The Adventures Begin...

The New York Times has an interesting photo series in yesterday's issue that highlights college students who have decided to live and study at universities far from their hometowns and even their home countries. Some make huge sacrifices to travel far from friends and family in pursuit of education, while others have simply hopped state lines to pursue specific degrees or vague adventures.

The pictures and comments are mostly loaded with optimism and hope:

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2013/08/04/education/edlife/2013804PHOTOBOOTH-1.html

The same paper has also recently published two essays by young men who are attending Ivy League schools, but came to their lauded universities from less than privileged backgrounds.  These two entries offer a blunt set of perspectives on the hurdles some people must leap in order to go after their goals:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/education/edlife/a-classic-high-achiever-minus-money-for-a-college-consultant.html?ref=edlife

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/education/edlife/a-first-generation-student-striving-to-inspire-black-youth.html?ref=edlife

It's nice to see a little bit of balance in the representation of young people who go away to school.  It's always exciting to start the journey, but sometimes staying the course is a challenge.