In my wife's family, a DF'ed parent decided to get reinstated when her son was high school age. She then put a pioneer elder onto her son's case to help encourage him. She got exactly what she wished for and then the whole family, including her, seemed upset about it.
He got baptized before graduating high school. While he wasn't a terrible student, education wasn't really his thing. At one point, he had wanted to be a basketball star. I don't think he was really that great at it, and maybe he realized it. But he also started football and was pretty good at that. He might have gotten a free ride through college or a partial ride based on his size and ability. WELL, NONE OF THAT. By the time the pioneer elder had gotten through to him, he was ready to keep working part time at the shoe store in the mall and pioneer until Bethel called him. No need for any further education. No need for job training.
All the family, JW's included, tried to tell him how a young black man needs an education to get a decent job and to ever raise kids. But it doesn't matter to him. Bethel might just need him and he will stay at the ready. He has no clue that they will dismiss him at any time in the future with no real help toward his social security, let alone the time wasted instead of advancing in career. Even without further education, the guy who takes the low level job would advance over the years somewhat and be better off than the Bethelite thrown back to the local congregations.
I offered to help him take the local firefighter exam where I live, stating that he can turn it down later, but it takes years to get hired and better to have it as an option for later. He wasn't interested. I just said, "Okay, but do something. ANYTHING."
Update: That was last year. Bethel isn't calling, he has no connections. In his anxiety over that, he is starting to look at what his B Plan should be. How to have more than just "a job." I sure hope Bethel continues not to call.
