Life isn't always so easy...no one said it would be, but every once and awhile you get a little nugget, a tiny little breadcrumb to show you that you're on the right path.  Today was one of those days.  My son, who is sixteen, is a man of little words.  Ever since his was born, he just didn't talk unless he had something to say. No polite small talk for this kid, just a smile, a nod, a yep, or a nope. 

Today, we were sitting in the dentist waiting room and he looked at me serious as a heart attack and said, "I heard something interesting in school today."  So I'm all ears, since the boy doesn't speak unless spoken to.  I said "really?"  He said, "Yep, would you ever try to put a puzzle together without a picture?"  I said "What do you mean?"  He said, "You know, those puzzles, they come with the picture on the box, do you think you could put the puzzle together without the picture?"  I said, "Hmm, I think it would be pretty hard."  He said, "If it was one of those huge puzzles, with say, 1,000 little pieces, do you think you could put it together with no picture?"  I said, "No, probably not." 

He didn't say anything for a minute.  Then he said, "Well that's kind of like life, if you don't have a plan, you really can't live it, you're just picking up the pieces and trying to figure out where they go."   "You pick up one piece and you put it down, and then you pick up another piece and you put that one down, you just never know where the pieces go." 

OK, so now I'm floored and praying that the hygienist is busy.  I stare at my little luminary wondering where the heck he came up with this piece of wisdom.  Not wanting to ruin the moment, I ask tentatively, "Where did you hear this?"  He said, "My teacher said it in class today and I just thought it was a great metaphor for life."  I swear, he used the word metaphor.  This is a kid who struggles in English class.  Now I'm trying to push my jaw up to meet the top of my mouth so he won't notice that I'm shocked.  I'm hoping that he'll keep talking. 

And he does, he says a lot.  He told me that in his investment class the teacher, Mr. Papotta, said that most of the people driving around in the flashy cars and living in the mini mansions are in debt, serious debt.  He says the class is all about how to plan your financial future, so you don't end up having to work for a paycheck your entire life.  As it turns out, the investment class that he's taking at Calabasas High School is using Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill as textbooks.  And better than that, the teacher is inspiring and he's getting through to the students.

The course description is as follows:  This class provides students with a complete understanding of stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, and much more.  Emphasis will be placed on having students become more aware of the major sectors of the world of finance: banking, the financial market, and real estate.  Managing one's financial future is emphasized, and students will participate in several simulation projects.  Careers in finance will also be explored. 

The Las Virgenes School District (Calabasas High School and Agoura High School) has an excellent Regional Occupational Program that offers several unique and different classes for grades 11 and 12.  Some of the classes offered are: 

• Automotive Technology 11 - Calabasas and Agoura
• Building Construction - Agoura
• Cisco Networking - Calabasas and Agoura
• 3D Computer Animation Calabasas and Agoura
• Computer Applications MOS Certification - Calabasas and Agoura
• Creative Cooking - Calabasas and Agoura
• E-Marketing - Calabasas and Agoura
• Mechanical Drawing 11 - Agoura
• Careers in Education - Calabasas and Agoura
• Investments and the Young Entrepreneur - Calabasas
• Fashion Design - Calabasas and Agoura

If you'd like to see the entire course catalogue for Calabasas and Agoura High School click here.  

The little bread crumbs that I saw so clearly on my path today made it apparent that living in the top rated Las Virgenes School district is the right decision for my family.  I'm so glad that I live in Calabasas and my son has an opportunity to take this amazing class.  I'm excited that the Las Virgenes School District offers a wide variety of classes so that our children can try on different fields now while they're still putting together the picture of their futures. 

If you are thinking about moving to Calabasas, please call me at (818) 652-2937 and I'll send you the district's API scores along with an in depth report on each individual school.  I can also give first hand information about the different neighborhoods in Calabasas including home pricing histories.

Every child deserves an education that inspires as well as educates.