A scorpion (a poisonous bug such as the one pictured to the left) and a frog met on the bank of a stream, and the scorpion asked the frog to carry him across the water on its back. The frog asked, "How do I know that you won't sting me?" The scorpion replied, "Because if I do, we will both drown." The frog was satisfied with this logical explanation, and they began their journey - but in the middle of the stream, the scorpion stung the frog. The frog felt the beginning of paralysis and started to sink to the bottom of the stream, knowing that they both would die, but it had time for one final gasping question: "Why?" The scorpion sadly responded, "Because it is my nature to sting." Okay, so what does this story have to do with you? You aren't a scorpion or a frog - but human beings have their different ways of doing things (their nature). If you have been doing well so far this school year, continue to do so. However, if you haven't tried hard enough or haven't studied sufficiently or have been absent too often, then you have to change your nature, which humans, unlike scorpions, can do - with some work. The school year is almost one-third done (31%, to be exact), and now is the time you can affect your grades in a positive way, if you make an honest effort to do so. Benjamin Franklin one wrote, "Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today. That's good advice; follow it. Feel proud of yourself. It feels good - and it's the nature of humans to want to feel good.
