That really speaks to the power of second (and third and fourth) chances. I do think it’s unfortunately true that it’s much tougher for any young person today to get the kind of fresh start that the author got back in the 80’s.
But another quote is striking too - the man who gave her the chance reflecting that, nowadays, “For someone taking a chance on somebody, there’s going to be much more exposure to ‘Why this person and why not this person?’ I didn’t have to worry about any of that.” As much as he did a wonderful thing for this one student, it does make me wonder about the flip side of that statement. What equally-deserving people he might have turned away, because a greater divide between his world and theirs would have made it too difficult for him to take that chance on them? He felt, and acted upon, solidarity with this young woman; could he have done the same for someone with whom he had less in common?
How do we strike the delicate balance between making it possible for individuals to take a chance on on other individuals in whom they see promise, while also seeking to provide equity of opportunity? (ETA: simply shutting down the possibility of second chances for everyone does, technically, improve “equity,” but not in a desirable way…)