Growing Up Ralph - Picking A Career

This wooded area is located less than a block from the house where I lived during my younger years. It’s a greenbelt in a Denver suburb. Beyond the trees is a creek. That greenbelt holds many memories. Most of them are good, some are not. That greenbelt might hold the key to how I picked forestry as a career.

One of the things I hear repeatedly is, “I wanted to go into forestry! What made you pick that as a career?” For years, I answered that question by saying I like to be outside. That’s the short answer but it appeased most people.

Recently we received the following letter. The minute the receptionist showed it to me I knew I wanted to answer it. I took out the names and location but the rest is word for word.

Dear Forest Service,

Last Friday, our six-year old son, was disciplined at his elementary school for writing on a tree in the schoolyard with a marker. As part of the consequence for this behavior, he decided with us that it would be a good for him to donate his allowance for this week to you. We all thought it would be a good idea to give a donation to people who help trees since he had hurt one.

Please accept his donation ($2) to aid in your work with the beautiful trees of Colorado.

Thank You

Below it was signed by the little guy along with a handwritten ‘Thank You’. I wrote back:

Thanks you for your donation to help keep Colorado’s trees beautiful. We will put it to good use.

As I read your letter, I was reminded of another elementary student. Years ago, he was playing with fireworks down by a creek where he lived. He shouldn’t have been playing with fireworks without his parents but he was. He caught a dead cottonwood tree on fire and the fire department had to come and put it out.

As part of his consequences, he had to spend a Saturday cleaning things at the fire department. He also had to donate his allowance, but he only got fifty cents.

I know this is a true story because I was the elementary student. You and I had to learn the value of trees the hard way, but we learned.

Enclosed is a small token of our thanks.

And that might be the real reason I went into forestry.