I have said before, and I will continue to say, being a 4-H agent is the best job in the world.  I have not only met both youth and adults I would never have otherwise, but I’ve had real life impacts on their lives.  I’ve had the pleasure of working with awesome young people who have grown up to be authors, doctors, legislators, lawyers, musicians, teachers, entrepreneurs, parents, etc.  Along the way I’ve learned a lot, grown a lot, and done, I like to think, a little good in this world.

Not many careers offer that.

Now, that is not to say my career has been 100 percent pain and aggravation free.  Quite frankly nothing good comes free of some struggle and there have been plenty of bumps and growing opportunities along the way.

But…

Ours is a good career.  A great career.  Remember- “don’t let them steal your joy.”

You can’t please everyone.  You will try to do something you think is great only for someone to insist it is horrible.  “Don’t let them steal your joy.”

You will do everything you can to help a child, a volunteer, a family, only to find nothing works and you feel your effort was in vain.  “Don’t let them steal your joy.”

You took this career because you wanted to help young people and now you are told (incorrectly) that your job is to only work with volunteers.  “Don’t let them steal your joy.”

You planned to take a long weekend off to be with (friends, family, Disney World, whatever) and a colleague says, “must be nice.”  It is nice!  “Don’t let them steal your joy.”

“Illegitimi non carborundum” is a mock latin saying that I’ve long been fond of, and it is interpreted to mean, “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”

Ours is a good career, a great career, and you have control over it.  Don’t let them steal your joy, and ILLEGITIMI NON CARBORUNDUM!