When children's eyes tell of a different future
Sunday, February 11, 2007 8:41 AM PST
Dirk Kempthorne, former governor of Idaho, said, “If you want to see the promise of a bright future, just look into the eyes of a child.”
Exploring the dreams of Idaho children, however, portrays a future that's hanging on the balances. A future that is already bright for some children and a future that is not so promising for many others.
The reality of the mixed futures of our youth has become more and more disturbing as I continue working with young people and listening to their dreams. Two incidents stand out as the epitome of the future in which one can't see when he looks into the eyes of different children.
Think of a 13-year-old boy whose dream is to get out of probation. Then there is a girl, 14, who is asking her parents to be transferred to a technology-oriented high school so she can develop her skills for her future. What about the 16-year-old boy who asks, “What do you do when you have hit the end of your rope?” before breaking down in tears. Then you hear another 17-year-old youth say she has already chosen to pursue a career in sports medicine.
As a regular speaker in many youth leadership programs, especially in Idaho, I have been astonished by a simple observation. I have seen the same young people participating in different enrichment programs supported by our community. It is not unusual to be able to recognize quite a number of their last names. Then one wonders, when will the not-involved youth be provided the opportunity of the enrichment programs?
There is no question that a family's background largely determines whether or not a child will have a bright future. Yet, other adults involvement in youths' dreams can and does make a huge difference. But the results of the April 2006 Developmental Assets Survey administered to 9,014 seventh, ninth and 12th grade students in the Boise and Meridian School Districts suggest that only 28 percent of our young people reported having adult role models. Who is influencing the other 72 percent? Only 29 percent reported knowing how to plan ahead and make choices. What is happening to the other 71 percent?
Adults don't need permission to be role models and it doesn't take a significant amount of time in some cases. I recall an elementary school principal, not from my school, who stopped to talk to me when I was in the sixth grade as I was serving meals at a small restaurant that my dad operated. That educator admonished me to spend time studying if I wanted to have a better future other than serving meals.
The impact of that principal's involvement, albeit for a few minutes, came to mind as I recalled a similar incident that I was part of. I was talking to a young man whose job is to clean offices. He left high school in 2002 and didn't continue with his education. We spent about 30 to 45 minutes evaluating his goals, current income and its inability to provide for a family of two and how that scenario could be changed by furthering his education.
As the reality of his circumstance became clear to him, I saw tears in his eyes and he hugged me before we parted. Two weeks later, that young man enrolled in Boise State University's spring 2007 semester.
He stopped by my office after his first day of school and with a broad smile just said, “Vincent, I attended my first class today!”
I told him that his life will never be the same again. I also believe the social fabric of the community he chooses to live in will be positively impacted by his new dream. When the dream is there, those are the eyes to look into.
