"Good morning", said the interviewer.
"Good morning", replied the boy.
"You look a little lost, do you know why you're here?" asked the man wondering if this was his 9am.
"I heard this is where you go when you're lost, when you can't decide what to do with your life. Like career guidance" replied the boy.
"Yes and no. This is the Great Potential course. We are in the business of exploring your talents, there are no questionnaires or anything, we simply make you try everything, note your strengths and work on those. We have one strict rule, 'Learn something new, everyday.'
"What do you mean try everything?" asked the boy curiously.
"I was being literal. replied the interviewer. "Everything from archery to boating, engineering to flying, law to medicine, advanced math to quantum physics, rock climbing to sailing, running to shooting, This includes various survival courses. This course is tailored to your lifestyle and you learn mainly things you'd use in life. Even being street-smart isn't something we can teach, but we do our best.
"That's a lot of studying, and a lot of reading, I don't read much." replied the boy.
"There are no books, only hands on activity. Books can only teach you so much." said the interviewer.
"Awesome, when can I start?" said the boy now very excited.
"Before we do, I need to ask you about what your life's goals were before you came here. What were your dreams and why you're in my office if you had aim and direction in life."
"So, what do you want to do with your life? and please be completely honest."
The boy said," I want to be the best person I can be. Live up to my highest potential. I want to change the world for the better. I want to make a difference, I want to be remembered. I want to surround myself by people with a burning desire to succeed, with people who always strive to do better. To accomplish more. I want positive, happy people to be my friends, because happiness is a state of mind. I want to help people, use kindness to start a chain reaction and show each other what true compassion is. I want it all, a mansion, fast cars, classy jets and to be surrounded by scantily clad women. But most of all, I want to be a good human being."
The interviewer in response to this said something the boy never expected him to say. "Why?"
"Does this mean that nothing makes you happy or content?"
The boy responded saying, "My dad told me that only when you aim for the stars, will you hit something as high as the moon. Aiming for the trees will only get you so far."
The interviewer laughed and said, "Have you ever thought that you don't need to be rich? Or do exceptionally well in life? Its okay to take days off and do nothing with your life every now and then? Its okay to waste time, set your work aside for a personal life. Its okay to be mediocre."
The boy almost couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You said this is the great potential course, where you'll encourage living up to your highest potential."
"No, I said its the Great Potential course where we work on your strengths, the ultimate goal of this course if your happiness. Whether you're good at everything and can accomplish great things or good at nothing, which is highly unlikely and want to live a life just getting by." the man replied.
"So whats wrong with my goals of wanting to be a good human being and changing the world?" asked the boy.
"There is nothing wrong with your life's goals. The truth is son, the world will never change. Not because of Good people who do nothing. But because Bad people will never change. They say we're all inherently good, and bad circumstances make us bad. I think we're all inherently violent. Given the right circumstances, we're all capable of the most heinous crimes. That comes from within us. No matter what you do, or how kind you are, some people have a backward way of thinking, they have so much hatred in their heart for other races/religions/political parties that nothing you can say or do will penetrate their shell. The world is beyond saving.
The boy was at a loss for words, until he remembered something from an old Superman comic.
"Do you know why everyone believes in Superheroes to some extent?".
"Why?" the interviewer asked.
"Because someday we all dream of being saved from whatever bad situation we're in"
"Well" the interviewer said, "You can't save everybody."
"The day a good person believes that, is the day he stops trying." replied the boy.
The interviewer smiled.
The boy continued, "Maybe hate is a good thing, without hate you'd never appreciate Love. Without suffering, you'd never see compassion and as for wanting to live up to my highest potential, I couldn't live a mediocre life, deep down in my heart, I know I am destined for great things. I just don't know how to start out, I need a catalyst, someone or something to show me the way."
"Welcome to the Great Potential course, you'll excel here" replied the interviewer.
"Good morning", replied the boy.
"You look a little lost, do you know why you're here?" asked the man wondering if this was his 9am.
"I heard this is where you go when you're lost, when you can't decide what to do with your life. Like career guidance" replied the boy.
"Yes and no. This is the Great Potential course. We are in the business of exploring your talents, there are no questionnaires or anything, we simply make you try everything, note your strengths and work on those. We have one strict rule, 'Learn something new, everyday.'
"What do you mean try everything?" asked the boy curiously.
"I was being literal. replied the interviewer. "Everything from archery to boating, engineering to flying, law to medicine, advanced math to quantum physics, rock climbing to sailing, running to shooting, This includes various survival courses. This course is tailored to your lifestyle and you learn mainly things you'd use in life. Even being street-smart isn't something we can teach, but we do our best.
"That's a lot of studying, and a lot of reading, I don't read much." replied the boy.
"There are no books, only hands on activity. Books can only teach you so much." said the interviewer.
"Awesome, when can I start?" said the boy now very excited.
"Before we do, I need to ask you about what your life's goals were before you came here. What were your dreams and why you're in my office if you had aim and direction in life."
"So, what do you want to do with your life? and please be completely honest."
The boy said," I want to be the best person I can be. Live up to my highest potential. I want to change the world for the better. I want to make a difference, I want to be remembered. I want to surround myself by people with a burning desire to succeed, with people who always strive to do better. To accomplish more. I want positive, happy people to be my friends, because happiness is a state of mind. I want to help people, use kindness to start a chain reaction and show each other what true compassion is. I want it all, a mansion, fast cars, classy jets and to be surrounded by scantily clad women. But most of all, I want to be a good human being."
The interviewer in response to this said something the boy never expected him to say. "Why?"
"Does this mean that nothing makes you happy or content?"
The boy responded saying, "My dad told me that only when you aim for the stars, will you hit something as high as the moon. Aiming for the trees will only get you so far."
The interviewer laughed and said, "Have you ever thought that you don't need to be rich? Or do exceptionally well in life? Its okay to take days off and do nothing with your life every now and then? Its okay to waste time, set your work aside for a personal life. Its okay to be mediocre."
The boy almost couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You said this is the great potential course, where you'll encourage living up to your highest potential."
"No, I said its the Great Potential course where we work on your strengths, the ultimate goal of this course if your happiness. Whether you're good at everything and can accomplish great things or good at nothing, which is highly unlikely and want to live a life just getting by." the man replied.
"So whats wrong with my goals of wanting to be a good human being and changing the world?" asked the boy.
"There is nothing wrong with your life's goals. The truth is son, the world will never change. Not because of Good people who do nothing. But because Bad people will never change. They say we're all inherently good, and bad circumstances make us bad. I think we're all inherently violent. Given the right circumstances, we're all capable of the most heinous crimes. That comes from within us. No matter what you do, or how kind you are, some people have a backward way of thinking, they have so much hatred in their heart for other races/religions/political parties that nothing you can say or do will penetrate their shell. The world is beyond saving.
The boy was at a loss for words, until he remembered something from an old Superman comic.
"Do you know why everyone believes in Superheroes to some extent?".
"Why?" the interviewer asked.
"Because someday we all dream of being saved from whatever bad situation we're in"
"Well" the interviewer said, "You can't save everybody."
"The day a good person believes that, is the day he stops trying." replied the boy.
The interviewer smiled.
The boy continued, "Maybe hate is a good thing, without hate you'd never appreciate Love. Without suffering, you'd never see compassion and as for wanting to live up to my highest potential, I couldn't live a mediocre life, deep down in my heart, I know I am destined for great things. I just don't know how to start out, I need a catalyst, someone or something to show me the way."
"Welcome to the Great Potential course, you'll excel here" replied the interviewer.
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