Getting a chance at a better life

Every 26 Seconds One Student Drops out of Public High School

One year's class of high school dropouts will cost the state of California $38.5 billion in lost wages, taxes and productivity over their lifetimes...how much will it cost America as a whole?

Is there any hope for the future?

Crystal Light and Step Up Women's Network gave the opportunity to 35 girls in at-risk neighborhoods a first-hand look at college life, and encouraging all to aspire to secondary education. Most of these girls had never been out of Los Angeles and some had never been on a college campus. Often we hear that children aren't interested in school yet what if the children aren't 100 percent to blame? As the saying goes, "it takes a village to raise a child." What has our village been doing? Our kids can't raise themselves...they need guidance. Maybe times have changed yet the way children are being taught hasn't been updated. Or maybe our teachers don't have enough support or the tools to really do their job. Maybe it's time we take a closer look at what is really going on in our schools in America. These children are struggling with living in unsafe neighborhoods, some wonder if their parents will have money for food this week, some join gangs to have a sense of family, some worry their parents will be deported, some are ashamed to admit their family is homeless...all of these kids are scared that they have no options, no way out...no future. And they feel alone and that no one cares so why does it matter if they go to school? The issues these children face every day are real and when they go to school it should be a safe haven where they are learning to overcome obstacles or circumstances that they didn't choose but were born into. America is a place where dreams come true so why don't our kids feel this way anymore? Well, this piece shows that the children of today really do want to learn and what they need is so simple...the access, the tools and most importantly the mentoring. The girls on the trip spoke often about how when someone believes in you then you begin to believe in yourself. Well after a three day road trip, the girls came back focused and motivated to change their lives and that their present circumstances do not have to define their future. They feel that every dream they have can now be achieved. 3 days gave 35 girls hope that they do indeed have a future. And a future means a productive citizen who can contribute to the community in a positive way. If one child gets a chance at a better life then it makes a difference to everyone.