Former Secretary of State, and retired Army General, Colin Powell and Mrs. Alma Powell hit the airwaves last week discussing their hopes and work to keep more kids in school. They spoke of a challenge and their reasons for taking it on, but as I watched the interview, I couldn't help but think that we had just found this week's very appropriate answer to the question, "Why do you serve?" (See what Lorraine Nordlinger, Red Cross Volunteer, had to say last week). Interesting to note that NPR tackled nearly the same issue several days ago (did I miss the memo on this week being the week the debate the American drop-out rate?). Further interesting (and shocking) is the statistic suggesting just how many high school students we're talking about here.
An American teenager drops out of high school every 26 seconds. Yes, seconds. Wow. Take a moment to watch the interview below.
Several ideas from the interview stick out to me. First is the notion that this is not only an educational challenge, but an economic and security concern as well. Too often we look at a challenge of national importance and think of it in such simple terms, but this one isn't simple. America's ability to excel in the future, as a nation, depends not only on having "all hands on deck" to work hard and move the country forward (an impossible dream so long as we have a kid jumping overboard every 26 seconds), but we also depend on not having to reverse course, turn around, rescue, and then spend a lifetime caring for those that do drop out. I am reminded of a speech I heard President Obama give last year, in which he explained to kids that they couldn't quite on themselves and quit on the country, because they are too important, because we need them too much. Every person that fails to achieve his or her own potential not only hurts their own chances in life, but the chances of all those that might have benefited from that person's success. An economic and security problem indeed.
Secondly, and more personally, was Mrs. Powell's explanation as to why this issue is so important to her, answering the question "Why do you serve?" She says:
"For those that are given much, much is expected."
I repeat, "For those that are given much, much is expected."
Thank you for telling this story and taking this issue on. Thank you for your service.
