By Sharon Tubbs, City Times Editor

Like untold numbers of high school graduates, Julia Parker heads off to her next rite of passage this weekend: college.

But unlike most, her concerns during the early part of the summer centered on, of all things, deadly food riots in Haiti.

The price of rice, a staple in some parts of the world, had increased dramatically, and many in poor nations like Haiti couldn't afford it. Fights were breaking out and people were literally killing for food.

Julia had been on two mission trips to Haiti with Christ the King Catholic Church, and planned to participate in another in June. It would be her last before leaving Saturday for the University of Florida.

But the trip was canceled. Going to Haiti was too dangerous.

News of the riots was buried in the local media, hidden somewhere behind our own national concerns over gas prices and foreclosures.

Julia's first mission trip was eye-opening.