I know of two young men who were not highly motivated by high school. One worked in a sweater factory for a summer and realized that if he wanted better, he'd have to do college. He went on and did well. Another young man I know apprenticed as a surveyor and became quite good at it. He's reliable and good with customers. He's never bothered with formal college but has picked up community college courses to backfill his math. He's providing quite well for a young and growing family.
He wants to do broadcast communications. That's why we're pushing our alma matter. It's a small school, but it's one of the main training grounds for interns for the Olympics. They trained ALL of the 300 interns for Atlanta and the kids there have had incredible opportunties.
But there's no football, and sadly no longer any baseball.
We're hoping and praying that the trip to Brazil will be a life changing experience. He will see children living in total poverty. And he'll work hard.
Beyond that we're thinkin' of "Camp g'nad."
Heh, it didn't convince me to go to grad school - I wanted that already - but the job I have now certainly motivated me to work hard on getting in. It's not hard, just tedious and unchallenging...
The card-stocking summer job three years ago did convince me that I'd definitely better finish college.
Well, we are busy this morning writing thank you notes! So many folk to thank.... People were very good to us!