Enough hope?
Click on the title of this posting to read an update about Cedric Jennings from "A Hope in the Unseen."
He is quoted as saying "I've had colleagues recently tell me, 'Cedric, it's admirable that you're doing what you're doing, but you should be doing something else. You should be doing greater things.' I feel that way. But I feel what I'm doing now is great in its own way." After reading the story, explain what you think about his current efforts and if it qualifies as something "great." Please respond by 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7.
posted by Neal Haldane @ 6:32 AM
13 comments
13 Comments:
I think what Cedric is doing right now is great. His first priority is to help the kids and the families that are in need. Other people like him would put themselves first and they’d do whatever is best for them. A person with this much potential should be earning more money, but Cedric just proved that he’s not running after the money like most people are. The problem is that people think that the more money you earn at your job the better your job is. However this is wrong, I think helping others is priceless, it’s better than any other job he might get. You don’t always find people that are willing to give and that want to help which is the main issue that we are facing right now, especially with the economical problems. Cedric wouldn’t have gone through all this hassle during his high school years if he had someone helping him go through it all. So, he is being the friend that he always needed but that was never there for him. On the contrary, his mom wants the best for him and since she has a lot of hope in him she thinks he should move out of Washington and do something else. She knows what he went through to get to Brown and Harvard and she doesn’t want all his hard work to go to waste. I think that he should try to do both at the same time. You don’t find a lot of smart and hardworking teens these days and the fact that he is good at a lot of things should allow him to do both, he shouldn’t get frustrated about him. The thing that I thought was funny in the article was how the guys there still define accomplishing something as “playing ball”. This shows that the place and the people living there haven’t changed that much in the past 20 years.
Sara A.Hamdan
After all Cedric has been through, which is a lot, he should do what makes him happy. I'm sure he has had enough life experience to decide what he wants. If he wants to be a social worker, he should. It's great to see someone not rapped up in money now a days. He seems down to earth and it is great he feels the need to help kids. I am sure he is capable of achieving what would be classified as bigger goals than what he does now, but none of that matters if he does not have his heart behind it.
I think that Cedric's current career as a social worker is an admirable one. With this job, he is able to help others who, like himself in his younger days, are not fortunate enough to have a good income, a stable family, a thorough education, and a peaceful life. Cedric can relate to the experiences these people go through and by having achieved such a lofty goal in his own life, he can be an example and inspiration to others who may have given up hope that their dreams and ambitions can come true. He is using the privileges he was given to help those who are less fortunate. I agree with Cedric that even though his job as a social worker may not be considered a "great" career by the rest of the business world, his job is "great" in the sense of the help he is offering to others.
All my life people have said to me "do what makes you happy" Cedric is doing what makes him happy. I think what he is doing is very admirable because his main goal is to help others, he does not care about making millions of dollars and having all the things in the world. What he cares about is helping the people who are where he once was and helping them succeed. I don't think Cedric should fear not living up to his potential anymore because he truly has the gift of helping others, which to me is more of a success than living in New York or working on Wall street.
I think what Cedric's doing is great!! So many people have similar situations to Cedric's. They struggle to get to a better place, complaining all the while about where they come from and how hard they had it, then once they get out they're gone for good. If Cedric had someone is his conrner when he was in high school, maybe he would have had an easier time. Maybe he wouldn't have been afraid to get his rewards for being a good student. Maybe he wouldn't have felt so shut off from the world. I think it's important that people help others with similar experiences. Substance abuse counselors for example, are usually people who have had problems themselves. Sure, anyone can go to school for it, and learn everything they need to know. They can be the top person in their class, but that doesn't mean much to a person who's trying to get help if they can't relate. They don't want someone just telling them to get through it. They want someone who has been where they are; proof that they can make it. That's how I think of Cedric. He didn't forget where he came from, and he wants to help others. It's probably the most admirable thing he could have done. And what's most important is that he's happy. I'm sure he's inspiring more people every day. I know he's inspired me.
I don't think he should be concerned about what others think is great; he should be concentrating on his calling in this world. If he thinks that he can best help the world by being a social worker, then by all means, fulfill your dream. It seems to me that he is doing a very good job at what he does, because he can relate so well to these kids and is a great example of making something of yourself despite the "Dream busters" that might exist in your life. Greatness comes in many shapes and sizes and truly great people are usually the ones with the most money or power. Cedric has a lot of stamina to keep going through all the hardships he has faced and still even now, apparently people can't let him live his life the way he wants.
As a last note, I thought it was interesting that his mother was quoted in the article as thinking he fit in at Brown and Harvard. From the descriptions in the book, it seemed like he didn't fit in at first.
I think that what he is doing is perfect. He doesn't want to go into something that he isn't going to love! if he likes helping others then thats what he should do! He needs to do what makes him happy and not worry about what other people think, because it doesn't matter! he needs to live his life to the fullest!
Natalie Sanborn
I don’t think that he should be afraid of not living up to his potential, what he is doing now is great because want to help others like himself. Its one of the greatest things someone can do--helping others, Especially if the others are like yourself. Helping someone get through there hard times so they can accomplish great things too. Its one of the greatest gifts he can give.
I believe that Cedric is trying to fix things from the ground up, where the problem often is started. He is going back and fixing his mistakes in the lives of other children, giving them a chance. His work is effective and I think he is using his talents to his full potential. Often the simpler thing done in the beginning can change the whole outcome years down the road.
Craig Hejka
I honestly really do not think that what Cedric is doing now is bad at all. I personally think that there is no more satisfying way to live than in the service of others. This is why I want to teach. Teachers on adverage are much more satisfied with their career choice than that of a doctor or any other profession. Social work is a very valuable tool and I think that if Ceedric might have gotten to and made a difference in atleast one person's life his line of work is completely worth it. This is a job which makes him happy and is what he want's to give his best to every day and even though he isn't rich fiscally he is rich in an even better way.
Where Cedric has ended up is great. I find it personally satisfying when i help out others or simply just guide them in the right direction. If many people's problems start out at early stages why not start to fix it there. That is the mentality that Cedric has.
I think that what Cedric is doing now is amazing. He came from a city that had no future for some of the teenagers there, but he managed to make something out of his life. He is doing what he wants to by being a social worker, and I do not think others should persuade him into doing anything else. It is what he wants to do, and should keep doing. Cedric is helping kids, like he once was, and takes joy out of it. Helping kids may lead them on the same path he was and actually go to college.
I believe that whatever makes a person happy is what they should do. If Cedric can find comfort out of being a Social worker and being with kids, then let him. Who am I to judge what he can and cannot do with his life.
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