Most people have heard the story about the commencement speaker at Morehouse College who will provide a grant to pay off all of the graduating class’s student debt. What an amazing gift! Smith had already gifted 1.5 million to the university before announcing his surprise offering.
It’s staggering to think of the effects his award will mean to countless students, families, and their futures. Students able to begin their professional lives unencumbered by debt. Parents looking forward to futures without debt or paying for subsequent children free of debt. It boggles my mind how far reaching his generosity will extend.
Higher education costs have skyrocketed. The student loans of my college years are a minuscule comparison to the loans students and families face today, and attending a state university does not constitute “going cheap” any more. College debt can be in the hundreds of thousands when a student graduates, limiting future earning for years.
That’s what makes Mr. Smith’s award all the more heart warming. He and his family have doubled these families’ hopes for their futures. Paying it forward. Good for you, Robert Smith, and good for us. We’ll never tire of stories that bring joy.
Quote of the day:
“Good people are like candles. They burn themselves up to give others light.”
Designs on Life 