A Feel-Good Story for Today

Finding a good news story buried among the doom and gloom headlines can be a tough business. When you do run across them, they often end up being isolated local stories that are nice to read, but are likely forgotten as soon as you click the next link.

I saw one today however that may stick with me a bit longer, if only because it gives hope that our generation - and the next generation - might yet turn out all right. Worst case, there's a candle shining in the darkness.

An unemployed teenager who embarked on a 10-mile walk through the snow for a job interview saw his dedication pay off after another restaurant owner, impressed with his work ethic, offered him a job at his business.

…

“I said, well how come you’re not on the bus?” Mr Bouvier said. “He said, 'I can’t afford the bus until I get a job.’

“I’m thinking to myself, here’s a kid walking almost 10 miles in the ice and slush and snow for the hope of a job at minimum wage. That’s the kind of story your parents used to tell, my parents used to tell.”

Read the whole thing. I'm glad this young man found a job, and I'm glad the restaurant owner was able to provide an opportunity for him. I know minimum wage may not seem like much, and the higher it goes, the less likely there will be jobs for teens and young adults. But it is nice to know that sometimes things work out. Character, perseverance and work ethic really do matter. Here's hoping this arrangement works out for both. It sounds like it just might. And if it does, the re-telling of this tale will undoubtedly grow and resonate over time. (Ten miles in the snow? That's just too easy.)