Where Is The Incentive For Kids?

Articles

Where Is The Incentive For Kids?

By Laura James
Feb. 27, 2005

Like so many other parents, with our child going off to college, we were deluged with paperwork. I work two jobs and my husband puts in tons of overtime, yet we are considered middle income. On paper we make too much money to qualify for any programs, and too little to be able to afford to send our child to college on our income. I say 'on paper' because it sure isn't in pocket!

Because our child had a B average, something we considered good, but far below what schools rewarded scholarships for. Suddenly our child was experiencing that middle syndrome too, good grades, but not good enough.

Sitting with the school staff, loan officers and school counselors, we went through the same questions and answers. In the end it appears, that if my child was pregnant, already had a child, a drinking problem, or a drug problem, there were all kinds of programs willing to provide college assistance. However, if you go to school, work hard, and walk the straight and narrow... your reward is???

Where is the incentive? What happened to...making the good guy actually look good? Why can't the good guy win for a change?

Now, don't get me wrong, I agree that kids that have made mistakes, need help. I also agree that people that have drug and alcohol problems need assistance as well. I am hardly suggesting we terminate any programs. I'm simply saying it is wrong to prevent, punish or deny any kid a break, when they have worked so hard to try to do the right things!

In todays busy and crazy world, it is hard enough to raise kids to do the right thing. And trust me, I'm not saying a perfect kid, I'm saying an average, normal, good kid. That some of us persevere and feel good about both our kids and the job we have done, is a great reward.

But, where is the incentive for the kids to try to do the right things? If the other kids having all the fun, disobeying all the rules, and doing all the wrong things, get where they are going, and get there easier?

------------

About the author Laura James: Visit AuthorLauraJames.net

Email: laurajames@authorsden.com

Tell a friend about this site!

------------

All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED!