Unequal paths lead to college life

By BARBARA SHELLY

The Kansas City Star

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The teenagers featured on this page all are strivers.

Charles Humphrey and Chris Bernard are working to be the first in their families to go to college. Afton Anderson pushes to stay at the top of her class. Nathan Peterson set his sights on a top college. Tara Westlund’s ambitions exceed those of her parents.

They are high school seniors, all standing at the door of college. But their stories illustrate that not all paths to campus are the same, or equal.

All young people need help to achieve their dreams. Some find it in the drive and know-how of college-educated parents. Teenagers without that advantage depend on their high schools to prepare them to enroll and succeed in college. Some high schools do a good job; others fail miserably.

(To read more about inequities in the college preparation process, and what schools must do to close the gap, see The Star’s editorial on B-6.)

The common thread in the stories here is the students’ beliefs in themselves and the promise of a bright future. And all of them have at least one adult championing them. For most, it’s a parent. But it could be a teacher, a counselor, or a church community.

Posted on Mon, Jan. 14, 2008 10:26 AM

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