b' making good decisionsHealthy NewsWorks alum charts path to successFrom an early age, Dean says, his parents set the tone for leading a healthy lifestyle with good eating choices, being active, and getting enough sleep. Healthy choices can really make the difference in your life, he says.This positive outlook on decision-making doesnt mean that mistakes wont happen, according to Dean, but he calls mistakes an important part of the journey.For instance, when he started college, he had planned to focus on economics. Economics is a subject where people study how society creates, distributes, By Healthy Comet staffare some things that could potentiallyand uses wealth. He struggled with his Cole Manor Elementary School go wrong?first course and got a C-plus. It was Stop, think, andHe also thinks about whether hisvery difficult to get such a low grade maybe thinkparents would be proud of hisin my first semester of college. I felt again, saysdecisions. My parents have beenlike I was doing all I could to do well in Dean Millard,wonderful role models, he says,the course. I consistently met with my student bodyso I always say, If my parents wereprofessor and studied frequently.presidenthere, what would they say about thisHe worked even harder the next at Villanovadecision? I always assess that andsemester and got all As. He also Dean MillardUniversity.say am I being my best self? whendecided that he would change his focus Healthy NewsWorks alumnus Find somethingdeciding what to do. from economics to two new subjects youre good at and work hard to getHaving good friends and following athat he was genuinely interested inbetter. Expect failure but learn from it. healthy lifestyle are two other areascommunication and political science. Dean, who was a Healthy NewsWorksthat require good decision-makingPolitical scientists study government.reporter at Cole Manor Elementaryskills, according to Dean. Dean plans to attend law school after and East Norriton Middle SchoolsChoose your friends carefully, Deangraduating from Villanova, and with his when he was younger, recently visitedsays, because they reflect you. Thelaw degree hed like to run for public Cole Manor to talk to Healthy Cometpeople you spend time with, thatofficemaybe even for president! As staff about the importance of makingshows who you are, he says. Soa public servant, Dean says he would good decisions. its really important to stay aroundwant to inspire others to make good I always stop and think before makingpositive people and to be aroundand healthy choices so that they can decisions, he says. I always think offriends who encourage you and wantcontribute to their communities.what the consequences are of makingto see you win because ultimately certain decisions.theyre a reflection of you. He says Dean says some questions he askshis group of friends encourages and himself are: What are the positivesinspires each other to do their best and that can come from that decision, butaccomplish their goals in school and life. Page 6 illustration: Aria Bucci, 4th grade, Cole what are some of the negatives? WhatManor Healthy Comet6B Y K I D S , F O R K I D S | S p r i n g 2 0 2 5'