Today was the final day of The Rite Foundation's new program, Destination: College Graduation.  Over the past nine months we worked with college seniors to identify, apply to and finance colleges and universities across the country.

The students were supported in reviewing their application and scholarship essays while also being taught skills necessary to navigate the college landscape.  From budgeting and time management to study skills and understanding the resources available on campus, the students were presented with wisdom from a variety of community volunteers.

As a result, 100% of the students who completed the program will be attending college in the fall. Acceptances were received from Howard University, Hampton University, Georgia State, Jacksonville State and Xavier University to name a few. All of our students will be receiving at least partial scholarships and many will continue to receive money as
the summer continues.

As a result of completing The Rite Foundation program, the students will join the ranks of alumni that are supported through their college experience by our team. The Rite Foundation celebrates with our Destination: College Graduation students and we are honored and excited to be able to continue with them to the next stage of their journey.

The Rite Foundation, Inc.  assigns all of its student work called "A View of the World".  It questions WHY one think the things they do. 

​There is a quote that says "The Holocaust actually started the day the first Jewish joke was told".    I want all young people to dig deep to understand what it means to the world that they think the way they do.  Remember, you are the leaders of tomorrow.  If you have the convictions you have today are they going to be leading the world to be a better place?  Do you need to change a few things? 

Young people, have a chat with your mentors and your parents about the what you believe about yourself and about others.  Don't be afraid to question them too.

I just finished reading "Breaking Night".  It is a book by Liz Murray who was a homeless teen that ended up graduating from Harvard.  It made me particularly sensitive this morning as I passed several homeless people on the street.
 
I ended up having breakfast with Charlie.  A 27 year old "boy" who has been on the street for 10 years.  When I ask him how he got to this place he simply said "I don't want to follow my mother's husband's rules.  He disrespects me."  So I asked, does he curse at you?  Does he beat you?  Does he yell at you?  These answers were all no.  I asked if he mistreated Charlie's mother or refused to pay the bills.  Still no.  Then he told me that "they just want to be there with their own kids and not me so he tries to tell me what to do".  It was shocking to me that he could be so blunt with me. He told me that he thought his way off the street was simply to get a job so he could have his own place and his own rules.  All he needs is a job.  If I had a good one to give him, he thought his problems would essentially be over.
 
I'm writing you this morning because I realize that most of us think that a job is what will make us in life.  We've been taught that a good job and good money will pave the way for a good life.  However, I looked at Charlie and realized that no job will help him.  What he needs is to be able to honor authority and to be able to discipline himself to do what is right even when it's hard.  What Charlie needs is an appreciation for what is done for him and a realization that no one, not even his parents, owes him anything.
 
I think we all are like Charlie in some ways.  We don't want to exercise because we don't have the discipline.  We don't want to eat well because we don't have the discipline.  We don't want to follow every rule to the letter because its hard.  We feel we should have more from our parents, our friends, our significant others but we hardly acknowledge all they have already given to us.  And somehow we think, if there was more money all of this would go away.  We' think we'd hire a cook and a trainer.  We think we'd have more time from others if they had more money.  We think that life would be so much better if there was just a better job.
 
But guess what, just like Charlie, we just need to make the choices to do better...to be better.  While Charlie is choosing to sleep on the street, we are choosing to say we don't like vegetables or exercise.  While Charlie is choosing not to go home, we are choosing to not to budget.  While Charlie is rebelling against his parent's rules, we are doing the same with our parents, our bosses, our teachers.  We are choosing to complain about our lives instead of taking FULL responsibility for making ourselves better people both inside and out; instead of having the courage to push to be our absolute best everyday.
 
I challenge us all to look around at the people we pity.  Look at the people who have made, what we feel are, ridiculous choices in their lives.  Aren't we doing the same?  If we are not taking care of our health, our minds, our relationships...Aren't these just choices that keep our lives from being the best they can be? Is it really that different from choosing drugs?
 
Let's all keep Charlie and the millions of homeless people in the world in our thoughts.  Some are homeless by choice and some by circumstance, but they all need our thoughts.  And then let's all repent for ourselves.  Let us walk in self-discipline and  in obedience to  the righteous authorities placed in our lives.  Let us work to be our best selves so that we can make our contribution to the world and not just have a "good job".  Let us hope for strength and courage to do all we know we should be doing, every day.
 
This is my hope for me and for you...and for Charlie.

Since August of 2012, The Rite Foundation team has been working with a local youth ministry on helping their 40 juniors and seniors students apply and pay for college.  While helping with college applications and financial aid is a part of College Preparation, there is another piece that is often missed.  A student must be prepared for life away from home.

At The Rite Foundation we suggest young people master at least the following "Life Skills" well before heading off to school:

1. Be accountable for yourself. Learn to wake yourself up and be on time.
2. Learn to drive.
3. Learn to do your own laundry.
4. Learn to cook and shop for healthy food.
5. Discipline yourself. Learn
to manage your money and your work.

The Rite Foundation, Inc. has several programs that can help you with  these skills and
many more.  Contact us to find out how we can work with you or your youth group.

In February of 2010 a few young people set out on the journey of a
lifetime...the Foundations of Adulthood program. They were privileged to come
under the tutelage of several of our community's knowledgeable men and women.
Together they created budgets and explored the value of savings; practiced
etiquette and cooked nutritious  meals; learned to develop their individual
talents while supporting others through their weaknesses. They also took the
time to question the source of their core values and discover their family
histories.

After six months of self-reflection and study, the youth
emerged on August 21st to present themselves as ready to be significant
contributors to their communities. Surrounded by family and friends at their
Rites of Passage Ceremony, they celebrated their hard work and personal growth
as we in the Community showed our love and pledged our continued support. 

Check out our Photo Gallery to see pictures from this program.