In Capable Hands

It seems like folks talk with such discouragement when the topic of the future generation comes up. They criticize their selfish, lazy need to be entertained. They say the youth of today lack sticktoitiveness.

Really.

A friend's daughter asked me to write her a letter of recommendation for her high school English class. As I was preparing the letter and reflecting on her accomplishments to date, it became apparent that Sara's life has not been privileged or struggle-free. She wrestled with ADHD and had great difficulty in school until she matured. Her hard-working single mom couldn't afford the typical perks of teenage life: disposable income, a car to drive, cool vacations. She had an in absentia father.

So for all those Chicken Littles who think the sky is falling, this little exercise left me feeling encouraged about the new generation.

I have known Sara for seventeen years, watching her grow from an inquisitive toddler into the fine woman she is today. She has persistently worked to develop the study habits to succeed in high school. She is curious, intelligent and an independent thinker. Her broad interests include the Japanese culture and language, medicine, music, and dance.

Sara is a leader. It has been a joy watching her challenge herself both in and out of the classroom. Sara naturally gravitates to challenging coursework and excels at things she finds interesting. She is currently taking two AP courses and intends to sit for exams in those areas in the spring.

Socially, Sara has participated in the UOP summer music camp during the summer after 8^th grade, followed by a stint with the Sacramento Junior Symphony for French Horn, followed by teaching herself clarinet so she could be in the high school marching band.

Sara spoke before the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco in 10^th grade, memorizing a speech she wrote and delivered in fluent Japanese. She and her family have hosted two Japanese foreign exchange students and she will participate in the Osaka/Elk Grove Cultural Exchange Program this summer. Sara is taking Spanish this year, in addition to Japanese 4, because she believes a working knowledge of Spanish is particularly helpful in our multi-cultural state.

It’s hard to imagine Sara would be able to maintain a 3.9 grade point average with all of these outside interests, but she does. She also finds time to participate in the Japanese Club (as club President for two years), the Medical Careers Club and the Anime Club (as club President for two years).

Probably her most compelling focus is in the area of medicine. She enthusiastically studies and grasps complex medical terminology and procedures. She has been a volunteer at UC Davis on Thursday nights since April 2006. She is particularly excited to have developed a rapport with the nursing staff that allows her to assist the doctors during her shift. It is her desire to attend the University of California, San Francisco, to study medicine and specialize in trauma surgery.

Is there anybody out there who really thinks she's not going to achieve her goal?