Last Friday, LHHS AVID students were treated to an assembly to hear about a national project called Roadtrip Nation. Roadtrip Nation aims to inspire American students to gain a broader perspective of the world by finding and interviewing successful people from all fields of work to find out how they made their way. The takeaway lesson is that most people, even the ones who make it look easy, had to overcome challenges and setbacks along the way.
Roadtrip Nation was founded by three guys who graduated from Pepperdine University. They were a little discontented and unsure about entering the corporate world, so they ventured out to find out how others developed productive and satisfying careers. Their youthful wanderings became Roadtrip Nation, which led to a PBS series and book and received a million dollar grant from AT&T to bring it to schools around the country.
Invited to participate at LHHS were other AVID students from high schools around the metroplex. AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a program designed to reach kids who have strong ability and personal motivation, but who might need additional help to tackle college and reach their full potential. They are encouraged to take more difficult college prep courses, even though often no one in their household has experienced college life. LHHS is a national demonstration site for AVID.
One of the founders, Mike Marriner, spoke to the kids at LHHS. “We believe in you guys and we want you to get out there and explore your education and career opportunities,” he told them. “Looking for a way to figure out your potential? Explore the world and see the big picture for your life!”
Fred Maldonado, a rep from AT&T agreed. “You are the future. What better way to prepare for that future than to become a Roadtrip Nation? What you do as high-schoolers affects the way the US competes in a global economy. We’re concerned that this nation is not fully recognizing its potential due to drop outs. Enjoy your journey, achieve your goals – we’re counting on you!” Attending the program were fresh-faced young people already participating in Roadtrip Nation.
Videos of their interviews were shown, including one of Bev Kearney, UT’s track coach and the first black head coach at UT. “Growing up, I was in survival mode,” she told the kids. Her dad left, her mom died, and the 7 kids were left alone and homeless. She earned a track scholarship and held three jobs. She took a graduate school scholarship because it included a meal plan. She excelled at coaching and thought she was smooth sailing until a car accident left her barely alive, not expected to walk again. “What distinguished me? I want to be somebody,” she said. “I don’t take reality checks from anybody.” Bev now walks with a cane and aspires to run again, and she continues to make her mark in the world of college athletics.
To demonstrate interviewing techniques, they did a live interview with Carol Kent, state representative from District 102, which includes Lake Highlands. “No one gets ahead without standing on the shoulders of others,” Carol told them. “You’ll be surprised how helpful people can be if you ask for help.”
The LH students, now “Roadtrip Nation Kids,” will be working in the coming months to interview folks and produce their own inspiring stories. What lessons will they learn about overcoming obstacles and finding what they’re passionate about?
