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Madonna, First All-As and University of Michigan Student, Then Rock Star

Top Academic Students Are First Round Draft Picks, Too

March 9, 2008       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

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Madonna won a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan.
 

Kids who want to "be somebody" often think they can just perform their way to fame with just desire and little preparation.

One of the big jobs of educators is to convince students that there are only a few Madonnas in the entire world.

Or make high school basketball stars realize that LeBron James types who can go from high school to the National Basketball Association come along only once in a lifetime.

And few stories about Madonna spend much time focusing on her academic credentials and the hard work she put in on dance skills development that was the key to her fame.

How many rock fans know that Madonna Louise Ciccone, born at Bay City Mercy Hospital in 1958, was an all-A student at Rochester Adams High School. She also was a cheerleader and a dedicated dance student who won a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan.

As a young girl Madonna convinced her father to allow her to take ballet classes. She attended St. Frederick's Elementary School and St. Andrew's Elementary School and West Middle School in Rochester.


She left the University of Michigan in 1977 at the end of her sophomore year and moved to New York City to pursue a dance career. Her ballet teacher had convinced her she was ready for the big time.

Recently some young people we know were "drafted" out of high school, not for athletic skill but for academics.

One young man was recruited by a large eastern university to leave high school at age 14 and study "string physics."

By the time he was 17 he was working part time for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

What does he do for NASA? I asked his mother. "He helps them solve problems," was her matter-of-fact reply. A 17-year-old helping NASA solve problems? Amazing! At age 19 he had his Ph.D.

Another young man was geeked on video games. About all he did was play video games. He went to a special school on the west coast where kids learn to design those games. That led to an interest in conventional art. Now an art student, he is being "drafted" by entertainment studios that want him to leave school and start work --at six figure salary and moving expenses -- right out of school. He's turned this down in order to finish school because he and his family know the diploma is the long-term value.

By the way, the talented lad has been working summers for $1,500 a week doing what he loves -- art.

Local educators and foundations that are running programs to encourage young people to study and get a college education. Not only is advanced education valuable for the young person, it is vital to the local and state economy.

Communities and states where the percentage of college graduates is higher are simply more prosperous in this "knowledge economy."

One big incentive might be the fact that college graduates earn up to $1 million more in their lifetimes than non graduates of high school.

Statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor show the difference in unemployment rates for the various educational levels:

  • Less than high school diploma, 7.3 percent unemployed;

  • High school graduate, 4.7 percent

    ;
  • Some college, 3.7 percent;

  • Bachelor's degree or higher, 2.1 percent.



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    Dave Rogers

    Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
    respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
    (Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

    More from Dave Rogers

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