Exit Interview to Life

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.

Motherhood

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




 

One World Week: Italy

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 Value of Work

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.

Letting Go: Part II

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

For Love of the Game

 In order to excel, you must be completely dedicated to your chosen sport. You must also be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept constructive criticism. Without one-hundred percent dedication, you won't be able to do this.  -Willie Mays


Baseball was the backdrop for a boy turning into a man.  I observed a transformation from boy to man starting with T-Ball at the age of five through Varsity baseball at age seventeen.  


Many benefits were reaped from this organized sport.  It taught teamwork, good sportsmanship, humility, respect, time management and the importance of physical fitness.  I thank the many coaches for these valuable life lessons.


One of my proudest mom moments was last year.  Grant decided to train hard to get stronger--ultimately to hit harder.  He woke up at 5:00 a.m. two to three times a week before school and went to the gym with a buddy.


Last year was his best year in baseball, ever.  With three home runs (and his first home runs ever) he had the best season stats on the team.  A memorable season.


An untimely broken wrist in his senior year (ugh, again????) before the season began has left us to look back at a great year and be thankful for those memories.


Photo above of Grant's junior year with the High Tech Storm

Vacations

There have been many memorable family vacations over the past seventeen years.  Adventurous spirits like adventurous vacations.  Looking back, some of Grant's favorites were Lake Tahoe (summer and winter), the Bahamas, Hawaii, a Mexican Riviera cruise, Estero Beach Mexico and Cozumel.  All of these destinations offered unique experiences and memories that should last a lifetime.  My personal hope is that these travels have sparked an interest in the world at large.

Our most recent trip to Cozumel was memorable due to a diving expedition.  This island is known for its diving and beautiful reefs.  I must say I was a very nervous mother.  The preparation for an ocean dive consisted of a brief pool instruction followed by the ocean dive.  How can someone learn all of the nuances of diving in a crash course (in a pool, nonetheless)?  I had to take many deep breaths and visit the Margaritas.

Travel has always brought me personal joy and my hope is for my son to seek future travels with an eye on adventure. 

Photo above of Grant and dad in the beautiful waters of Cozumel.