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Dying to get into school

The unsettled weather that's marked June in Boise so far this year has led to some dramatic sunsets, like this one on Friday night. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)
The unsettled weather that's marked June in Boise so far this year has led to some dramatic sunsets, like this one on Friday night. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

They came with blankets and hearts filled with hope. Longing to claim a spot at the University of Johannesburg, thousands of people lined up early in the morning in anticipation of possible acceptance into college. And then a stampede erupted, killing the mother of a prospective student.

We are often cavalier in the United States about higher education. Our college campuses are filled with students who party as enthusiastically as they may or may or not study.

With a joblessness rate among young people of 70 percent, and 600,000 college graduates unemployed, South Africa continues its after-apartheid challenges. And young people struggle to obtain the opportunity to develop their talents and share their gifts.

(S-R archives photo)

Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.