aaaaang girl! What’ s up with that?” Eli Jacobs was trying to get at yet another victim to entertain his lame iteration of what he called“ game.” Using his typical approach, he cornered a freshman female at the water fountain.

She stood up from a hovering position over the faucet and turned around only to face, to her surprise, a 5’ 9’’ thinly framed boy.

This particular female tried to appear annoyed, but her outfit said otherwise. In fact, her skintight Apple Bottom jeans revealed the thong slightly above her belt line, giving Eli an open invitation to focus on what lied beneath. These targets were easy for dudes like Eli who didn’ t want to put too much work into getting what he wanted. Their desire for the attention of boys led them to violate any homegrown values because they were happy just being noticed.

“ Hey, what up Corrie?,” Eli yelled, seemingly forgetting the task at hand. He had spotted Corrie passing through the plaza on the way to the high school gym. Corrie was the starting guard at Central High, and Eli claimed to be his right hand man. His attempt was to gain fame by association.

Recognizing a familiar scene, Corrie replied without breaking stride,“ Good afternoon Eli.” It was obvious what Eli was up to. Word had gotten around that the chick he was trying to get at had already slept with two people. Barely past her sixteenth birthday, she had no respect for herself.“ When is the next summer league game?”“ We’ re done for the summer. Our last game was

Monday.”“ Dawg, what’ s the deal, where you going to college? You need to go to Duke, man!“ Are you crazy, I hate Duke. They’ re good, but they’ re soft. I couldn’ t play for no team like that.”“ I forgot you’ re a Georgia Tech fan. That’ s where you wanna go, ain’ t it?”

Corrie shifted weight from one leg to another to play off the uneasiness,“ No, not really. I really want to stay in Florida … close to home, the Gators or something.”

“ The Gators!?” Eli was surprised.“ They ain’ t that good anymore.”

The unease subsided when Corrie remembered whom he was talking to. What did Eli know? Now, in his final year of high school, he had earned the title

of‘ class clown,’ and had no plans past graduation. A‘ C’ student on a good semester, Eli’ s book bag was merely an accessory because it definitely didn’ t hold books. He might as well turn in his application to McDonald’ s today! Nevertheless, everybody knew Eli and Eli knew everybody. For him, apparently, that’ s all that mattered.“ They won’ t be sorry if I go there.” Corrie walked onto the court like Michael Jackson walks onto a stage. Unlike Eli, Corri wore his 5” 9’ frame well. Though relatively thin, he was appropriately toned for a senior high school athlete. He typically dressed in a Central High basketball t- shirt, well-worn Perry Ellis jeans and white Air Force Ones. Today was no different. His low cut waves were usually tightly manicured, and he had a swagger that compensated for any misgivings.

Corrie had started for the Central Varsity Basketball squad since his sophomore year, and unless he was injured, no one could usurp his position. High school is one of those times when everyone thinks they might be the best player in the country; Corrie was no different. One thing he was certain of— he was the best at Central High.

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James, Corrie’ s cousin, approached.“ Where have you been Corrie? We need one more player to run a game.” James was an incoming freshman and more than likely he would play Varsity. Corrie had always sensed an uncomfortable jealousy from the rest of his teammates, but not James. James, he could trust.

Corrie scanned the gym.“ There are already 10 people in here. Yall didn’ t need me.”

James also looked around the gym, and then looked back at Corrie with a questioning glance. When he said they needed one more player, he really meant one more good player.“ Like I said, we still need you.” While changing his shoes, Corrie smirked at the male cheerleaders huddled on the bleachers. He could never quite figure out why a dude would want to be a cheerleader. By default they got free access to the girls, but it wasn’ t like they were taking advantage of it. There was a few cheerleaders that could pass as 10’ s on anyone’ s list.

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1. I can’ t afford it- There are several ways to pay for college. Including need based financial aid. That means the less money you have, the more money you will get to go to school.

2. I don’ t know what I want to do- Many students that go to college don’ t know what they want to do either. But you can choose you major AFTER you get in college, and after you’ ve been exposed to a variety of different careers.

3. College will be too hard- Universities provide help for students that seek it. Success in college has less to do with how brilliant you are, and more to do with your willingness to succeed.

4. My grades aren’ t good enough- It’ s never too late to turn your academics around. Start taking your future seriously and make your books a priority.

1. On average, someone with a college degree will earn $ 1,500 MORE a month than someone with just a high school diploma. On average, someone with a college degree will earn $ 4,200 a month.

2. You won’ t be working at Burger King or in the mall after your high school graduation.( Minimum wage is $ 6.79 an hour. You do the math.)

3. If you keep up the good grades, here are some examples of what you will make in a few years