On this day every year we celebrate the United States’ independence from England in 1776. Relatively young men, propelled by idealism and growth, rose up to the challenge of breaking away and becoming something new. However, it is important to note that those young men did not do it alone. Not only did they band together, they sought mentorship and information from previous and current governments, most particularly, France.
It is neither unpatriotic nor weak to recognize that without the assistance of the French military, our war for independence might have ended quite differently. In the same vein, it is important to recognize that each of us as individuals does not accomplish the jump to adult independence on our own. We need mentors, structure, life skills, and as much experiential learning as possible. And that is what we strive to provide: the tools with which to achieve independence.
Happy Fourth of July!