By Benjamin Lovell
Project Discovery

State legislators are considering a cut to a program designed to help at-risk students have a chance at a better life. I am a seventh grader at Powhatan Jr. High School who is involved in Project Discovery, which is at risk of losing funding and not being able to help students better themselves.This would not be good for Project Discovery. I am a member of this group that services people with learning disabilities, educational disadvantages and low-income families. Project Discovery helps us understand school better and teaches us how the I.Q. system works. 

It helps us understand college and higher educational opportunities. During our monthly meetings, we talk about colleges and the advantages a college education can provide. We discuss ways to study better and learn how to be more organized now, which will help us down the road. We take trips to state collages where we sit in classes and learn how we can improve our chances to get a higher education and a better job. 

Project discovery does not provide financial assistance, but it shows us how to research and find assistance on our own. And while we learn a lot about educational opportunities, we also learn about life. 

Project Discovery is not for every student, but for those of us who want to do better and have the chance to go to college, it is a great program. So why do legislators want to stop Project Discovery and harm my school career and my life? I don’t know, but it seems to be that with a program already in place, it would be a foolish move to stop funding the program only to have to spend more down the road to get another similar program going. 

I encourage all who read this letter and have an interest in education, to write their state congressman or delegate and ask them to continue to support this program.

My Point of View welcomes submissions that pertain to life and issues in Powhatan County. The views expressed in the column are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the editorial views of the staff of Powhatan Today.