Elkhart

I work in Elkhart, the focus of so many national stories today. Yes, the economy is terrible. Yes, people are losing their jobs by the hundreds. But what I just absolutely fail to understand is how my students don't get that in four years they will be competing with all of the unemployed workers for jobs. They don't get that it is imperative for them to do the best they can right the hell now so that they can get a leg up and help their struggling families. What is it about being 14 that makes graduation seem a million years in the future? I saw the writing on the wall that I needed to take care of college myself when I was that age, and I knew that I didn't want to live in a trailer for my whole life. Where is the sense of urgency?