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Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice (1996) | Episode One

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In 1990, the high school dropout rate for Dolly Parton's hometown of Sevierville Tennessee was at 34% (Research shows that most kids make up their minds in fifth/sixth grade not to graduate). That year, all fifth and sixth graders from Sevierville were invited by Parton to attend an assembly at Dollywood. They were asked to pick a buddy, and if both students completed high school, Dolly Parton would personally hand them each a $500 check on their graduation day. As a result, the dropout rate for those classes fell to 6%, and has generally retained that average to this day.

Shortly after the success of The Buddy Program, Parton learned in dealing with teachers from the school district that problems in education often begin during first grade when kids are at different developmental levels. That year The Dollywood Foundation paid the salaries for additional teachers assistants in every first grade class for the next 2 years, under the agreement that if the program worked, the school system would effectively adopt and fund the program after the trial period.

During the same period, Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995: The idea being that children from her rural hometown and low-income families often start school at a disadvantage and as a result, will be unfairly compared to their peers for the rest of their lives, effectively encouraging them not to pursue higher education. The objective of the Imagination library was that every child in Sevier County would receive one book, every month, mailed and addressed to the child, from the day they were born until the day they started kindergarten, 100% free of charge. What began as a hometown initiative now serves children in all 50 states, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, mailing thousands of free books to children around the world monthly.

On March 1, 2018 Parton donated her 100 millionth book at the Library of Congress: a copy of "Coat of Many Colors" dedicated to her father, who never learned to read or write.

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I still haven’t processed the gorgeousness that is the bonfire scene of 3x08.

I have never. EVER. Seen Gilbert Blythe more distressed than when he was talking with Anne at the bonfire. “…My future, if I want it!” He is so fucking anxious because it’s the first time he’s laying everything out on the table in front of another person - and not just anyone, but his best friend, his kindred spirit, the love of his life. Not just his classmate or family friend. Can you believe he came straight from Charlottetown after dinner with the Roses, and went right to the Ruins because he could NOT wait until the morning. He needed to speak with Anne then and there, or else he wouldn’t - no COULDN’T - sleep or eat or do anything else until he spoke with her. These huge fucking dreams he’s been preparing for, for at least two years now, are right within his reach, nearly ready for the taking. But there is JUST. ONE. THING.

I don’t even know if I’ve been able to grasp the depth of those three words and what they mean for this pair of stupid, angsty, heartbroken teenagers.

And one of the worst parts of this whole thing is that, deep within himself, he knows he doesn’t need the Sorbonne to achieve his dreams. He’s already admitted, out loud, to Anne, in front of his classmates, that SHE is what he needs to feel fulfilled with his profession: “I believe we can fix people. Save them. We just haven’t figure out how… I would give anything to be there when we do.” I had to repeat this part so many times because his words are so beautiful. WE. We. We can fix people, he says. He KNOWS they are good together; his teammate, his partner in crime, his rule breaker. I fucking love that he basically says that BOTH he and Anne have the brains and the heart to facilitate massive change in the world.

The stakes are high now. This is no longer puppy love, it’s not a school boy crush, or a teenage infatuation, or even longing anymore. This is full blown, passionate, excruciatingly painful, fierce, earnest love. Anne is who he wants to grow old with. He wants to marry her, wake up in the morning and have her beautiful face be the first thing he sees. He wants his children to have her eyes and her skin, and her hair, oh god, her hair. She is the sun. The burning ball of fire - blazing furiously in his heart. He wants her in his life. Forever.

If you watch the bonfire scene again, after Anne asks what is holding him back, you can see in Gilbert’s eyes: “Anne. I am in love with you. I am yours. I want you. I always have, but I want you forever. Is there a chance that you might love me, too?”