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By Sarah Nagem

Salisbury Post

When my editors and I decided to do a series of stories about high school dropouts in Rowan County, we knew we needed to tell kids' stories.

Who are these dropouts? And why aren't they making it to graduation day?

On Sunday, readers met Chris Taylor — a young man who struggled to stay focused in high school, despite lots of support from his parents.

Today, readers meet Jamar, who felt disconnected and dropped out of school and enrolled in a GED program.

Readers will hear Karessa Gray's story Thursday. Karessa became a teenage mother, but she's determined to stay in school.

We're sharing these young people's stories as examples of what's happening in the Rowan-Salisbury School System.

Now we want to hear from you. We want discussion on our Web site so readers can share their personal stories about education, make suggestions about reducing the dropout rate and talk about the Post's series.

We don't want this forum to serve as a bashing session about the people featured in the stories. We simply want Rowan County residents to take part in the discussion.

Because we all have stories to tell.

Growing up poor in West Virginia, I consider myself lucky that I made it through high school and went to college. The stereotype is common — poor kids become poor adults who don't, or can't, value education.

I beat the stereotype. I know others did, too.

We want to hear from you.