Petie Pickle and the Path to Graduation

Petie was a very sharp five-year old, who played many video games, so he immediately asked the important questions you should always ask when going on a journey:

"Is this a game? What's the prize? Who is going with me? Are you going with me? Do I have a map so I know where I am going? Can I buy a map on the black market and cheat my way to the next level of the journey? Where do I start? Are there any dangers along the path? What roads should I avoid? What if I don't make it to the end, can I start over? How many points do I get for each level of the journey?"

Petie's teacher, Mrs. Brown, cried, "Stop! Wow, Petie, you asked a lot of questions. I can tell you've played a lot of video games and watched a lot of sophisticated media stories since you've so readily identified all the elements of the journey motif and are using critical thinking skills to problem-solve this journey."

"He's an Information Age Global-Marketplace Pickle." said Mr. Pickle soberly. "We want to make sure he doesn't grow up to be relish." This was Mr. Pickle's idea of a joke.

Anyway, Mrs. Brown told Petie, "Some people think it's a game, but it's not. It's a long, adventurous journey with serious consequences."

Petie paused and thought about this. "So where am I going?"

Mrs. Pickle answered, "You are about to walk on..."

"Yes?" Petie asked again.

Mrs. Pickle hugged her son. "Son, you are about to walk on the Path to Graduation."