I was recently in a conversation where older people were warning a young girl (23) that she was far too young to get married. "Play the field." "Explore your options." "Have fun."

And my favorite, "You're way too young to be making a decision like that."

And yet, we think that 5 years before, she was intellectually ready to choose a collegiate career she could stick with the rest of her life? We can't have it both ways. Either 18 is old enough to vote, go to war, choose a future, and commit to a love.

Or we're getting too accustomed to children being stuck in arrested development throughout their 20s.

Raise your expectations for the youth of America. I've met 16 year olds who are vastly more mature than some 50 year olds. Just because you were a dope at 23 doesn't mean everyone is. Just because your marriage sucks doesn't mean everyone's will.

You guys know about Kiva by now. My favorite micro-lending organization. You team up with strangers, each giving a $25 loan to a third-world entrepreneur, and as they succeed, you get your entire loan back to re-give to someone else.

It's awesome. Well, here's the news. Kiva is branching out into student loans. You team up with strangers to help ambitious children go to college who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it. They pay you back after completion through the new career they're in.

This is awesome, but obviously takes longer for repayment. While traditional Kiva loans are typically repaid in 1 year, these Kiva student loan repayments take from 1-3.

And here's the wrench I want to throw into this system. Let me invest in these kids. Give me my Human Stock Market. I give $500 for a .008 (or whatever it is) stake in this child's future. I'm not just helping them. I'm betting on them. I believe in their dreams. I believe in their potential.

They get their education. I get paid off throughout their career if I'm right. I don't care if you think it's creepy. It's going to happen. Look how close Kiva is already?