<p>Colleges are falling all over themselves for talented students with stories like this. My bet is that some of them will get hold of this article and she will be offered several scholarships. The only question will be whether or not she has the gumption to leave the boyfriend behind, who, I speculate is one of the primary sources of contention between her and her father. </p>
<p>What’s sad are the prospects for those other students in Newark who are not as talented as Ms. Clay. </p>
<p>I used to live in Newark, btw. I moved there for my first job out of college. The big attraction in town is Longaberger Baskets. I used to think their building was amazing – it’s designed to look just like a giant basket, handles and all. Small aircraft used to buzz it all the time by flying underneath the handles. You could see them from inside the atrium because it had a glass roof. </p>
<p>That was a very long time ago and Newark was still sort of a sad little town even then.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting the article ST - loved it! Our Ds attended a h.s. not as sad at the one Tiffany Clay attended, but still with its problems - 50% free or reduced lunch. Only 65% attend college and only 25% of those graduate. I can tell you why the GC probably didn’t “get on it” and find her a free ride. First of all, if they are like the GCs at D’s high school, they each are responsible for @ 400 kids. Their main job was trying to keep the kids they have IN school and hopefully graduate. They handle many daily behavior problems and deal with parents who don’t care. When it comes to schools, they only REALLY know about LocalU and a little about the two StateUs. Outside of that, they are clueless because so few kids ever venture outside that realm. </p>
<p>I was fortunate enough to have the time to volunteer for our local public school foundation for 10 years. I made it my personal crusade to make sure the arts were funded and kids like these had instruments, music, and trips to perform in major cities paid for by private donors. I found people to pay for long black dresses and tuxes, beautiful choir robes, etc. When people with means found out there was a need, they were always eager to help.</p>
<p>I think you all are right that someone will see this article and help this girl. Let’s hope she has a strong enough “constitution” to accept the help and make something great come of it!</p>
<p>Seems many of you did not read the article closely. It states that the student could have gotten scholarships but did not want to go that route. She does not want to spend 4 years not making any money, only to graduate without good-paying job prospects. She want to be out of school with a nursing degree in 2 years making money. That is her reality. She’ll be stronger for it in the end, I bet.</p>
<p>This story is written to be sad, but is it? For some of the students at the school, yes. But for Tiffany Clay? Her father is unemployed, but it was her choice to move out, and they are not estranged. Ms. Clay lives on her own, but that is what she chose. She works full time, yes, and those aren’t ideal circumstances- but I know a handful of students who do the same. And Ms. Clay has many opportunities: she is a good student, hardworking, and a gifted violinist. She would not have trouble finding a free ride at a college. But she is choosing not to. This young woman has some unfortunate circumstances, yes, but it seems like (1) at least some of them are of her own making, and (2) she is doing well with what she has- much better than many others. </p>
<p>Yes, I feel privileged and grateful for what I have when I hear her story… but not as privileged as I feel when I hear the stories of those who do not have apartments, good grades, contact with their parents, and musical talents. Or when I hear about people who dream to go to college but cannot, instead of being able to go and choosing not to. And there are plenty of people like that.</p>
<p>cptofthehouse- yes. I actually know someone who is finishing up her Associate’s Degree in nursing- I think it might’ve taken her 5 semesters, but she was going part-time for a lot of it (definitely possible to do the Associate’s in 4 semesters/2 years).</p>
<p>She’s comfortable in a small, declining town where the options are limited and doesn’t want to move. Offers of scholarships to fancy big city schools won’t help. She is unwilling to embrace that life for herself.</p>
<p>OK, so this hugely talented musician decided to spend 4 years in college, where she probably could have had lots of scholarships. Maybe near a full ride. She graduates with a BA in music and perhaps $10,000 in loans.
