Justin Combs should be on top of the world right now. P. Diddy's son just graduated from high school with a 3.75 GPA, and an offer from UCLA to play on their Division 1 football team. They've even offered him a scholarship to sweeten the deal. So what kind of world are we living in where a kid like that is getting beat up in the press and asked to give the money back?
A world where we still put more emphasis on money than we do kids' own abilities. Hey, America! This is why kids are lazy!
Here's the thing. Justin Combs has a rich daddy. And there are people, a lot of people, who are PO'd that a rich kid is getting a $54,000 scholarship to a state institution when so many other kids are struggling under the weight of student loans. As a mom who probably has less money in her bank account than Diddy has hanging around his neck at any given moment, I'll cop to a little jealousy myself.
That's why I tell my kid she has to work, and work hard. That's what all kids are supposed to do to get ahead, right?
But if kids like Justin Combs have to give back their scholarship money, and their parents are made to pay their tuition, we're telling them the exact opposite. What does that say to a child who worked hard to get good grades and excel on the field? It tells them there is no reason to have a work ethic. Because whatever you do, you're judged not on your accomplishments but the size of your parents' wallet.
Let's flip this, shall we? Imagine Justin was a poor kid with bad grades and zero athletic talent who cut school and did nothing to improve himself. Would you tell a school they need to give him a scholarship because his parents can't pay, and his lack of motivation does not matter? Of course not.
As parents, it's our job to raise our kids to succeed without us. Once they're ready for college, they must be able to survive on their own merits. The mettle of our character, the size of our bank accounts, all of that becomes moot when we push a child out the doors and into the world. They are their own person, to be judged on what they can do.
What do you think should happen with Justin Combs' scholarship? Should P. Diddy be paying UCLA?
Image via SplashNews
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
This Hot Dad Cooks AND Does the Dishes
Kanye West is Gay?! 
Comments 43
I think it's none of our business.
He worked for it, he earned it, he deserves it.
However, I'm appalled. He EARNED this. Obviously those complaining have NO idea how hard a young person has to work to get an offer from ANY college for a spot on a team, and a scholarship. He doesn't deserve the backlash at all!!
I'm sure his dad will be donating plenty of money to the school. More than his son's scholarship is worth, so I wouldn't get too worked up about it.
I think scholarships should have a lot of basis in financial need, especially from a state institution, WTF! There are a ton of deserving, hard-working students who will never get full scholarships. He worked hard, sure, but there a ton of kids who work their asses off, get great grades, play sports well and will not get full scholarships. It kind of makes you sick.
If I were Diddy, I would take the money that I"m not paying for my kid's college and give it to another kid.
This is also an example of how things are stacked against you when you aren't well off. Many kids are working jobs, raising their siblings, taking care of granny or their parents, in addition to going to school and they don't necessarily have the top grades, but are bright, motivated and great kids, yet, they will miss out on a scholarship because some other kid had the benefit of only having to study and do sports and didn't have to work.
I know this is sports related, and that's a whole other ball of wax, but it is a bummer that more of these full rides don't help out the kids who could really use a lift and without the crushing burden of student loans, tons of part time jobs, will be amazing students and fantastic workers.
Sports scholarships are not typically based on financial need anyway. He's earned this -- skills and really good grades.
He earned and it probably makes him feel good that he gets a scholarship becasue of his doings rather then getting college paid for because of his rich dad.