Gang Agley

 Hector was in the tenth grade. He has a one year old baby, living with his girlfriend and her mother. 

A while back, Hector was our challenge. In elementary school, we negotiated and reminded and encouraged and at times spoke harshly to him. We reminded Hector that he was someone's big brother and his younger siblings were watching him for clues about how to manage his deportment. At that time, keeping him in class was the challenge. Hector had a tendency to simply walk out of the classroom when the mood struck him. School work did not captivate him. As is the case for many of our young scholars, Hector's skills had not risen along with his progress through the grades. 

Rather than slowing down and accepting the help that was available to him, Hector pressed on and made his frustration everyone else's. 

At the outset, I mentioned that Hector was in tenth grade. He is no longer enrolled. Not in public education. Another system has him now. 

Hector will be serving three years for crimes he committed. His baby boy won't see him until he is just about ready to start Kindergarten. 

If he is allowed any contact with him at all. 

Part of me pines for the days when tearing up a bulletin board or eloping from class after recess was the biggest challenge in Hector's life. Is there something we all might have done differently to break the cycle before it repeated? 

Part of me sighs and takes stock of all the successes that I have witnessed before and since Hector. 

Hector's little sister is finishing up fifth grade this spring. Many of the challenges Hector has encountered are there for her as well. Add to those she has an older brother who is locked up for the next three years. We will do our best to set her on a course that will bring her more opportunities, more chances to succeed. 

We can provide all the support we can, and then we watch as they head off on the path they choose. 

The future is out there. 

And it can be terrifying.