Results: Investing In The Future

Hundreds of Malden, Massachusetts high school seniors are being given an investment into their future from their city. Malden Mayor Gary Christenson surprised the students last Tuesday during the Malden High School Senior Awards Night. Christenson told the members of the class of 2022 that every senior planning on furthering their education at the college level in the fall will be receiving a $1,000 scholarship from the city of Malden. Do you think this is a great idea?

About 80-85% of the 432 members of the 2022 graduating class are planning to attend college in the fall. The city said it will be making a nearly $400,000 investment in the future of its graduates. The city believes that these graduates have endured the brunt of the COVID-19 health crisis. From remote learning to lost earnings opportunity during the pandemic, the impact has been real. The American Rescue Plan Act provides the ability for cities to address the negative impacts of COVID-19. This, the city feels, is one of the best ways to utilize these funds. Do you think more communities should do something similar?

While teenagers have been largely spared the physical reality of Covid-19, the full picture of their experience is just beginning to emerge. The pandemic has exposed many teens to trauma and tested their fragile resilience. The school closures, canceled proms, and separation from friends appeared to be a small price to pay to save the lives of thousands. But in exchange, the 14- to 18-year-olds were robbed of the capstone of their formative years. It created an atmosphere of uncertainty and anxiety among some teens, about both the future and their place in it. This gift of money towards their education, while not much, is also the city's way of saying they believe in this generation and hope they go on to become valuable members of the community. Do you agree with this?