So much excellence to celebrate
CONGRATULATIONS TO the Globe for placing David Abel's excellent article "A brave heart: Despite woes, teen from Africa rises to head of class" on the front page of the City and Region section last Sunday. This article about Keaboka Nyumbu, valedictorian of Odyssey High School in South Boston, extols the strength and resiliency of this young woman and her mother, Inonge.
The accompanying "Boston's faces of excellence" presents statements made by 38 additional valedictorians from Boston schools, many of whom are first-generation immigrants.
Both of these pieces stand in stark contract to the articles on youth violence, drug abuse, and other problem behaviors that are often featured.
As a college educator, I feel privileged to be teaching the next generation of social workers and other human service providers how to nurture resiliency and strength in the children and families they will serve. Abel's article, the Nyumbus' successes, and the other valedictorian portraits will help me in this important work, and will help to debunk the negative stereotypes about youth behavior that are so strong.
DEBORAH LISANSKY BECK
Boston
The writer is assistant professor of social work at Wheelock College. 