Character and Respectability in Young Adults

Click on the photo to enlarge.

The photo shows one marine being recognized as NCO of the Quarter and the other, Marine of the Quarter. (1st Quarter 2010) These young people earned this honor by competing with other marines and passing several board reviews of grilling questions about academics, job knowledge, articulation when addressing the committee, physical fitness, and more. The difference between the two awards is rank and responsibilities.

The male on the left, Cpl. James Mabe, was born in Cali, Colombia, came to the United States from Panama at age 6 when his mother married my brother, was adopted and later gained U. S. citizenship. He graduated from Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina and entered East Carolina University. (Jack Britt High School scores highest across both genders and all ethnic groups year after year on standardized testing compared to all other public 4-A high schools in North Carolina. If you're curious verify my statement and speculate why this is true). He attended ECU for two years and became disillusioned with the widespread undisciplined and deviant behaviors of many modern college students. He left the university and joined the Marine Corps in January 2007, graduated boot camp highest in his platoon, continued training at Camp Pendleton, California and works today in command headquarters there.

I don't know the background of the female marine on the right in the picture, but I would guess she, too, is remarkable.

I admire these young people and their service to our nation. They are receiving the best life skills training that can be acquired as they practice discipline, teamwork, physical fitness, and leadership. Also, they are accruing college funding credits for themselves or a spouse.

I realize all service men and women are not stellar individuals. I also know that all college students aren't slackers. I'm in classrooms with college bound high school students that I believe are the best. I feel great delight in the classroom with many of the students. I see and sense the quality of their behavior, their respect for authority, the hard work they exert on assignments, the way they behave toward each other, and the physical fitness of their young bodies.

I often acknowledge these attributes to the class and add that they should avoid the parties of "young people gone wild" when they get to the university. They usually respond with something like, "Okay, okay, Mr. Mabe we get it."

Have a good week!