Credit: Cumberland Times-News

MCHENRY — U.S. Rep. David Trone recently visited the area with a special request to meet with students at Garrett College.

More than 50 students attended the lecture in which Trone shared his personal story, which began in rural Adams County, Pennsylvania, growing up on his family’s farm. Trone emphasized the importance of learning from failures and challenges in one’s life, something he was familiar with while growing up and working on the farm.

“Try not to think about life as a series of wins and losses or successes and failures,” he said. “Think about what you take away from the times you don’t quite get it right, because these experiences are really important. You realize through each of these failures that you can come out on the other end and see what went wrong.”

The congressman praised Garrett County’s commitment in offering residents two years of free college tuition through the Garrett County Scholarship Program, while recognizing the ever-increasing burden that student loans place on families.

“The long-term success of America is about education,” said Trone. “If we can build on education, we will have a workforce that can win for the next several decades.”

Students had the opportunity to ask Trone questions, many of which involved business, criminal justice, philanthropy and public service.