Add this to the comments I got last week at the college competition, and I know that she is walking down the right path.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com
Girl gets noticed
Add this to the comments I got last week at the college competition, and I know that she is walking down the right path.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com
I am in an unhappy place
The election was 2 days ago and I worked 17 hours as an Area Manager for elections in my county. It's a fun job most of the time in spite of the back- breaking hours but when you have someone working under you that is very confident yet entirely clueless, it can get tiring.
Then there was the election itself. Based on the noise on the news, from people I deal with daily, and just the local political climate, I honestly didn't think the President had a chance in hell of getting re-elected. But, he did.
And seeing that the local political climate is what is, I am surrounded by terribly unhappy people, everywhere. I. turn. It's not just boo- hoo my guy lost kind of unhappiness, but mind numbing anger. People are Peeee-Oed and I am feeling it.
Some people suspect I supported The President for no other reason than voting-while-black and from them I get averted eyes and snide comments. Others have decided that I instead voted-while-Christian, and assume that I support Romney and so they say awful stuff about The President to my face.
The reality is that I vote-while-thinking and so that makes me neither a Democrat nor Republican because both parties have a lot of stuff wrong.
But I am not explaining that to anyone. I get to have my vote and I get to not be subjected to the negativity from either side. Still the venom and anger is soooo thick that I can see it, taste it, and feel it. I have literally been sick to my stomach for 2 days... Not because I did or didn't get my way, but because of the unhappiness and anger I am currently surrounded with.
And that makes me sad.
Then there was the election itself. Based on the noise on the news, from people I deal with daily, and just the local political climate, I honestly didn't think the President had a chance in hell of getting re-elected. But, he did.
And seeing that the local political climate is what is, I am surrounded by terribly unhappy people, everywhere. I. turn. It's not just boo- hoo my guy lost kind of unhappiness, but mind numbing anger. People are Peeee-Oed and I am feeling it.
Some people suspect I supported The President for no other reason than voting-while-black and from them I get averted eyes and snide comments. Others have decided that I instead voted-while-Christian, and assume that I support Romney and so they say awful stuff about The President to my face.
The reality is that I vote-while-thinking and so that makes me neither a Democrat nor Republican because both parties have a lot of stuff wrong.
But I am not explaining that to anyone. I get to have my vote and I get to not be subjected to the negativity from either side. Still the venom and anger is soooo thick that I can see it, taste it, and feel it. I have literally been sick to my stomach for 2 days... Not because I did or didn't get my way, but because of the unhappiness and anger I am currently surrounded with.
And that makes me sad.
Lessons learned and chances taken
My child is more mature than me. I was bent out of shape. Even her Administrator seemed bent out of shape. I even heard that the judge who loved her was bent out of shape. But my daughter took it all at face value. She's so professional.
One judge thought the sun rose in the morning when my daughter awoke. The other... was non-plussed.
So why would one person give a perfect score, and the other a.... meh.
According to my child, we have to remember that they were both not judging her at the same time. That meant there were variations in the performance. She felt that the first time, the time with the judge that was not impressed, it was 8am in the morning. Her voice was still groggy. Maybe, like the judge said, her diction was not as clear. Also, she was more put together, wearing a blazer and losing the distracting leggings that had been peeking out from under her skirt. Plus she felt that she stammered in her introduction of the piece the first time. Maybe first impressions really do mean everything... to some people.
Then there are chances taken. "In the Sweat", by Naomi Wallace is a risky piece. First, it was written in 1997. This is a classical crowd, and the person who ultimately won did a classic piece. Then there is the subject matter. This play deals with racism, homophobia, and violence. This crowd prefers something more spiritual. Then there's the fact that it was more of a monologue than a dramatic narrative (the line between the two is very fuzzy, in my opinion).
So she took her chances, hoping to at least get noticed this time, and she did... she really did. That may be better than winning the acting prize. And so, my child is OK with it. I'll be OK with it too... eventually.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com
One judge thought the sun rose in the morning when my daughter awoke. The other... was non-plussed.
So why would one person give a perfect score, and the other a.... meh.
According to my child, we have to remember that they were both not judging her at the same time. That meant there were variations in the performance. She felt that the first time, the time with the judge that was not impressed, it was 8am in the morning. Her voice was still groggy. Maybe, like the judge said, her diction was not as clear. Also, she was more put together, wearing a blazer and losing the distracting leggings that had been peeking out from under her skirt. Plus she felt that she stammered in her introduction of the piece the first time. Maybe first impressions really do mean everything... to some people.
Then there are chances taken. "In the Sweat", by Naomi Wallace is a risky piece. First, it was written in 1997. This is a classical crowd, and the person who ultimately won did a classic piece. Then there is the subject matter. This play deals with racism, homophobia, and violence. This crowd prefers something more spiritual. Then there's the fact that it was more of a monologue than a dramatic narrative (the line between the two is very fuzzy, in my opinion).
So she took her chances, hoping to at least get noticed this time, and she did... she really did. That may be better than winning the acting prize. And so, my child is OK with it. I'll be OK with it too... eventually.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com
Finishing up our trip
As I sit in the student lounge I reflect back on the week of competition at (a school who's name I won't mention). And try to put it all in perspective.