Where does she find a job with a BA in music performance? Maybe teaching private lessons in the richer school districts…</p>
<p>Why do you all seem to think she is losing her potential to study a vocational field like nursing?</p>
<p>I read the article and watched the video. I definitely got the impression that Ms. Clay was not open to leaving the area or venturing outside the limited options available there, but I also saw in the video that she is quite sad about her situation.</p>
<p>dragonmom, she is also a top student. Perhaps majoring in music does not make sense for her, but a 2-year nursing degree does not seem to be a good choice for a young woman with her potential. I happen to know that a BS degree is the minimum credential for most good nursing positions. After a few years on the floors, these nurses have many opportunities, including becoming research nurses (employed on research grants) or, with further training, becoming specialists (e.g., nurse anesthetists). These are extremely interesting, prestigious, and well-paid careers. They are not open to someone with a 2-year nursing degree. In any case, it seems that the choice of nursing was dictated by Ms. Clay’s belief that this field would always have jobs, rather than an interest in nursing itself. I hate to see someone like this limit her options so severely at this point.</p>
<p>I don’t think her story is tragic or all that unusual. Sounds like she’s making practical decisions given her situation and picking a solid career. She’ll either use that as stepping stone out of her current world or not but she’s ahead of most people by being bright and hard-working.</p>
<p>The girl doesn’t share the bougie values that lead the NYT and the posters here to feel sorry for her. That is, she doesn’t seem to consider the 2-year vocational college (or no college at all) as an inferior option. The idea of 4-year college as the way to “develop potential” is also exogenous. Maybe if placed in that environment she would reconsider, but maybe not. Poor people don’t always like what they find at college.</p>
<p>^^^NyMomof2’s post (#10) is entirely realistic about the nursing profession, but also realistic for Tiffany. Clearly, she has no money right now. She is being entirely practical, which I wholeheartedly applaud. She’ll get her two-year degree and go to work. She’ll save some $$$ and, probably, want to continue her education on a part-time basis, so she can become some sort of nursing specialist, like an nurse anesthetist or nurse practioner. Given where she is right now, I think her pragmatism is a terrific trait. She’s doing what she can right now, and her future is very very bright.</p>
<p>I don’t anticipate that the two-year degree is the end of her education.</p>
<p>And she will always have her music. I think her musical ability is just one of her many skills; I really don’t see why that should be the defining skill of her life. </p>
<p>I think she is doing exactly what she should be doing, given her reality right now. This is not a sad story at all. She’s very mature and has made some excellent choices.</p>
<p>UPenn has a good nursing program. She probably could have a higher earning potential by going to a school like UPenn than going to a local 2 year problem. I think it has more to do with the fact there is no mentor to guide her. For a young girl on her own, she is making some good choices by herself.</p>
<p>A few years back, there was local boy living with his grandmother in a homeless shelter. The boy was apparently very gifted in something (don’t remember what) and very smart. A physician decided to pay for 4 years of private education for him at our daughters’ high school, and also helped to support him and his grandmother. The boy ended up going to Harvard. It was a very nice story.</p>
<p>VerryHappy-Totally agree with your post. The 2-year degree will not be the end of the story for this self-disciplined, multi-tasking girl. Not everyone has to go to “the best” program to have a very successful life. That is the problem with the “CC mentality”–anything less than the highest “prestige” programs is a tragedy. Nonsense!</p>
<p>I think this pragmatism is very common with the blue collar families. My husband strongly encourages his nieces and nephews to go to college. However they think of it as strictly career training. To them, you go to college with a job/major in mind. If you find out that major isn’t for you, you drop out. There is no sense of sampling classes, completing distribution requirements and “finding yourself”. Three nieces/nephews later, not one of them has completed more than a year of college.</p>
<p>The first generation kids that break the mold are really bucking a very strong cultural attitude that prizes getting a job.</p>
<p>If you don’t have the potential, then it would be a waste to go to the highest prestige programs. At the same time, if you have the potential, it would be a waste not to fully utilize it - both in music and academic. No, I don’t think it’s nonsense to push one self to get the most out of life.</p>
<p>I think that part of her concern has to do with the view of music in particular in central OH. Our symphony cannot get sufficient funding to even perform on a regular basis and we currently have no permanent conductor. And when you go to a symphony concert the audience is of the silver haired generation. The Arts and particularly music are just not valued that much. I think she sees that and believes that there is no way to make a living through her music.</p>
<p>I have a community college education and while that is the sum total of my formal education I’ve never let that keep me from learning. I have a good job, a happy family, and all my own teeth.</p>