A glimpse into future stories gives me hope.

Although I no longer professionally review personal statements for college applications, two young adults whom I hold in high regard asked me to take a look at their essays this year. I was thrilled to. More importantly, I was wowed by their points of view. Seriously WOWED.

The undergraduate applicant is pursuing a course of study on the very periphery of my knowledge and had a fresh take on its value to and his likely contributions to the field.

The graduate applicant used her familial history in the most vivid of ways to show how her academic and career goals would help solve one of the most pressing and horrific issues facing families today.

Reading these essays gives me hope for future generations. Big hope. Their legacies will certainly be worth sharing.

Photo: I took Eldest Daughter on a tour of my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin, in the hope that she’d apply and consider attending. We visited on the most glorious of fall days; the leaves displayed the best of the season, the morning air was crisp and then the temperature rose to be comfortable for our official tour. At the end of the tour, by which point I’m seriously considering graduate school there, Eldest Daughter says, “I’m glad we came, Mom. But I want a more academically challenging school.” Ouch. Here’s a picture of Eldest Daughter when she graduated from that more challenging school. And, for the record, I reviewed her personal statement.