One of the coolest opportunities at High Tech is their One World Week. Each year over spring break, students and teachers depart to destinations worldwide for a cultural immersion. This immersion opens the kids' eyes to the world at large. Students have been to Belize, India, Panama, Egypt, Costa Rica, Thailand and many other far away places. It is a once in a lifetime experience and Grant waited until his senior year for his trip to Italy. Ahhh Italy.....my favorite country in the world where the people are warm and beautiful, the culture is bountiful and the scenery is exquisite. The food is pretty incredible, too. I give great kudos to Grant's teachers/chaperones, Margaret and Dominic, who took twenty-five children to Italy and returned them all safely.
A note from Margaret (12th grade Digital Arts and Sound Production teacher):
Grant,
In Italy you were a leader and voice of reason. You had your eyes wide and looked deeply at your surroundings and the cultural sites of Italy. There were many fun moments and it was great to have you on the trip! I wish you the very best on your future endeavors! Congratulations!!!
Sincerely,
Margaret
Photo above taken by Grant of his favorite city, Venice
The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.
-Vince Lombardi
I recall my first job at age sixteen. It was Gazebo's Yogurt Shop and I remember feeling so mature and responsible. It was fun when friends came into the shop to visit and get some frozen yogurt. The spending money was also a nice perk.
Grant followed in my footsteps and although it was at one of the fast food establishments I most despise (from a dietitian's perspective), nonetheless, he has been working at this job since the age of sixteen. I am very proud of his demonstrated responsibility to his employer given school and sport commitments. Fortunately, they have always been flexible with his schedule.
As a parent, I have always viewed youth employment as a tool to teach financial competency as well as social education. Working in a customer service driven job at minimum wage certainly is a stepping stone to learn the value of money, hard work and people skills. A good article in the NY Times addressed similar issues.
It was great to hear friends and acquaintances around town say, "Betty, I saw Grant at the drive-through and he was so polite and seems so mature." Yes! The value of work.
I am an emotional wreck. I just returned from taking my baby to his college orientation day. The day was bittersweet. How could it be that my baby is getting ready to go off to college and start his independent life? I was just changing his diapers and wiping his snotty nose yesterday! It was a long six hour drive each way with a lot of time to talk about life, expectations, plans and also much silence on my part as I reflected on this next transition. I won't mention the arguing on each others driving skills.
The process of even getting a child to college is so very daunting these days. The pressure for good grades in high school, SAT/ACT testing and test prep, investigating all types of colleges, the college application process itself, completing the dreaded FAFSA, applying for other financial aid and scholarships--the list goes on and on. It is quite overwhelming as any parent of a collegiate can attest.
As I sat teary-eyed in the auditorium yesterday amongst all of the other incoming freshman and parents--one thing I knew for sure; my son was ready and he chose a college that is truly the best fit for him and his promising future. I am so proud.
Senior photo above
