The most gifted teenagers in Elmore County are expected to enjoy fame, prosperity and achievement but will nonetheless experience failure and despair at some point in their lives.
Some may get divorced or fired. Some may file bankruptcy. Some may be told they aren’t as skilled or as smart as their competitors and their ideas have no merit. Their loved ones will die, perhaps slowly with age or suddenly and violently.
kAm%96J H:== 5@ H6== E@ C6>6>36C E96 ?:89E 7@C>6C &?:G6CD:EJ @7 p=232>2 7@@E32== DE2C $:C2? $E24J E@=5 E96> 23@FE 8=:>AD:?8 96== 2?5 7:?5:?8 E96 :==F>:?2E:@? E@ C6G:G6 9:D 9@A6]k^Am
kAm$E24J’D =:76 H2D @G6C >2?J E:>6D 2?5 D@>69@H v@5 <6AE 3C:?8:?8 9:> 324< ;FDE E@ DE2?5 :? 2 32==C@@> :? (6EF>A<2 =2DE H66< 2?5 E6== E96 7:?2=:DED 7@C E96 y@6 $6H6== |6>@C:2= pH2C5 2?5 y@9? $6H6== $49@=2CD9:A E96J H:== DEF>3=6[ A6C92AD AC64:A:E@FD=J[ 3FE ?665?’E C6>2:? ?@D6 5@H? :? E96 5:CE]k^Am
kAm“*@F’C6 =:DE6?:?8 E@ 2 >:C24=6 E@?:89E[” $E24J E@=5 E96>]k^Am
kAmp7E6C ?62C=J 2? 9@FC @7 H9:DA6C:?8 2?5 H2:=:?8[ @7 @A6?:?8 E96 EC:F>A9D[ EC2865:6D 2?5 =6DD@?D @7 9:D =:76 E@ AF3=:4 C6G:6H[ 2?5 H:E9 DH62E 2?5 E62CD 7=@@5:?8 9:D 7246[ $E24J H2D 8:G6? 2 DE2?5:?8 @G2E:@? 72C >@C6 D2E:D7J:?8 E92? E96 25F=2E:@? @7 f_[___ A6@A=6 7@C D4@C:?8 E@F495@H?D]k^Am
kAm%96 =:EE=6 3@J 7C@> v6?6G2 H9@ =@@<65 :?E@ 2 3=24<\2?5\H9:E6 %' D6E[ D2H 9:>D6=7 DE2?5:?8 ?6IE E@ !2F= “q62C” qCJ2?E 2?5 H2D E@=5 96 H2D?’E 8@@5 6?@F89 E@ 5@ :E =67E 9@>6 H:E9 @?6 328[ 42>6 324< H:E9 E96 D2>6 328 2?5 6?@F89 C@@> 7@C 2 4C:>D@? ;6CD6J[ D9C65565 9:D <?66[ 3642>6 2 AC@[ 3642>6 D6=7:D9 2?5 564256?E[ E96? D@>?2>3F=2?E 2?5 56DA@?56?E H96? 96 =@DE 2=>@DE 9:D 6?E:C6 72>:=J :? 2 HC64< 2?5 4@?E6>A=2E65 DF:4:56]k^Am
kAm%96? 96 3682? =:G:?8 H96?[ 2D 96 AFE :E[ “x 5:65 E@ >JD6=7]”k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 42==65 E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8[” $E24J D2:5] “(92E x’> E6==:?8 J@F ?@H :D x’G6 =:G65 :E] %9:D 92AA6?65 E@ >6]”k^Am
