into the crowds of the tens of thousands of freshman high school students who had not asked those questions. That is, what they wanted to do after their last day of high school. But more importantly, why they were in high school in the first place, that is to study and learn everything they could while they were in high school. He saw the tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands or more of students whose parents never asked them, ‘So, what are you planning on doing after high school? How are you grades? How was your day? Bring your friend over so we (parents) can meet them. Are you having any problems you want to talk about. What are the names of your teachers so we (parents) can meet with them.

Mr. Motivator asked Jane, ‘So what do your parents do?’

‘I was adopted.’ answered Jane.

Mr. Motivator’s voice was instantly silenced, while his mind pondered what it must be like to be adopted by two strange people and then to pretend they are your parents. Mr. Motivator eye’s pierced into the soul of the young lady named Jane. He saw an empty void which fill her soul, but he realized that he possessed only a few moments at best to fill her mind with the important ideas; questions and answers that all parents should be explaining to their kids, to change the outcome of their futures. Mr. Motivator thought Jane must have been his special assignment for the day.

‘So, what do you know about designing clothes or owning your own business? asked Mr. Motivator.

‘Nothing at all. I just like looking at clothes and I am going to design them when I finish high school. said Jane.

‘Are you going to study in those four years of high school to prepare yourself for your dream.’

‘What is there to study? They are just clothes.’ stated Jane.

Mr. Motivator knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for him to motivate the young lady Jane to become serious about her high school years. He decided to write it as a motivational story for all high school students who think that studying in high school is a waste of time.

‘So what do you know about the business world and the fashion / designing world?’

‘Nothing.’ replied Jane.

‘Oh, so you know nothing of running a business, or the laws of economics, or of employee managerial skills or management in general. Do you know that you could gain some of this knowledge in a high school business courses and economics courses? Maybe there is a small business course at your highschool.’

Jane face began to twitch a little as she answered, a low voiced, ‘Maybe.’

Mr. Motivator asked Jane, ‘What do you know of office politics and the politics of the
international world of fashion clothes designers and other players in the fashion business?’

‘I do not know a thing about fashion politics. Why would I need to know a thing about politics?’

Mr. Motivator stated, ‘Because all business is politics, especially if you own your own business. But that is something you will learn later, probably after high school; unless you asked your high school teachers about office politics and business politics.’

‘How about the history of designing fashion clothes.’ asked Mr. Motivator.

‘Nothing.’ replied Jane.

‘What about math? So you can learn how to measure cloth and numbers for drawing.’

‘I do not like math.’ said Jane.

‘But without math, you will not be able to measure the cloth to cut it correctly or to draw on paper or on the computer. I bet you like to look at fashion pictures. What do you know of photography?

‘Well, I do not even own a camera.’ replied Jane.

‘So you do not know how to take pictures of the female and male models who will be wearing your new clothing designs? I bet you can join a photography club in high school.’ said Mr. Motivator. ‘What about business law.’ asked Mr. Motivator.

‘Nothing.’ replied Jane.

‘You know that you can probably take a beginning business law course in high school?’

Jane face began to become worried as she said, ‘Do I have to know law too?’

‘Well you do now, at least some basics.’ answered Mr. Motivator.

‘What about the world of adverting and marketing. What do you know about adverting and marketing?’ asked Mr. Motivator.

Jane looked towards the green grass before she answered, ‘Nothing at all.’

But you see Jane, you can learn everything you need to learn to design clothes and to manage your own company, but you need to start in high school, before you enter and complete college and then enter the business world. But now is the time to start working on your dreams; not later. High school is the place where you begin your academic record for employers to see your intellectual development. But more important than that, you will build up self-confidence within your own mind. Self-confidence is something books can not teach you. You teach yourself self-confidence by achieving the seemingly impossible goals like becoming a real student. Do you realize that there are millions of kids around the world who do not have a high school to go to?’

‘I guess you are correct.’ stated Jane.

‘What about art and drawing.? Do you plan on taking drawing classes in high school or do you plan on learning how to draw on your own? Have you taken a drawing course?’ asked Mr. Motivator.

Jane looked up to the sky as she replied, ‘Nope; no drawing classes for me.’

‘How do you think clothes designers usually put their new clothes designs on paper?’

‘By drawing?’ guessed Jane.

‘Do you know that they probably offer drawing and art classes in high school. But if they do not offer drawing and art classes, you can borrow drawing books at the library or buy them at book stores. Used book stores sell art books cheaper than the new books stores.

’I do not know how to draw. But maybe I should learn to draw. I guess I might have too.’

‘And how about drawing on the computer. Are you planning to take courses dealing with computer drawing, commonly called computer graphics and CAD, or digital drawing?’

Jane’s face began to become confused with the concept of complex drawing with a machines and software on a computer before she answered, ‘Drawing on a computer. They do that now?’

‘Do you subscribe to fashion magazines and do you know the major fashion designers around the world?’ asked Mr. Motivator.

‘No.’ was all Jane could respond.

