This week at my kid's high school they are selecting their schedule of courses. Not to mention, I watched Waiting For Superman, a movie about the school system and how inaffective it is for supporting the majority of students in their journey to personal successful learning.I fight the battle of motivating my kids to be challenged, to figure out ways around boundaries and to stay positively motivated to do their heart's desire.
But it's been hard. I've had to teach them to fight for their education as well.
IF YOU ARE SERVED APPLES but you want ORANGES
My 9th grader is an acceptional student. She always scores high on test and with me fighting for her she was placed in the Gifted and Talented courses. But she wants more.
AP courses were offered to her this year, but I think outside of the box in everything and I wanted her to forego AP courses and just go direct to Community College to take some of her classes - and I found out from taking my daughter to the counselor at the community college that she could take classes at the community college that could go towards her High School diploma while giving her credit for her degree!
So we asked her High School Counselor to approve my daughter's registration. The woman told me "I don't know why you would want to waste your money on that when she can just take AP classes"
DON't LET 'NO' stop YOU! FIND A WORK AROUND
I couldn't believe the woman was discouraging me in supporting my daughter with MY MONEY. Had I not known that it was possible to send a student in this direction (I had done the exact same thing for my son - and had to fight even harder to do so) then I would have just agreed with the woman.
BUT I will take a "No" and create my own "Yes"
TEENS HAVE POWER
One thing I told my daughter when we left was, "You can do or be anything, and that is a lesson that the road won't always be easy. You always need to look for your detors."
HOW HAVE YOU as a young person TURNED a 'NO' into a 'YES' by not giving up?
Wow. I'm glad you were able to take a frustrating moment and turn it into a lesson for your daughter.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in elementary school, I, as I always have been, was an avid reader. I was in third grade and checking out the thickest books at the highest grade level offered there (probably about 6th or 7th grade level). I'd go through several books in a week and come back for more.
The librarian became concerned that I was checking out too many books and reading books too high level for me. She actually spoke to my teacher who called my mother. My mother had to come in and talk with my teacher and the librarian to discuss it. My mother asked them why in the world would they not encourage a child to read as much as possible and at the highest level under their comprehension? Even something higher, in order to strengthen their minds, grow and learn?
Different, but similar to your story in that we took a "no" and turned it into a lesson and our own "yes."
Awesome! I love it when we remind ourselves that thinking beyond the boundaries are perfectly fine.
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of your daughter. That is great!
ReplyDeleteBut...from personal experience, my nephew did the same thing and he wasn't socially ready to be with a bunch of older adults in a college setting. Just something to think about. As mom's we need more than four eyes sometimes. =)
Oh thanks E. she will be taking online classes.
ReplyDeleteMorning! I've nominated you. :) http://www.aprilplummer.com/2012/01/if-this-doesnt-scare-you-off-nothing.html
ReplyDeleteIt is an aware person who listens. Great mentoring.
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