This statement was often echeod to me during my formative years. I remember my very first day of elementary school (Stateside) at the age of 4. My parents were flustered because they couldn't believe they actually had to START their only child into public school to begin with; after all, the end was right around the corner! This was 1984, the year the first Apple MAC was introduced, 80's music was loud and in your face, the Delorean was cool, and Miami Vice was just in production. My parents had been baptized for over a year, though studying since the late 70's.
Surely, their one and only child would never have to grow up in this evil system of things or ever even come near graduating High School, much less college? Fast forward to June 1997. I sat on a stage of bleachers waiting for my name to be called to pick up my diploma in a class of 150. I was in the top 10% of my graduating class, mainly due to my own natural intelligence, not due to any pushing from my parents to further myself into going to college. But alas, that didn't stop my class Valedictorian from going to college, his pushy JW mother didn't seem to care about the Society's position of higher education, so her boy was not only Valedictorian, but also attending a local college with nearly a full scholarship. What a slap in the face to the Society, and also to me. While I was happy to see a JW Valedictorian, the irony was sickening. Here was one JW, going off to college to be an engineer. Another had already entered the work force, and had no hope of college as his parents hadn't saved any money for him to do so, didn't encourage him to seek grants and scholorships, wouldn't sign for student loans, and also still preached that, "You'll never graduate in this evil System of Things." I couldn't believe the parents who had once spoken that I'd never see the end of High School, were still spouting this religious tripe 13 years later and applying it to college!! I was just devastated. I had taken my own initiative though, and had attended a vocational school for a while to learn a trade, and therefore had very desireable marketable skills. I had entered my profession at age 16, and one year after high school was working for a major firm, ahead of my peers in college. But that 4 year jump means nothing in 2007, as they have their degree from 2001 and much higher pay scale, and I have experience and am barely catching up in pay, if ever. On top of everything, I lost my father in 1999, so he won't be spouting off how, "I'll NEVER reach retirement age or grow old in this evil System of Things." Fortunately, through a series of fortunate events, my mother has seen the light about the Organization, and I won't ever have to hear such rediculous tripe about education again.
I can only pity any school aged children of JW's that are still in, as I know for fact their parents are probably spouting off the same rediculous crap that was spouted off to me over 20 years ago. 20 years.......I remember as a small child wondering where I'd be in 20 years, wondering if I really would be in the New System playing with my pet tiger. I never imagined I'd have my own career, a mortage, 2 cars, a pet, etc. After all, none of us are even suppsed to be here living like this now, are we? Thanks alot WatchTower Society for installing a warped sense of paranoia into the hearts of your followers, and encouraging them to be ignorant janitors.........
- Wing Commander