J.D.'s experiences in Appalachia are common within that world, and foreign to most. Reading this reminds me of the line from Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way". The struggles of the poor and unprivileged are well documented. Each story is unique, but themes emerge. Seeing someone from poverty break out from the most obvious path set before them is always encouraging. These stories are too rare. But rare is not impossible. J.D. recognizes the education and government programs that helped him break that cycle. These programs are to be applauded and continued. He also focuses on the positive people who guided him directly and indirectly. Breaking out of an "unhappy family" or poverty is so difficult. Without both these positive influences around him and the programs available, he would not be where he is today. Our current political environment places much of the blame on the system, not the lack of positive personal influences. It takes both. Until it's recognized that positive people alone and great programs alone will not help the poor succeed, too many bright minds will wallow in poverty. What can we learn from this as a society?