What do you think of this program?

I think it's fantastic. It was a very heart-warming story. I had two problems with it, though.

I had a nagging sadness through the whole thing because it is an 'unusual' thing for a former foster child to be successful. That hurts in the very core of me. The other is probably just me nit-picking... The last quote by her mentor, John Kasak, set me a little on edge. It seemed to me that he only stuck by her because she worked hard and was optimistic. I guess I'm naturally drawn to those who feel less hopeful and aren't 'naturally enthusiastic'.

I'm probably taking it too personally, because he did/is doing a great thing. I just feel those who put on the 'I don't care' facade and say 'F*** the world' deserve as much love, help and *especially* consistency as those who "flash high-wattage smile[s]" like the girl in this story.

I'm happy for and inspired by her. I don't mean any of this to take away from her. I just think she was kind of "obvious" if you know what I mean.

I think mentors are a wonderful thing for many situations and anything that can help the children in foster care is a great step forward.

I'm not so sure though either that it will bring around more foster parents but that doesn't mean it won't create some close relationships for the children to hold on to through their life.

It is a mentoring program to help foster children in care. It is not a program to attract foster parents. We have a mentoring program in our schools here and it includes foster children when approved by the foster parents. Our foster care program also has a special mentoring program that works with teens and preteens who need a little more help.

The mentoring program is a good program but is separate from the foster care program. Thank goodness we have it here.

It's a fine program. Yes, it may help show the need for foster parents.

Program has end up the traditional for computing. Programme is the normal British spelling - each can be utilized by way of Americans - besides that Bill Gates' spellchecker will quit you.

This is a 'mentoring' program...so appears no one is taking these children home. I think it is a fine program for college students to mentor/tutor kids in fostercare. And I have no problem with student debt being 'forgiven' for being willing to be a mentor.

I though would stipulate background checks for the students and that they have a certain grade point average to be involved in this program. There are young adults who attend college..who are just wasting their parent's money and/or the taxpayer's dime. Not the least to mention teachers, professors, etc. time..that could be better serving other students who are serious about obtaining a college education.

I am all for this program...so long as there is some sincere, realistic vetting taking place.

Sounds like a great program. I don't know that it will find more foster parents...maybe, once the students are finished with school, some of them might become interested in fostering themselves. I'm interested to see how it pans out.

I had similar thoughts to what BOTZ said, though, about Susan's story. They kept saying things that amounted to "Susan is so grateful"...and it was almost like - not just for her foster father, but for everyone - she was only worthy of what she got because she was grateful. It seems as though, for once, the whole system worked as it should, and she was able to work hard and succeed...she shouldn't have to be grateful for people doing the jobs they signed up for, nor should she (or anyone) have to feel grateful in order to be deserving of success.

I feel like the point of the story was to tell foster kids that they really ought to be grateful for all these things people are doing for them, and they should work harder...oh yeah, and there's this program...just kind of as an afterthought, you know? It makes me sad.

Well, I am all for mentoring foster children or at risk kids. HOWEVER, forgiving debt will just make this economy worse for everyone. People mentor all the time and the reason they do it is to give back and because their parents instilled good values in them. I think it would bring out the people who should not even have kids and letting them have an impact on children that may be detrimental to said child. I hope if this comes to fruition, they have a policy in place to do background checks and some sort of emotional testing to make sure they get good candidates.