I recently had the pleasure of catching up with a young friend.

She had moved to Massachusetts nearly a year ago to pursue hopes and obtain opportunities that she believed were not available here in Maine. Unfortunately there are times when plans, due to any number of unforeseen circumstances arising, fail to progress as one had anticipated.

For those of us who are older and have a lengthy resume of life's trials and tribulations to draw on, unfulfilled dreams are a fairly common fact of life. For someone young and taking their first sprint toward independence dashed hopes can be a traumatic experience.

My young friend has encountered some speed bumps in her road and after careful consideration was even considering returning to Maine to take up where she had left off. But her reflections have led her to alter some of her goals so that they conform more to her current analysis of where she wants to go with her life.

Therefore, she explained to me, she has decided to "give Massachusetts more of a chance" and to make some adjustments in her life.

"Or", I thought to myself, "to give the intelligent and talented young woman that I know the opportunity to grow and achieve".

I may not ever be able to tell her how much admiration and respect I feel for her. She is dealing with an unsettling stew of disappointment, anxiety and self-assessment, but has made mature decisions and retained her optimism and ambition. What I can do is offer praise for her resolve and ongoing support as she works her way toward reaching her goals.

There are several young people whom I know who have followed a similar path, moving from one geographical environment to another where they feel that their chances to achieve their goals are more likely. In some instances, they have overcome significant odds just to be able to take that first step. But indeed they are taking that step and they are prepared to study, learn, work hard and sacrifice. They are beginning to place great value on their independence.

Perhaps they may accept the offered support and advice, from time to time, from an old goat who has made his share of mistakes and cares enough to want to share knowledge painfully gained with these young adventurers. I most sincerely hope that at least they will continue to share their developing lives with me. They provide me with hope for the future.

May God bless them as they face the many paths and choices that constitute the individual journey that each of us must complete. Hopefully they will come to accept and understand that they can always choose to never have to make that trip alone.

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