Back to School

The Life Lessons Really Learned in School by FFA

Paul Lierz

August means back to school season. This is the start of a decade of being out of high school for me! I remember very little that I learned in school in practical applications. What I do remember is ‘Lierz’ Philosophy of Life’.

Paul Lierz was my FFA advisor and at the start of every year, we went through ‘Lierz’ Philosophy of Life’. One quarter of vo-ag in 8th grade and four in high school for the first 2 to 3 days of school, we heard and took notes and took a test about the same thing as the year before.

To do this day, Lierz remains my incredibly underpaid life coach. There are certain people in every person’s life that has a lasting impact. He is one of those for me.

On Monday mornings we would go around the room and give a brief summary of our weekends. To this day, I have no idea why that simple practice meant so much to me. It was amazing to me that a teacher would take the precious time they are allotted with us to get through so much state required crap, to listen about our weekends and comment on them. He really cares about his students.

His classes were the least structured in high school, but they are the classes I refer back to the most. Very few of my college notebooks made it to Matt and I’s house and none from high school, except the blue spiral bound notebook that probably was one of those ten cent editions that has the notes from Lierz’ Philosophy of Life, followed by the cattle, farming, etc. notes.

I truly believe the clubs and activities in high school are hugely dependent on your relationship with the advisor or coach. There are just some people that don’t mesh. I’m so thankful FFA was such a big part of my life. Not only did I get a lifelong supporter and coach from my own advisor, but also in fellow advisors.

We used to do officer campouts with Rock Creek and Centralia, two schools in our district. Their advisors, DH and BobbyV, are both amazing and supportive of me as well to this day. Watching the three of these men interact all through high school at events and competitions, taught me so much.

• Lifelong friendships are possible and beautiful.
• We are all different with different strengths, but can absolutely work together to use all of those to advantages.
• Life is hard. Have a support system.
• These men cared so much about what they were doing to take so much time away from own families during the year to go to events, competitions, conventions, campouts, etc with us.
• High school isn’t about getting the credits to get your diploma. It’s about taking the life lessons buried deep in the mundane and tucking them away for when you’re going to need them.
• A trusted mentor that you can talk to is worth so much!

Throughout the rest of the month, I’m going to be going back through ‘Lierz’ Philosophy of Life’. I’ll be relaying what it is and why it meant so much to me.

If you enjoyed reading this, we would love it if you would hit the share button and introduce us to your friends. You all are the reason we get to do this and we’re so appreciative of that! Please help us continue serving people by sharing us with your family and friends! Leave us a comment and let us know how this has impacted your life. It’s the little things that make me so happy to continue doing this, such as a like, comment or share! Have you subscribed to the page so new blogs will arrive in your email automatically? Go to our homepage to do so! Please and thank you!