All seniors at High Tech must speak of their school experience, both good and bad, in the exit interview. Acknowledging your faults and weaknesses is not easy for an adult; never mind a teenager. As I sat in the classroom and watched my son complete his high school exit interview, I saw a mature and articulate young man before me.
The senior exit interview gives students a chance to acknowledge their struggles during high school and express their growth as a person and student. It also allows verbalization of their goals at this next junction in life. A panel is present of teachers, peers and parents. Required dress code-professional. Quite intimidating.
According to Grant, the purpose of school is "To teach you life lessons and educational lessons as well as lead you to further education. Also, to help you find what you want to do with your life." He reflected on his beloved second grade teacher, his strict, no-nonsense fifth grade teacher and his high school teachers. I loved the reference to his current math teacher's life lessons taught via 50 Life Secrets. "I am now more open-minded and understanding" explained Grant.
I have renewed faith in the young adults of High Tech and the graduating class of 2011. Their lofty goals and dreams are admirable and much needed in the world today.
In honor of my mother and now that I "get it"-- the following is the absolute truth.......
You're Really a Mom When……
• You count the number of sprinkles on each kid's cupcake to make sure they are equal.
• You want to take out a contract on the kid who broke your child's favorite toy and made him cry.
• You have time to shave only one leg at a time.
• You hide in the bathroom to be alone.
• Your child throws up and you catch it.
• Someone else's kid throws up at a party and you keep eating.
• You consider finger paint to be a controlled substance.
• You mastered the art of placing food on a plate without anything touching.
• Your child insists that you read "Once Upon a Potty" out loud in the lobby of the doctor's office and you do it.
• You fast-forward through the scene when the hunter shoots Bambi's mother.
• You obsess when your child clings to you upon parting during his first month at school, then you obsess when he skips in without looking back.
• You can't bear to give away baby clothes--it's so final.
• You hear your mother's voice coming out of your mouth when you say, "Not in your good clothes."
• You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you.
• You read that the average-five-year old asks 437 questions a day and feel proud that your kid is "above average."
Photo above at Early Exploration's preschool graduation
