Friday, September 08, 2006

Student On My Mind

Repeatedly over the last week, I’ve thought about a young student who just traveled to Durham and enrolled at Duke University.

She is the first person in her family to go to college. She took the bus from her home in another state. She had student aid, maybe a scholarship, but when she got here, it became clear there was a gap for other needs, like a computer.

I’ve been wondering about how someone gets this motivated. Who in her life fueled that drive?

I’m amazed at students in public school here in Durham. Have you ever reviewed the end-of-grade tests they take? They are difficult and demanding. I’d bet most of the adults pointing fingers at the school system wouldn’t pass them.

Same with the new SAT and that monster essay part. Whew! When I went to school, there were no end-of-grade tests. And for both the ACT and SAT, there were maybe 50 of us in the library… and the results were never put in the newspaper.

We have great kids coming up right now…. Things are complex for them, but I am so proud of people like this new student at Duke… and inspired.

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