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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Played Paddleball

No, not me. I didn't play paddleball. I had the honor of being on a committee to select 20 high school seniors to receive $200 scholarships. There scholarships in various categories - and the number of applications varied, so sometimes the decision was easy, sometimes difficult.

But I learned a few things.
1) If you have the opportunity to fill out a scholarship application - even if the scholarship is a small one - take it. Three students won scholarships because they were the only applicant in their category.

2) Well-rounded is good. The kids who had a variety of activities and jobs really shone through as being active and interesting. Sometimes there would be an application filled with events and honors - but they all had to do with one thing, for example dance competitions. And that's great, but I found myself wondering "does this student do anything else?"

3) Don't be afraid to sell yourself. Some of these kids took what would be a simple or minor activity and made it sound pretty stellar. More power to them for being able to present themselves in a positive way.

4) If you have been doing biological research on a molecular level and are creating new organisms (and you're still in high school) chances are you'll win lots of scholarships.

5) If all you've done in your four years of high school is "play paddleball", maybe it's better not to bother filling out the application at all. (Which goes against "thing I learned number 1", but still...). Honestly, we had one application where the only things filled in were that the student had made the honor roll (these are Gifted and Talented scholarships, so honor roll is pretty much expected) and was in the paddleball club where his/her (identities were shielded from us) responsibility was to "play paddleball."

I don't believe in stressing my kids out with dozens of activities, but I do hope that by the time senior year of high school rolls around they have more to put on an application than "played paddleball."

And to apply that to a greater life lesson. If you were filling out an application right now - would there be more than one thing on it? Has life outside of high school continued to be well-rounded? Or do you just "play paddleball"?

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Tuesday's Proverb

He who confers benefits will be amply enriched, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Bragging on the Kids

The past few months my kids have garnered a few honors that make me mighty proud, and I feel like bragging about them a little.

1) My daughter was chosen to represent her grade at school at the Young Writer's Night.

2) My son's art work was chosen to represent his school at the Young Artist's Night.

(These are both events in our town).

3) My son was nominated to attend a Young Scholar program over the summer.

4) My daughter is receiving a Mayor's Youth Volunteer Award.

I'm very proud of both of them!


Tuesday's Proverb

One man is lavish yet grows still richer; another is too sparing, yet is the poorer. (Proverbs 11:24)

Friday, April 16, 2010

Poetry Friday - Tessa in Wonderland, Part 5


Once again it's Poetry Friday and I have yet another installment of my daughter's original poem Tessa in Wonderland. The first four parts can be found here, here, here and here.


Tessa in Wonderland
by KRM
Part V
Horatio’s paws balled around
The reins,
“Spade? Under the rule of…
of…”
He couldn’t say it.
Queen Heart.
Queen Heart.
“Queen Heart,”
There. I’d said it.
Horatio’s furry face twisted
Into a grimace
“The only Province
Unclaimed
Is Diamonds…
Diamonds who actually
Likes Heart,
But is unwilling to give in.
They’re willing to fight, though.”
He hissed.
“Is there anything
We can do?” I asked
“Sell these Carrots in town,”
Horatio said.
“And then go home.”
There’s nothing we could do.

Carrots sold,
And we rumbled
Down an empty road to
Horatio’s home.
It was almost peaceful,
And I leaned against the
Rabbit as he drove along,
Silently, yet tensed.
A scream
Pierced the lazy twilight.
“NO!
DON’T LET THEM!
NEVER!”
And then…all was silent.
Horatio handed me the reins,
A look of horror on his furry face.
“That was my
father’s voice,”
He whispered,
And got out of the
Cart.
“Straight down the lane,”
He told me.
“I’ll be faster on foot,”
And he darted away.
I stared at the reins,
And gently urged the animals
On.
When we reached the house,
It had been ransacked.
“My father,”
Horatio whimpered,
Coming out
And helping me out of the cart
“I can’t find him.”

The Poetry Friday Round-Up is at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. Check it out.

Friday, April 09, 2010

Poetry Friday - Tessa in Wonderland, Part 4


Once again it's Poetry Friday and I have yet another installment of my daughter's original poem Tessa in Wonderland. The first three parts can be found here, here and here.

Tessa in Wonderland
by KRM

Part iv
Spadedeck.
It’s wonderful
Hustle-bustle of city rhythms
The Frogs selling chocolate covered
Worms and Flies,
Giant Butterfly Messengers
Zooming around,
The thieves,
Patrolling the streets,
Asking for things,
The little shops
With amazing displays in
Their windows
The town square and
Clock Tower
The Theaters and
The restaurants
And the Castle
Looming in the distance.

Horatio drove right by,
Pointing
Landmarks out
Telling me who
To avoid
As if I’d need to know.
The rabbit brought me
To his house
And told me that I could
Stay there till
I figured out how
To get home.
I told him I wouldn’t be
There long, then.

Spadedeck.
The card soldiers
Marching in,
The Megaphone bird
Proclaiming that
Her Majesty, Monarch
Of the Heartlands,
Queen Heart,
Had officially won
The cold war
Against her sister Province,
Spades,
And had conquered.
The only Province
Unconquered
Was New Club.
The war was
Almost over
Tyranny,
Complete dictatorship,
Was now
The unfortunate
Future.

The Poetry Friday round-up can be found at Paper Tigers. Go, check it out!