Catching up with the College Kids: Meredith, Kelly, Carly, Trevor, Mike

It has been a pleasure to stay in touch with these young students who are featured in our DREAMS chapter.  I spent the some time on the tide pools with Kelly and Meredith yesterday, and enjoyed their gentle "childlike" wonder of the wildlife found in that fascinating ecosystem. They had spent hours on the pools as very young kids, however, they expressed a similar appreciation yesterday, as if for the first time or maybe it was because of the deep appreciation of the simple miracles of life they have gained in the more worldly experiences of recent years.

Kelly shared her stories of episode of the Occupy UC Davis movement and police brutality there.  Her dedication to her fellow students has her looking forward to returning to campus after a short break for Thanksgiving at home.  For Meredith, the short holiday is like coming up for air, until she returns to UCSB. She will not waste anytime shifting back into gear as a director for EENG (Environmental Education for the New Generation),  in Global Brigades (Ghana 2012), in her job at the market, and in her final weeks of class as she completes her major this winter.  Somehow, these two, and the other "Dreamers" still find time for moments of quiet, and make time for friends and fun.
Updates on Trevor, Mike and Carly to come...

-Meredith, Kelly, Carly, Trevor, Mike-

Part of an extraordinary class of high school graduates, these young people were motivated in every way.  They loved the challenge of academics, sports of all types, the arts, the youth group meetings, and mission trips.  They were active in extracurricular activities, clubs, and volunteer work.

They had developed a bond of friendship that became the catalyst for this motivation.  Each friend encouraged, supported, or challenged the other.  This dynamic made their daily routine seem more of an adventure.  Even preparing for the SATs or filling out college applications was a bonding experience.  Their friendship appears to be as wholesome as a script from a 60s television show.  It is, however, as real as the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven.

These friends are now in college.  They have been the high achievers of high school and behave as if they expect nothing less on this level.  They plug in healthy doses of fun, humor, and silliness as needed to balance the demands they put on themselves.  They keep each other in check with their cell phone messaging.  It is like passing notes, with the ability to respond in an instant.

Their idealism and confidence are paired with a healthy balance of wisdom and accountability for their young age. Their world is changing rapidly, and they are prepared and armed with all the tools they can gather, including each other, to move into the age of adulthood.