The following column is one of encouragement from a French teacher at Troy University long, long, ago. It is dedicated to all 2025 high school graduates with dreams of the lives they envision.

Frozen dinner meals and color television came along about the time same time I enrolled at Troy State College.

Back in those days, women were not allowed to wear pants on campus. That would have been shameful. “Women” were in college to pursue a career. The options, for women at that time were to be a teacher, a secretary, a nurse or get married, but the college didn’t offer a course in matrimony.

“I waited so long to decide which career I wanted that only a French class remained open. I needed the credit hours, so I took it.”

“Surprisingly, Dr. James held my close attention as he talked about the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame, the French Alps and the ye-ye-girls.

He often shared stories in French and then in English.

Dr. James said, a story was more than words. It was often the pathway to success no matter the career path and could lead the way to achieve a successful and meaningful life.

This is the story.

The lifelong goal of a middle-aged Frenchman was to swim the English Channel. He had trained for several years and estimated his time to cross the channel would be about eight hours.

When he entered the English Channel water at Shakespeare Cliff, it was a little chilly but still comfortable.

His arms seemed to get stronger and stronger the longer he swam as did his legs. Six hours into the swim, the swimmer felt strong. Two more hours and he would step out of the “Channel” and celebrate the accomplishment of his life-long dream.

However, in another hour, his whole body began to ache. Each stroke became more difficult. But, then, he heard cheers from the shore. With renewed energy, he swam toward the distant cheers. But, too soon, each stroke became more difficult. His lower body was pulled downward with each stroke.

The cheers were getting closer and that gave him encouragement.

“Just a few more strokes; just a few more.”

The cheers grew even louder. The swimmer could then see the faces of those gathered along the shoreline. His energy was renewed,

But, just that quickly, each stroke was more labored. The pain in his chest was unbearable. Not even the cheers on the shoreline energized him.

In the moment, the swimmer realized his longtime dream to swim the English Channel would not be … Never be.

So, he turned around and swam back.