Economic woes weigh on class of 2009 - Kimberly S. Wetzel, Contra Costa Times

As a junior at Pinole Valley High, Sean Duckworth dreamed of attending a well-known, four-year private college such as Emory University in Atlanta. But then the economy went into a tailspin. Money was tight. His dad lost his job. Now the 18-year-old, who graduated Thursday, plans to attend Contra Costa College in San Pablo until he can carve out a more cost-friendly path to a bachelor's degree.