I agree with Topside; you can almost guarantee the engaged, articulate and polite ones come from a two parent family. That structure is so important.
My wife was raised largely by her dad after her mom left when she was 4. She's a wonderful wife, mom, teacher, and person. My brother in law is raising my niece and nephew on his own since my sister passed 4 years ago. Both honor students, play multiple sports, both can play multiple musical instruments, both do volunteer work. One of my closest friends is raising his 8 year old son on his own, and has been since his son was an infant. The son is also an honor student, competes in boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and is an extraordinarily polite and well mannered boy. But please, go on...