kAm$E24J E@=5 E96 E66?286CD E96:C >:DD:@? :? =:76 >FDE :?4=F56 E96 6?5 @7 5:G:D:G6?6DD :? p>6C:42 2?5 6G6? :? t=>@C6 r@F?EJ @C H96C6G6C E96J 8@ 3642FD6 2 7C24EFC65 4@F?ECJ :D @?=J 2 =2C86C >2?:76DE2E:@? @7 E96 5642J:?8 C@@ED @7 5646?4J 2?5 8@@5?6DD 2E 9@>6]k^Am
kAm“*@F?8 A6@A=6[ x 962C 2== E96 E:>6[ ‘x’> AC@F5 E@ 36 E9:D 86?56C[’ @C ‘x’> AC@F5 E@ 36 E9:D D6IF2= AC676C6?46[’ 3FE J@F 5@?’E 962C[ ‘x’> AC@F5 E@ 36 2 r9C:DE:2?[’” $E24J D2:5] “%@ F?:7J[ J@F’G6 8@E E@ 5:6 E@ J@FCD6=7] *@F’G6 8@E E@ 36 D6=7=6DD] *@F’C6 E96 |6 v6?6C2E:@?] *@F E2<6 D6=7:6D] *@F A@DE @? u2463@@< E92E J@F ;FDE 2E6 2 9@E 5@8] qFE r9C:DE D2:5[ ‘*@F 92G6 E@ 56?J J@FCD6=7 E@ 7@==@H |6]’ (6 2C6 A6C764E H96? H6 56?J @FCD6=G6D 2?5 4@>6 E@86E96C] }@3@5J <?@HD :E 2==] q2AE:DED 5@?’E <?@H :E 2==[ r9FC49 @7 r9C:DE 5@6D?’E <?@H :E 2==[ |6E9@5:DED 5@?’E <?@H :E 2==] %@ F?:7J E96C6 92D E@ 36 =@G6 3FE H6’C6 :? 2 86?6C2E:@? H96C6 H6 5@?’E =@G6 6249 @E96C 2?J>@C6]”k^Am
kAm$E24J A=62565 H:E9 E96 E66?286CD E@ C6D:DE E96 @C5:?2CJ EC24<D @7 =:76]k^Am
kAm“(9@ 2C6 J@Fn” 96 2D<65] “(6 2C6 3C@F89E FA E@ 36 H9@ H6 H6C6 E@=5 E@ 36] *@F 8@ E@ D49@@=[ 86E 2 ;@3[ 86E >2CC:65[ 92G6 <:5D[ 86E 2 >@CE8286[ E96? D:E :? 2 C@4<:?8 492:C 2?5 C6E:C6 D@>652J] %92E’D H9@ H6’G6 366? E@=5 H6 2C6] … *@F’G6 8@E E@ <66A H@C<:?8] x7 J@F >2<6 E96 562?’D =:DE[ <66A 8@:?8 9:896C] *@F 42? 492?86 E9:D H@C=5]”k^Am
kAm$E24J 3682? 492?8:?8 E96 H@C=5 3J H2E49:?8 p=232>2 7@@E32== 82>6D @? %' 2E 9@>6 :? v6?6G2]k^Am
kAm“~? $2EFC52JD[ x’5 H2E49 @? E9:D =:EE=6 3=24<\2?5\H9:E6 %'[” 96 D2:5] “%9@D6 H6C6 E96 52JD E@ 86E 2 8@@5 A:4EFC6 J@F’5 8@ @FE 2?5 EH:DE E96 2?E6??2] $@>6@?6 :? 96C6 <?@HD H92E x’> E2=<:?8 23@FE] x D2H p=232>2 @? %' 2?5 x D2:5[ ‘x’> 8@:?8 E@ A=2J 7@C E92E >2? D@>6 52J]’ x 5:5?’E 6G6? <?@H H9@ 96 H2D] xE H2D 4@249 qCJ2?E] tI46AE x =:G65 :? ‘%96 q@EE@>’ 2?5 A6@A=6 @? >J D:56 @7 E@H? 5:5?’E 8@ E@ p=232>2] x 925 E@ 86E D@>6@?6 E@ 4@>6 :?E@ 28C66>6?E H:E9 >6 E92E x 4@F=5 5@ :E]”k^Am
kAm$E24J 5:5?’E 7:?5 2?J DF49 28C66>6?E]k^Am
