Participatory democracy is an integral part of how we do business. So it’s especially heartening when young people take an active interest in public policy.
On weekends.
Walking past the state Capitol on Wednesday, I encountered hundreds of kids ditching school, many marching around a titanic Mexican flag – truly hurting their cause, incidentally.
At lunch, I ventured out into the beautiful day to talk.
Few students could articulate their cause; immigration, illegal immigration, or, as it often seemed, marijuana reform, all morphed into one.
But they were teenagers, after all. And I’m sure at their age I would have done much the same.
Well, except for the part about skipping school. In fact, I’ll replay the scene as it would surely have unfolded: “Mom, Dad, I’ll be ditching school tomorrow to protest U.S. immigration policy. Cool?”
“Um, no. You won’t.”
“Why not? I’ll learn firsthand about the inner workings of representative democracy and power of protest.”
“No. You won’t.”
“But …”
“You’ll learn about democracy in history class.”
I suspect similar scenes in most of our homes. Now obviously, we shouldn’t stereotype all teens. But where could I find kids who take their education, and in turn their futures, more seriously?
Wait a minute. I know exactly where to find them:
In school.
Frances Gonzales was at Abraham Lincoln High School on Wednesday and will be awarded a Daniels Fund scholarship this weekend. The senior probably will use the opportunity to attend the University of Denver and study medicine with an eye toward pediatrics. She says winning the scholarship was “a lot of hard work.” She had to step up her class load, keep her grades high and give up weekends.
And don’t worry about the future Dr. Gonzales. She’ll have ample opportunity to get involved in the democratic process when she’s signing monster checks to 527s in, say, a decade.
“I was not sure how I could pay for college or if I could,” she explains. “I was planning on going to a small community college and work, too. Now I feel a lot more relaxed.”
Obviously, one day of ditched school won’t dent a child’s future. But what message are parents who allow it sending? Shouldn’t immigrant parents – even illegal ones – be hypersensitive to the incredible opportunities a good education provides? How else will their children maneuver out of the “jobs Americans won’t do” cul-de-sac?
Ask Nga Nguyen, who also attends Abraham Lincoln High. The daughter of Vietnamese immigrants came here with her family at the age of 1. Neither of her parents had a college education. She’s getting a scholarship, too.
The Daniels Fund requires a minimum GPA of 3.5, but since, as Nga put it, “competition is pretty high,” she’s come in with a 3.9.
Nga probably will be attending DU as well. Though she’s not exactly sure what her future holds, a major in biochemistry seems right.
This Friday and Saturday, Nga, Frances and about 150 other Colorado Daniels Fund scholars – many of them first-generation Americans – will be getting together to learn more about what is expected of them down the line.
“To enjoy the moment when their dream of attending college becomes a reality,” explains Peter Droege, spokesman for the Daniels Fund.
The new scholars will be introduced to the strict – really strict – requirements. These are not meant to be a burden but to help them realize that many students who enter college with them will become distracted and will not graduate, says Droege. “We truly want to help our scholars graduate and move on to happy, productive lives.”
These are students and parents who take advantage of this country. These are kids we should celebrate.
After all, any slacker can stop traffic.
David Harsanyi’s column appears Monday and Thursday. Reach him at 303-820-1255 or dharsanyi@denverpost.com.
