An Online Lesson on College

The concept of higher education just wasn’t coming alive for Jodie Lang’s third-grade students in Compton’s Mayo Elementary School.

So earlier this spring, Lang sent a computer message to six college friends with a request for personal accounts of university life. She also asked them to pass on the message to their friends.

The response was almost overwhelming: 4,000 postcards, videotapes, posters and brochures from 14 countries--all of them urging the students to set their sights on college. Among those who responded was a former Compton student at the University of Washington who is studying to become a doctor.

“There is a great big world out here, outside of Compton, with many things to do,” wrote the medical student, who identified himself only as Robert. “School will take you everywhere.”