New Horizons
Here are two nice stories on second chances.
In "The Last Resort," Michael Leahy of the Washington Post tells how Clayton Beaver, a 40-year-old Hawaiian struggling to support his family, decided to join the Army. Beaver isn't sure he can survive boot camp, but he says he is determined to succeed. Here's a scene between Beaver and Army recruiter Sgt. Steve Thomas:
Thomas pats Beaver on the arm: "Do well. Make us proud." He leans toward the recruit. "If you ever feel like quitting, don't. Especially the first two weeks of training; it can be hard. Find your why. Remember why you're doing this. Some people think of quitting early --"
"I won't," Beaver says firmly. But, at that moment, he will acknowledge later, he is wondering why he is doing this.
Thanks to Doug White, author of Hawaii's poinography blog, for alerting us to this story.
In "Big Man on Campus," Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times shows how USC head football coach Pete Carroll is opening new horizons for Ricky Rosas, a developmentally disabled teen. Every morning during the football season, Ricky leaves his cramped East Los Angeles home and heads to USC where he performs odd jobs for the team.
In the one world, he has a sister who struggles with an artificial leg, a mother who can't find work, two small disability checks to cover their expenses, microwave soup at the lean end of every month.
In the other world, he has a title: Special Assistant to the Head Coach.
Ricky Rosas, 18, shakes his head.
"It's amazing how far you can move up in life, you know?" he says.
Pete Carroll shakes his head.
"How can I do this?" he says, repeating a question. "How can I not do this?"
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2007/11/15/ST2007111501174.html
www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke22nov22,1,3266641,full.column