My daughter took 2nd place in mixed media art which was a surprise seeing that art is hardly her major talent. At least it is not something she focuses on. But this time it looks like the concept she had in her head actually worked out on paper (the 20th time) and that the concept was clearly well thought out and executed. Being an artist myself, who is yet to win a prize in a juried competition, I am very proud of her.
That being said, I am bothered by the mixed messages that we are getting in the areas where she is truly talented. To be pulled aside by a judge who heaped praises upon praises on her, yet she didn't even make the finals is troubling to me. Makes me realize that taste and subject matter are often more important than flawless execution and that makes me sad. It also makes me realize that I need to closely scrutinize the colleges we are looking at because I fear for her self esteem.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com
My daughter took 2nd place in mixed media art which was a surprise seeing that art is hardly her major talent. At least it is not something she focuses on. But this time it looks like the concept she had in her head actually worked out on paper (the 20th time) and that the concept was clearly well thought out and executed. Being an artist myself, who is yet to win a prize in a juried competition, I am very proud of her.
That being said, I am bothered by the mixed messages that we are getting in the areas where she is truly talented. To be pulled aside by a judge who heaped praises upon praises on her, yet she didn't even make the finals is troubling to me. Makes me realize that taste and subject matter are often more important than flawless execution and that makes me sad. It also makes me realize that I need to closely scrutinize the colleges we are looking at because I fear for her self esteem.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com
Heading out again
I feel like I've spent the entire month of October on the road. I am heading back out in the morning for 4 days for the High school Festival (or something like that) at an extremely conservative university. My kids' homeschool program competes there every year (Chorus, classical vocals and instruments, and theater pieces) and this is the last year any of my kids is going, and first chance I have had to go along. Usually election day lines up with the festival, but I think they may have moved it because the last Presidential election was such a bummer for such a conservative population, and it killed the morale of all that attended.... with the crying and all.
Anyway, it really is a good experience... really. Anytime you get to get on the stage and compete with kids who are as seasoned as you are, makes you work harder. I have found that this is an excellent way to start of every school year.
I almost forgot to add that we went to my son's college yesterday for parents day and then played hooky by not attending any of the planned agenda. We got to spend some time with my son, who I barely recognize. He's more confident, thinner, and stronger, than he was just a few short months ago. We ended the day watching a play his roommate is in, and checking out the production value of the shows at that school. No. It did not convince my daughter to apply.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com
Anyway, it really is a good experience... really. Anytime you get to get on the stage and compete with kids who are as seasoned as you are, makes you work harder. I have found that this is an excellent way to start of every school year.
I almost forgot to add that we went to my son's college yesterday for parents day and then played hooky by not attending any of the planned agenda. We got to spend some time with my son, who I barely recognize. He's more confident, thinner, and stronger, than he was just a few short months ago. We ended the day watching a play his roommate is in, and checking out the production value of the shows at that school. No. It did not convince my daughter to apply.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com
Yet another school bus crash!
I just saw on the news that there was a school bus crash where a car tried to make a left turn in front of a school bus got hit. The driver and a middle school child where life-flighted to a hospital, and 13 high school bus passengers where brought to the hospital by bus, and the school bus driver was also brought to the hospital.
This seems to happen a lot.
I spoke to a parent the other day who had a child on a school bus last week that had an accident and the parents were not informed. They found out through the grape vine. That parent began homeschooling this past Monday. That was the last straw in a long list of complaints.
Last May 50 or more people were injured on a multiple school bus crash to Six Flags.
I know putting your child on the school bus is easier for parents than driving, but it has always made me nervous. I am glad that we only have to be out and about the same time as the hectic morning commute (another factor) one day a week. The rest of the days we stay home until rush hour is over.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com
This seems to happen a lot.
I spoke to a parent the other day who had a child on a school bus last week that had an accident and the parents were not informed. They found out through the grape vine. That parent began homeschooling this past Monday. That was the last straw in a long list of complaints.
Last May 50 or more people were injured on a multiple school bus crash to Six Flags.
I know putting your child on the school bus is easier for parents than driving, but it has always made me nervous. I am glad that we only have to be out and about the same time as the hectic morning commute (another factor) one day a week. The rest of the days we stay home until rush hour is over.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com
When homeschoolers get real
The other day, I wrote a post called Homeschooling with humor. It was an attempt for me to say that sometimes my kids are a pain in the neck, and I deal with it by giving them back some of their own medicine... I.e. gently mocking them. Because if they can be impossible, they surely they need to see how it feels to have that 'tude projected back at them.
Last night I came across a post from March 2010 entitled Teen Slacker Mentality and Phony Homeschool Moms. The post demonstrates how homeschool moms deal with the same period of
Last night I came across a post from March 2010 entitled Teen Slacker Mentality and Phony Homeschool Moms. The post demonstrates how homeschool moms deal with the same period of
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12 grade year of homeschooling, Finishing Strong
We are almost done with my college prep series. There will still be a video on completing the transcript. Stay tuned... meanwhile, ...