kAm“x 5:5 ;FDE 6?@F89 E@ 86E 3J :? D49@@= 2?5 :E 42F89E FA H:E9 >6[” 96 D2:5] “|J 8F:52?46 4@F?D6=@C E@=5 >6 2E 42C66C 52J[ ‘$:C2?[ J@F 2C6 ?@E 4@==686 >2E6C:2=]’ x C6>6>36C H2=<:?8 9@>6 766=:?8 E9:D E2==[ C6;64E65[ 56>62?65] $@ x H6?E E@ r@776JG:==6 Wz2?D2DX yF?:@C r@==686 H:E9 E96 5C62> DE:== 3F33=:?8 FA] x 8@E @? E96 vC6J9@F?5 3FD @?6 52J H:E9 @?6 =:EE=6 328 2?5 x E@=5 >J >2>2[ ‘x’G6 8@E E@ E2<6 >J D9@E] x7 x DE2J :? v6?6G2[ x H@?’E 2>@F?E E@ 2?JE9:?8]’”k^Am
kAm(96? $E24J 8@E @77 E96 3FD :? z2?D2D 27E6C 2 bb\9@FC C:56[ :E H2D 2=:6? 2?5 F?H6=4@>:?8]k^Am
kAm“}@3@5J H2D E96C6 E@ A:4< >6 FA[” 96 D2:5] “x DE@@5 E96C6 2?5 H2E4965 E9@D6 C65 =:89ED @? E96 3FD AF== 2H2J] x 925 @?6 328 2?5 DE2CE65 H2=<:?8 2?5 <?@4<:?8 @? 5@@CD 2E c @’4=@4< :? E96 >@C?:?8] p?5 x 925 2 DEFEE6C:?8 AC@3=6>] %9:D @?6 8FJ 2?DH6C65 E96 5@@C 2?5 96 H2D ?@E 92AAJ 2?5 x H2D DEFEE6C:?8] w6 =6E >6 D=66A @? E96 7=@@C]”k^Am
kAmxE H@F=5 92G6 366? 62DJ E@ DE2J @? E96 7=@@C 925 96 <?@H? H92E H2D :? DE@C6 7@C 9:> A=2J:?8 F?56C 4@249 s:4< u@DE6C]k^Am
kAm“w6 H2D 2 E@F89 8FJ[” $E24J D2:5] “w6 H2D 2 5:D4:A=6 @7 (@@5J w2J6D]”k^Am
kAmqFE E92E H2D ;FDE H92E $E24J ?66565] w6 C6565:42E65 9:>D6=7 24256>:42==J 2?5 3642>6 @?6 @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D 36DE ;F?:@C 4@==686 CF??:?8 324<D] qJ `hgh[ q:== rFCCJ H2D p=232>2’D 4@249 2?5 $E24J 8@E 9:D @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 4@>6 9@>6 — 2?5 ?@E @? 2 3FD]k^Am
kAm“%96J E@=5 >6 E96J H2?E65 >6 :? p=232>2 E96 ?6IE 52J 2?5 x D2:5[ ‘&9[ :E E@@< >6 bb 9@FCD E@ 86E @FE 96C6 7C@> p=232>2’ 2?5 E96J D2:5 ?@[ E96J H6C6 D6?5:?8 2 ;6E 7@C >6[” $E24J D2:5] “$@ x H6?E E@ E96 2:CA@CE] x 925 ?6G6C 366? :? 2? 2:CA@CE] x DE:== 925 E92E @?6 =:EE=6 328 2?5 x D2H E96 ;6E E92E D2:5 ‘%96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 p=232>2’ @? :E] xE 925 =62E96C D62ED 2?5 H96? H6 E@@< @77 x 925 2 r@<6 2?5 2 D>:=6] xE E@@< 2? 9@FC 2?5 7:G6 >:?FE6D] x C6>6>36C H96? x D2H E96 A:?6 EC66D[ E62CD 42>6 5@H? >J 7246]”k^Am
kAm$E2CE:?8 H2D?’E E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E E9:?8 :? 9:D 7:CDE 82>6 2E p=232>2[ 282:?DE |6>A9:D 2E {68:@? u:6=5 :? `hgh] yFDE 36:?8 @? E96 7:6=5 H2D]k^Am
