All too often, people go by their perceptions instead of reality. If they just think something is true, they are likely to repeat it as it was a fact.
One of today’s favorite whipping posts is young people. They’re lazy, we’re told, unmotivated, uncaring and unwilling to do what it takes to make it in this world today. While some unfortunately may fall into that category, the young people I met Friday morning were exactly the opposite – and help give me hope for the future.
I was at Tri-County Community College in Peachtree, along with about a dozen other folks from the community, to hear students’ ideas for their potential Capstone Projects during the Project Fair at Tri-County Early College High School. It was our job to ask clarifying and probing questions, identify possible mentors and share anything we know going on in the area related to their project.
The two hours seemed to fly by as I listened to one student after another talk about their project. Many were motivated by personal journeys; for example, a student who has been a foster child wants to raise awareness of foster parenting, while students with epilepsy and a heart condition want to raise awareness, particularly among younger people.
Many students wanted to do something that would tie in nicely with their future career preference, so I spoke with several about nutrition, eating healthy to be happy, and marketing their own books and magazines. The ideas presented were compelling and meaningful.
I’m fortunate to know a bit about what’s going on in the area, so hopefully I was able to connect some students with mentors willing to work with them. We have many people who are generous with their time in Cherokee County, especially if young people are genuinely interested in learning.
The perpetually smiling Ann Miller Woodford, an artist and writer from Andrews; Murphy Police Chief Justin Jacobs; and Caesar Campana of Hayesville High School, the reigning Teacher of the Year for the western district of North Carolina, were just three of the folks who took time out of their busy days to help local students. If their experience was anything like mine, I’m sure they all considered it to be time well spent.
Ben Pendarvis, a teacher at the Early College, does a great job of setting these things up so students can hear firsthand from folks already out there working in the community. The school itself is a wonderful example of how to teach in different, hands-on ways that better connect with students, keeping them engaged and providing a more well-rounded education as a result.
It’s nice to see that instead of seeking the path of least resistance, Early College students already seem to understand the importance of stretching themselves past their comfort levels into areas where there is more work, but also more reward.
These students were active, bright, concerned about their communities and polite. Most of them were even able to look me in the eye while talking. With kids like them coming down the pike, America’s future doesn’t look near as dark as some people might think.
David Brown is publisher of the Cherokee Scout. You can reach him by phone, 837-5122; email, dbrown@cherokeescout.com; or on Twitter @daviddBstroh.
DAVID BROWN: Early College students showcase bright minds
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