The decision right

Our last day of orientation was Tuesday, and we have Wednesday off to finish our first papers and read some more before our first night of class on Thursday.

At the end of orientation, dean of students Martin Camp gave a little talk on keeping things in perspective. He told the story of an ancient Chinese farmer.

This farmer was poor, and had only one horse to help on the farm. One day the horse ran off. The townspeople came to visit and told him, “Oh, how sad, your horse ran off.”

The farmer responded, “Good news. Bad news. Who’s to say?”

A few days later the farmer’s horse returned, and with it the horse brought five wild horses. This made the farmer richer than he could have imagined. The townspeople came to visit. “What great luck! They said. You now have six horses!”

“Good news. Bad news. Who’s to say?”

The next day the farmer’s only son broke his leg trying to tame one of the wild horses. Again the townspeople stopped by. “How horrible! What misfortune for your only son to be injured like that.”

“Good news. Bad news. Who’s to say?”

The next week the emperor declared war and drafted all the able young men into the army. The farmer’s son was spared because of his injury.

“Good news. Bad news. Who’s to say?”

The dean’s point was that we often don’t fully see the real meaning behind things until we’ve made through situations.

He said that many of us would question whether we’re making the right decision. (I know I have.) But it’s not always about making the right decision. It’s about making the decision right – doing your best, dedicating yourself, keeping things in perspective.

So I’m starting school on Thursday. Good news. Bad news. Who’s to say?