Terry Foster: Signing Day Isn't Just For Athletes

By Terry Foster
The Family Deal

Rochester Hills – One by one seniors at Avondale Academy walked onto a stage in the school cafeteria and signed letters of intent.

None of them were athletes. Instead they signed pledges to attend college. Many are at-risk kids from Pontiac and surrounding areas. Some have unstable homes while others have broken homes. There is crime around them but these 21 seniors found a way through that and are attending college.

Many are going to Oakland Community College while others are attending the University of Kentucky and LSU. It doesn't matter the school, they are simply trying to make life better for themselves and family.

If it were not for this school very few of these children would attend college. I spoke to them prior to their signing and sent a message of seeking help from family members, neighbors and friends. The path to a good job cannot be a solo walk. We need somebody.

I got that help because I on my own never would have thought about journalism, which has led to this nice job at 97.1 FM the Ticket where I co-host the Valenti and Foster Show from 2-6 p.m.

I was discouraged from getting into the business simply because I was black. In the 1960s and 1970s black males were encouraged to use their hands to make a living. That meant applying for jobs in the auto industry, tool and die or being a carpenter.

That happens to be my weakness. I'd starve if I pursued that career path. It just wasn't me.

I ignored advice to use my hands and gravitated toward people who helped pave a path for my love of sport and writing.

I was encouraged by my grandmother, mother and aunt to keep my eye on the prize. I got a nice push from owners of the old Lindell A.C. sports bar downtown and editors from The Detroit Free Press that frequented the place.

The local numbers man even helped me. I grew up in the ghetto and he recognized me as a kid with potential and told some of the street hoodlums to leave me alone.
Most of my education came through the Detroit Public Schools and it saddens me that at least two days of sickouts have kept Detroit children out of school. This is the last school district that should be out of session.

Teachers are getting some heat from outstate legislatures. However, we are all entitled to a paycheck. I do not see any of the legislatures working for free and if they are they are probably set for life.

Even if some of these kids have a support base their chances of getting into a good university are diminished. And it is a damn shame.

Education in rough neighborhoods is so essential. Unfortunately you have to go out of your way sometimes just to obtain it.

(Foster can be reached at Terry.Foster@cbsradio.com. Twitter: TerryFoster971.)