Melannie, I like the way you outline your own past in relation to the fact that you really wanted your education and as a result you did what it took to get it. I try to follow the same model in terms of letting them know that excuses are excuses and they do not move a person any closer to his or her career goal. I understand there are situations with sick kids, etc. and I factor that in when working with the students but the overall goal must always remain "success". I tell my students that their past may explain them but it does have to define them. I am only interested in helping them now and not hearing about the past. I try to keep them forward focused throughout the course. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.