A Solution to the Problem

After working with Jim and his brother Greg for a couple of days, meeting their children and talking with their families, I realized that my previous evaluation of the problems and their possible solutions in Appalachia was inadequate. I believed that like me, all people in Appalachia wanted a further education, and were not content in their current situation. In my experiences, however, this was not true. The people seemed to be content and greatful with what they had, and in my opinion they had a better outlook on what is important in life than many people that I know. Instead of being obsessed with their career, their job, or material things, the people seemed more focused instead on their relationships with their families, their friends and their community. They were proud to be a part of the Hurley community and it is hard for me to see very many people wanting to change their community at all. I came in with the idea that the problems of poverty in the region could easily be solved with better early education, but now I am not sure if this is true. I think it would take deeper changes, and more economical stimulus to make real changes in the society.