kAm“x 42>6 @FE @7 E92E EF??6= 2?5 D2H E96 |:==:@? s@==2C q2?5[ q:8 p=[ E96 4966C=6256CD[” $E24J D2:5] “x D66 2 8@2=A@DE 2?5 x 7C66K6 :? >J EC24<D] x’> E9:?<:?8[ ‘%H6=G6 J62CD 28@ x D2H WqCJ2?EX @? E92E D2>6 8@2=A@DE @? %']’ xE E@@< `a J62CD 7@C :E E@ 92AA6?] x 925 E62CD 2?5 >J E62>>2E6D H2?E65 E@ <?@H H9J x H2D 4CJ:?8]”k^Am
kAm$E24J 42>6 @77 E96 36?49 @? E96 G6C86 @7 9JA6CG6?E:=2E:?8]k^Am
kAm“x 8@E :? :? E96 D64@?5 BF2CE6C 2?5 x <6AE D2J:?8[ ‘v:G6 >6 E96 32==P v:G6 >6 E96 32==P’” $E24J D2:5] “%96J’5 E6== >6 E@ 42=> 5@H? 2?5 x <6AE D2J:?8[ ‘v:G6 >6 E96 32==P’ %96 7:CDE EH@ E:>6D x 8@E :E[ x D4@C65 2 E@F495@H?] x C2? 7@C 7@FC E@F495@H?D E92E 52J] %9:D :D E96 A@H6C @7 E96 F?D66? v@5 x’> E2=<:?8 23@FE]”k^Am
kAm$E24J H6?E @? E@ 364@>6 2 EH@\E:>6 p==\$tr CF??:?8 324< :? `hgh 2?5 `hh` 56DA:E6 E62C:?8 2== E9C66 >2;@C =:82>6?ED :? 9:D C:89E <?66 :? E96 `hh_ @A6?6C] w6 H2D 5C27E65 3J E96 !9:=256=A9:2 t28=6D] w6 A=2J65 :? tFC@A6 2?5 :? E96 r2?25:2? u@@E32== {628F6] w6 >6E 2?5 >2CC:65 t==6? q:3=6[ H9@ A=2J65 G@==6J32== 2E p=232>2]k^Am
kAm(:E9 9:D 2E9=6E:4 42C66C @G6C[ D@>6E9:?8 EF8865 2E $E24J]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 H2D 2=H2JD D@>6E9:?8 :?D:56 >6 E92E H2?E65 E@ 96=A D@>63@5J[” $E24J D2:5[ D@ 96 3682? C6249:?8 @FE E@ A6@A=6 E9C@F89 E96 u6==@HD9:A @7 r9C:DE:2? pE9=6E6D 2?5 E96 q:== v=2DD !C:D@? |:?:DECJ]k^Am
kAm$E24J C6>6>36C65 8@:?8 E@ 2 7656C2= AC:D@? :? u=@C:52 2?5 E6==:?8 E96 4@?G:4E65 4C:>:?2=D[ “*@FC =:76 :D ?@E @G6C]” %96? 96 925 E@ AC@G6 :E]k^Am
kAm“p? @=56C :?>2E6 42>6 FA E@ >6 2?5 8C23365 >6 2?5 2D<65[ ‘r2? x 36 7@C8:G6?n x 5:5 :E] x C2A65 E92E 8:C=[’” $E24J D2:5] “w6 D2E E96C6 32H=:?8] x’> E9:?<:?8[ ‘w@H 4@F=5 J@F 5@ D@>6E9:?8 =:<6 E92En #2A6 2 8:C=n’ qFE :E 9:E >6 E92E 96 4@F=5 36 7@C8:G6?] (6 AC2J65 C:89E E96C6]”k^Am
kAm$E:==[ $E24J 25>:EE65 96 9JA@4C:E:42==J =:G65 EH@ =:G6D]k^Am
kAm“%92E =@G6 H2D ?@E E96C6[” 96 D2:5] “x H2D =:G:?8 2 D6=7:D9 =:76] x H2D?’E :? 28C66>6?E H:E9 >J H:76]”k^Am
