Children See Value of Higher Education
by Stephen J. Kopp
Column in The Herald-Dispatch, August 18, 2005

As the young boys and girls asked questions and responded to the ones I asked, their curiosity was unmistakable as they sat shoulder to shoulder on the floor of the old St. Cloud Commons clubhouse.

An hour-long visit this past week with about 25 children taking part in the River Valley Child Development Services School-Age Program called “Summer Connection” was a gentle reminder of the endless possibilities a young, developing mind possesses.

Without question, these Cabell County children, who ranged in age from 5 to 12, already are aware that attending college is very important to their future. When I asked how many of them plan to attend college, it appeared that every hand went up. They seem to know that future opportunity will come with a college education.

When I asked them why they want to attend college, they responded with a variety of answers. Number one, clearly, was to play sports. Number two was “to get smarter.” Numbers three and four … you guessed it – sports.

While most of them don’t quite understand just yet what college is all about, they do know it’s something good – something important.

Their sports dreams are understandable. When I was 10, I thought I was going to be a major league baseball player. As I worked to improve my skills, I discovered I could teach myself and learn on my own, if I worked hard and dedicated myself.

And what happened after all that work? I became a scientist.

My point to the children was this message: You can become anything you want to be if you are willing to work hard and commit yourself to achieving your goals. Don’t be afraid to set ambitious goals, and persevere to accomplish them. Commit yourself to working harder than everyone else – aim for perfection – and you will seldom be disappointed with the results.

I discovered that many of the parents and staff members at the Center graduated from Marshall. Most of the children, clearly, have heard about Marshall. In the coming years, they will become more and more aware of the significance that college – hopefully Marshall – will play in their lives.

Along the way, it is crucial that they engage actively in the mental work required to learn how to learn. During our conversation we discussed the following principle about life and opportunity: “If there is something you really enjoy doing, dedicate yourself to become the very best at it. Read about it. Learn everything there is to learn about it. Practice the skills and fundamentals involved regularly to improve your performance level.”

Most of all, we discussed the importance of imagining success, a future of robust opportunity, and then charting a path to achieve it. Each child I met has the ability to learn and excel in most anything that child sets out to accomplish. Seldom are such aspirations realized alone. Parental support can make such a difference.

One thing is certain. I found the River Valley kids as curious as they are young. As the visit wound down, I asked them, “Do you have any questions of me?”

Of course they did:

“What’s your job?” one asked.

“How hard is your job?” another chimed in.

And finally, “Is it fun?”

My answers were brief and, of course, very positive. And then came the final question from one of the budding young athletes:

“How many players were injured in the NFL last season?” he asked.

I paused briefly, looked around the room and then shrugged my shoulders.

“That’s an interesting question,” I replied. It was a reminder that every question is a new opportunity to learn.