‘What about color theory?’ asked Mr. Motivator.

Jane’s facial smile turned downward into a grim, before she replied with, ‘Color theory? And why would I have to know about colors and color theory?’

Mr. Motivator looked out towards the colorful park and he that knew he was going to have some fun being Mr. Motivator. It was almost the magical show time for Mr. Motivator. To use his magical finger to prove his point about color theory; but first, some more questions for Jane. ‘So you do not know about the primary colors and the secondary colors? And how to mix and blend colors? Oh boy, you do not know what you are missing. Think of all the great painters who painted with oils. Do you think they worked with colors?’

Jane replied sadly with, ‘What are primary and secondary colors? I thought all colors were equal.’

Mr. Motivator looked out towards the light brown tan mountain, the blue sky, the green grass, the brown trees. Mr. Motivator decided to play a game with Jane.

‘So, you think understanding color is not important? Do you mind if we play a little color game?’

‘A color game’ said Jane.

‘Well, we can call this, ‘The Supernatural Color Game.’ created by the Cosmic Creator, but used by Mr. Motivator, a supernatural motivator.

Mr. Motivator looked out to the scene before him and he said to Jane, ‘The whole of nature is filled with colors. Colors that seem so exact that they fit into their proper place wherever they are located. But colors also fit into the fashion world too. Say, what would happen if we switched the colors around; say, moved a few colors around, just for the fun of it. Lets make the mountain the sky blue and make the sky the mountain’s light tan brown. Let me make the grass sun yellow and the sun grass green. Let me make the clouds tree brown and make the trees cloud white. Mr. Motivator swung his arm in a half circle, and presto; the mountain was sky blue and the sky was mountain tan light brown. The grass turned yellow and the sun turned grass green. The clouds became tree brown and the trees became cloud white.

Jane rubbed her eyes. ‘How did you do that?’asked Jane.

Mr. Motivator laughed out loud, ‘That is not important. Lets pretend that the colors changed only within your mind; that externally, everything is normal to everyone else. ‘But what do you think?’

‘What do I think about what? asked Jane. ‘How did you change the colors of the park?’

‘Lets call them, supernatural colors. They are temporally under my command to prove a point. It seems you need some inspiration to study in high school. It seems as if you think you are going to be a fashion clothing designer without studying many subjects and working hard at learning about many topics, but especially color theory. But I am here to inform you that is impossible. You have four years of high school where you can study many subjects to prepare you for college; for any career choice you will make. But now is the time to prepare for your life after high school. Now, back to the changed colors. What do you think?’ Mr. Motivator was rolling.

‘I think they are very strange.’ said Jane.

Mr. Motivator said, ‘Ok, let all color return back to normal. Now what do you think?

‘It is better, but why are you doing this?’ asked Jane.

Mr. Motivator responded, ‘I do not have enough time to explain color theory to you. So, I am just trying to force you to think about the wonderful world of colors. I have an ideal You tell me what colors you want everything to be and I will supernaturally paint the scene. What do you think about that?’

‘I think you are a trip.’ said a scary Jane.

Mr. Motivator said, ‘Ok, forget that idea. But when you start an art class or a class for designing fashion clothes, you will eventually be forced to learn about colors and how to apply color in pencil, paint, and on the computer. ‘Let the sky and the mountain be back to normal.’ He swung his hand in a half circle and everything was back to normal. ‘Lets play a new game. See that lady walking this way. Lets change the colors of her clothes. You can pick any colors you want and I will color the clothes for you. But you have to think about the colors and how they work with each other. What makes color sense and what is just color crazy. And more importantly, what mixes and matches of colors are people going to love to wear, to spend money on. Do you think that fashion clothes designers ignore the colors of clothes?’

Jane sat on the bench. She was silent. She was thinking. She was obviously in shock, but she seeing the light! And the colors! She began to open her mouth, but she questionably starred at Mr. Motivator’s finger. His finger was pointed straight out, as if was a color pencil or a paint brush. He was waiting to take his finger to dip it into the invisible paint cans to paint the clothes. Jane was getting the message. She would have to learn to think about: business, money, management, math, advertising, photography, drawing, art, fashion politics, the fashion world, and many other topics before she could design a single outfit and sell it to the world. Oh yes, she would have to learn to be a saleslady too. So she would have to learn great communication skills to top everything off; like a red cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.

Mr. Motivator knew something about a sales pitch, and how to close the deal. His time was up. He reached out to shake Jane’s hand. ‘Hey, Jane. Do we have a deal?’

‘What deal is that?’ asked Jane.

‘That when you return to school to start your first year of high school, that you are going to learn as much as you can before you start college?’

Jane reached out her hand before she answered, ‘Sure, Mr. Motivator, Sure. We have a deal. I will study as if my future depends on learning as much as I can about everything.’

Mr. Motivator rode off into the sunset without saying a single word because he knew that he had just changed the course of history for one single person. Mr. Motivator hopes all parents would send this week's message to their children before it is to late.