“If you want to succeed, the first thing you have to do is get out of the area.”  That’s the type of thing you heard from the older generation, teachers, and friends, while growing up. I’ve spent most of my life living in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area and recall hearing statements like this. As if the people saying it were condemned somehow, and they were giving you a warning before you got infected. Like a wounded soldier would say, “Save yourself, go on without me.” Rarely would you hear, “Get an education so you can help change the area. Take advantage of all the great things the area has to offer.”