kAm%96 EH@ =:G6D 96 =65 H6C6 D92EE6C65 5FC:?8 E96 a__f %92?<D8:G:?8 9@=:52J H96? 9:D H:76 2?5 7@FC @7 9:D 7:G6 49:=5C6? H6C6 <:==65 :? 2 4@==:D:@? ?62C 9:D 9@>6 :? s@E92?]k^Am
kAm“x DA6?E `_ 52JD :? E96 9@DA:E2= 2?5 E96? E96J’C6 E2<:?8 >6 E@ 7F?6C2=D[” $E24J D2:5] “xE H2D =:<6 2 3=FC] %96J E@=5 >6 :E H2D 2 >:C24=6 x H2D 2=:G6 3FE x 5:5?’E H2?E E@ 36 2=:G6] xE’D @?=J 3J E96 8C246 @7 p=>:89EJ v@5 E92E x DE2?5 96C6 E@?:89E]”k^Am
kAmqJ E9:D A@:?E :? 9:D E2=< E@ E96 E66?D[ $E24J 925 D965 9:D ;24<6E 2?5 H2565 :?E@ E96 4C@H5 :? (6EF>A<2]k^Am
kAmw:D 7246 4@?E@CE65 :? 2?8F:D9 2D 96 C642==65 E6==:?8 $:5?6J[ @?6 @7 9:D E9C66 52F89E6CD <:==65 :? E96 4C2D9[ 96 H@F=5?’E 36 23=6 E@ 2EE6?5 @?6 @7 96C 6G6?ED[ A6C92AD C6D@?2E:?8 H:E9 A2C6?ED 2?5 52F89E6CD :? E96 4C@H5]k^Am
kAm“$96 D2:5[ ‘xE’D ~z s255J[ J@F’== >2<6 E96 ?6IE @?6]’”k^Am
kAm%96 2F5:6?46 H2E4965 :? DEF??65 D:=6?46 2D $E24J 4@?76DD65 2== E96 C62D@?D 96 5:5?’E 56D6CG6 E@ =:G6]k^Am
kAm“x =:65[” 96 D2:5] “x 5:5?’E >2<6 :E E@ D66 >J 52F89E6C] x 4962E65 @? >J H:76] xE’D @G6C] $F:4:56 3642>6 2? @AE:@? 7@C >6]”k^Am
kAmw6 5:5 5:6 — E@ 9:>D6=7] w6 3682? D92C:?8 9:D E6DE:>@?J 2?5 DE2CE65 $:C2? $E24J |:?:DEC:6D]k^Am
kAm“x’> ?@E 2 C6;64E[” $E24J D2:5] “~=5 E9:?8D A2DD 2H2J] x’> ?@E 8@:?8 E@ =:G6 3J J6DE6C52J] x 2> :? 28C66>6?E H:E9 E96 (@C5] !@DE\EC2865J[ x >256 2 564:D:@? — x 5:65 E@ >JD6=7] x <?@H v@5 :D :? >6] %96C6 :D ?@E9:?8 J@F 42? D2J E@ >6 E@ E62C >6 5@H?] x 92G6 =@G6 :?D:56 @7 >6] x H2?E E@ A@FC :E @FE] x 5@?’E H2?E E@ =62G6 (6EF>A<2 H:E9@FE A@FC:?8 >J =@G6 @FE]”k^Am
kAmw6 6I9@CE65 E96 E66?D E@ C6>6>36C E96 ?:89E 96 5:5 ;FDE E92E 2?5 E@ 42== @? E96:C 7@F?52E:@?[ @? E9@D6 H9@ C2:D65 E96>[ E2F89E E96> 2?5 =@G65 E96>[ H96? E:>6D :?6G:E23=J 86E E@F89]k^Am
kAm“*@F’== 8@ 72C :7 J@F 9@?@C E96 2FE9@C:EJ @7 J@FC A2C6?ED[ J@FC E62496CD[ J@FC 4@2496D[” $E24J D2:5] “s@?’E 6G6C 7@C86E H96C6 J@F 42>6 7C@> 2?5 H9@ :D 4@F?E:?8 @? J@F 2D J@F 8@ @? J@FC ;@FC?6J]”k^Am
kAmk6>my:>>J (:87:6=5 :D E96 >2?28:?8 65:E@C @7k^6>m %96 w6C2=5]k^Am

