A flashback favorite...
Several years ago, a wealthy man promised a class of
impoverished students free college tuition once they graduated from high
school. You probably think this deal was
“money in the bank” for those students—problems solved. Not really.
A majority of the scholarships went unused. I was shocked by that, but I think it shows
that money doesn’t solve every problem. Apparently,
certain obstacles in the students’ lives were just too large to overcome.
This situation reminded me of the book I just finished. It’s a riveting memoir about a dysfunctional
family whose children still grew up to live relatively normal lives. Check out the book video that features the
author and her story:
I often wonder why some kids make it through difficult circumstances and others flounder. Despite her shocking childhood poverty, Ms. Walls (from the book video) had one crucial thing going for her—encouragement. Although her father made her manage through edgy situations, she often heard him say, “I knew you could do it!” They shared a connection and the various family members seemed to love one another.
While I think that we live in the world’s greatest country,
I believe we can do a better job of preparing our young people for the
future. What’s the most
important trait, quality or skill we need to instill in the next
generation?
