Such a tragedy!

I remember hearing his story, and thinking that this kid was growing up well, accepting responsibility, and would grow into an excellent example for his child. His schedule sounded as hectic as mine was while working, raising my children, attending as many of their sports/etc activities that I was able to, waiting after their classes/practice to get home, sleep, and get to work, all at the same time that I was attending school myself, carrying minimum of 12 to 15 credits per semester. It was exhausting for me, and I am sure it was for him.

When I heard of him, it did not stay with me long enough to think to blog about him, but I thought "A parent must really be proud of him!" I now wish I had followed up on the story.

For the sad news, read past this story:

76ERS HOSTING TERRELL POUGH ON NOV. 1 AS THE SIXERS FAN OF THE GAME

Philadelphia, Pa. - Nov. 1, 2005 - Terrell Pough, who was featured in "People Magazine" on Aug. 29, as an outstanding single father, will be in attendance tonight at the 76ers season opener versus the Milwaukee Bucks at the Wachovia Center. Pough will serve as the 76ers Fan of the Game.

Pough is a responsible young adult who juggles his high school education, part time employment and care for his 2-year-old daughter, all as an 18-year old.

A typical day for him includes: dropping his daughter Diamond off at daycare at 7:45 a.m., arriving at 8 a.m. sharp for his first class at school, and eating lunch with Diamond at daycare at 12:35 p.m. He then leaves school at 3 p.m. to check in on Diamond - who is then picked up by Pough's grandmother - so he can arrive promptly at work by 4 p.m. After he leaves work at 10:45 p.m. and picks up Diamond, he arrives back home at 12:30 a.m. to tuck her into bed and starts his homework.

Pough is also a member of his high school's Males Achieving Responsibility Successfully program. The MARS program, affiliated with Philadelphia Public Schools, instructs 100 young fathers annually. In this program, students are taught among other things, when children get vaccinations and how to warm a bottle.

At each 76ers home game, the Sixers select two lucky fans (parent/child) to represent the thousands of loyal 76ers fans throughout the Delaware Valley. The lucky fans receive a photo of their courtside experience, appear on the arena jumbotron while having their names announced by 76ers PA Announcer Matt Cord, and get the opportunity to line up with the players for the pregame introductions.

In a time when we hear so many sad stories of kids his age, we need to have more of this, to remind us that most kids are good kids. Most live up to challenges put in their paths either by bad choices they may have made, or by other things that life in general put in peoples' paths.

Tonight, on the news, they announced that Terrell Pough is dead.

There are many stories that you can Google, but two are here and here.

My sincere condolences go to Diamond, to Terrell's family, friends, classmates, and co-workers.

I am truly glad that he was able to be acknowledged for the hard work he has been doing trying desparately to be good father, student, and worker. To be 18 years old, and night manager says a lot about this young man. He will truly be missed by all who knew him, and those of us who only knew OF him.

What a shame.



This post is also available at Blogger News Network.