Y U MAD AT..Justin Combs?

Yesterday Essence online reported that Justin Combs, son of mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs (unsure who he is? google Ciroc, Bad Boy or J.lo’s green dress) would be accepting a full athletic scholarship to attend UCLA. The post commended the young man on his stellar performance both on the football field and in the classroom. Some readers were not interested in furthering the congratulatory tone of the article. One commenter expressed their outrage that Combs would accept a scholarship considering the wealth of his father stating that the money should go to “someone who needs it”. While others felt there was absolutely nothing wrong with the young man and his 3.75 GPA being rewarded for a lifetime of discipline and hard work the majority of the comments insisted that it was Sean Combs responsibility to bless someone else with a full scholarship because his son had been blessed as a way of “paying it forward”. The inference that it was anyone should be required to atone for their blessings baffled me. The concept of paying it forward is beautiful, uplifting, and inspirational it is not however mandatory. If someone wants to build up some good karma that is their business and if they want to count their millions in a recently discontinued Maybach instead well that is too. The time and energy spent in barber shops, living rooms, and online forums mandating what someone else “should” do with their money could be better spent working to reform financial aid and scholarship programs across the country. Scholarships and economic assistance for students should be awarded on a case by case basis. The fact that they are not is a tragedy that keeps thousands of deserving students from attending college every year. But that is a flaw of the system not the individuals who benefit from it. Justin Combs met the criteria for receiving that scholarship so if you're inclined to judge him or his family consider whether or not you know anyone who would turn down a free education. And then ask yourself Y U MAD?