<p>^ Agreed, but the decision to offer personal tidbit (such as explaining and justifiying choices) remains entirely in the hands of the target of the story. Not many reporters find it attractive to deal with people who insist on keeping privacy to a maximum. </p>
<p>As far as I know, not many of this type of stories turn out well for the young student. We know that the stories provide ego boosts for the adults around, but what do the kids gain from the subsequent circus? Envy, jealousy, scorn, questions … the list goes on. </p>
<p>How did it work for the “star” of Crazy U or the Chua kids? How did it work out for the many kids who saw their accomplishments dissected in the papers?</p>
<p>Although I am fully speculating about this, but I’d wager that most people who read Lizzie’s story think she made a big mistake. I think that few people would applaud her choice and not think she blew it!</p>
<p>The most recent articles of this type I’ve seen made the choice a bit more understandable. There was a val with acceptances to Ivies who chose our state flagship because he had been working on research with a professor there during high school and decided he’d like to continue that. The lower cost was also mentioned. A friend’s D with several top LAC acceptances who chose a religious school in VA was featured in an article. She cited the strong spiritual and community service aspects of her choice. Indeed, she particpated in many school-organized mission trips while there. An athlete from our state who chose another Div. 1 school over Harvard, said she wasn’t certain she personally would be able to successfully pursue athletics at Harvard given the rigorous academics. These are reasons which make good sense.</p>
<p>I am compelled to log on and attempt to set the record straight. I know this young woman very well because I am her dear old dad. First of all, Lizzie has never sought the limelight ever. She was the val at her high school and it is a tradition to give a speech. Lizzie was very reluctant to give the speech but did give a brief one thanking her teachers and talking about her peers. Her counselor who introduced her said things about her character and briefly mentioned her acceptances. The school asks students to notify them when they receive acceptances and Lizzie had discussed her options with her counselor. A newspaper article followed where Lizzie talked about Baylor and why she chose it. Later Baylor emailed saying they were doing new student introductions of the incoming class for parents, they featured several new students over the summer and asked for a photo and permission to use her “Why she wanted to attend Baylor” essay from her original application. Lizzie never sought out a press release. As you can see from her Baylor essay Lizzie has always had a love for Texas visiting relatives. She visited countless schools from New England to Alabama from Michigan to Nashville, ivy league, state flagships, Catholic schools, tiny schools, Methodist schools, secular schools looking for her right fit. H and Y were not what she wanted after all, she hates the cold. Lizzie was strongly encouraged to go to an ivy but she stood firm that Baylor was her choice. She is happy there, thriving and working her tail off it is not an “easy” school in the honors program. There is absolutely no grade inflation. She was not afraid of Harvard or Yale it just was not her top choice in the end but thinks they are amazing schools. She spent a year taking classes part time at an urban university during high school and certainly has experienced diversity. Her siblings are all African American and she is a green eyed blond. I can honestly say that Lizzie is thriving and happy. I am sleeping well knowing she is having a wonderful college experience. Everyone at Baylor has been gracious and she has made friends with many smart accomplished young people. She is in a University Scholars program which offers her many opportunities and mentoring. There are many National Merit Scholars in her program. She loves her professors, many of whom have an ivy league pedigree. Lizzie is a Christian though the Baptist faith and Catholic are quite different. Lizzie plans to study abroad as an undergrad and complete her masters and perhaps PhD. Perhaps she will go east then. It was a well thought out carefully considered decision, on her part and I support her decision. I would respectfully ask that this thread now please stay generic rather than about my dear daughter. It is after all “College confidential.” Baylor has wonderful virtual tours on their website if you are curious about the campus it is gorgeous and Lizzie and some others are doing a new student blog at Baylor to help new students know what college life is like. You can follow her and other students there if you wish more info. about what Baylor is like. This will be my one and only post. I hope this helps. She is after all my little girl and always will be no matter how far she soars. She has been a blessing every single day of my life.</p>
<p>The position of the father is understandable, but also very much in line with other parents who discovered that there is a different and more annoying side to the publicity. While it is easy to second-guess decisions at a later stage, I’d like to repeat that asking for “confidentiality” at this stage will not accomplish anything. In today’s age, the search engines have removed all possibilities of regaining a modicum of privacy once one ACCEPTS to participate. And, again, there was a time to ensure that personal information would remain … private, and the responsibility fell onto the shoulders of adults. </p>
<p>Of course, one should wonder why this might be necessary for people to keep such a story private. After all, every element of the stories points to a wonderful person, and a wonderful family. Are there any parents who would not be mightily proud of having such bright, well-rounded child? </p>
<p>The issue, however, is that we DO live in a climate of scrutiny, if not a climate of open scorn to views that differ from the “mainstream.” As strange it may appear, academic success does not always result in hoos and haas. In fact, many parents (and students) find a place such as CC one of the few places where they can speak about the success of their children … as well as about their drive to help the kids succeed. Add divisive issues of faith or politics, and the mix becomes explosive. </p>
<p>I am afraid that, in the end, the only real answer is to err on the side of remaining anonymous at all cost.</p>
<p>xiggi - All he is asking for is that his daughter be omitted from being referred to just because we know her name, school etc. If the goal of the thread is met, why should anybody keep dissecting her motivations just because she is not here to defend herself? </p>
<p>We can all talk about Baylor’s educational standards as much as we want. Is there any reason to keep talking about Platoguy’s D after 568 posts?</p>
<p>Btw - we thought it ended yesterday evening and were proposing additional topics for discussion around post 500.</p>
<p>I had a question for you. Are Asian parents helping in chili cookoffs and rigging them?</p>
<p>Nope. And that assumes that there was ever a NEED to discuss the OP’s subject? In my book, there was an alternative, and that was one to stay out of the limelight altogether. Does not get any simpler than that! Fwiw, participating or creating a blog to extol the greatness of Baylor to future students is not exactly compatible with avoiding the limelight. Blogs, when reduced to their bare essence, are nothing else than instruments of misguided or veiled narcissism. And again, that is an individual choice, and not the work of Santa’s elves. </p>
<p>As far as this thread, I did think it was all about the kolaches in West, and how divergent the opinions about spending years in Waco might be. Missed the references about Asian Chili. Is that a Houston thing?</p>
<p><,As far as this thread, I did think it was all about the kolaches in West, and how divergent the opinions about spending years in Waco might be.>></p>
<p>Dang! I thought we were talking about good Tex-Mex and how TiredofSnow can’t get any in Australia and I can’t get any in Angola!!! ;)</p>
<p>Um, yeah. We bridged the gap between people of faith and nonbelievers in America, rehabilitated Barbie’s reputation and settled once and for all the question of whether you have to go to Harvard to be fulfilled academically. (No wonder this is a CC “hot topic”!) No one has yet had the courage to address the issue of whether the culinary integrity of chili cookoffs is under assault by meddling Asian parents.</p>
<p>Are we talking chili with or without beans? That’s a biggie in my family. This New Orleans gal doesn’t want beans. The Yankee DH does. The boys…well, they vote with Mom!!! ;)</p>
<p>After spending hours researching the subject, I am led to believe that Asian might have rigged the Terlingua Chili contest by attempting to rename it Pho Cookout. It also appears that Tolbert was born in Hawaii, but was given a short form birth certificate in Texas. </p>
<p>As far as Waco’s culinary exploits, here are a few gems:</p>
<p>Oh! “BU alum” means BAYLOR University alum! For a second, I thought xiggi was quoting a BOSTON University alum who was dissing the culinary options in Waco. That could have led to some interesting discussions.</p>
<p>I’m glad she took a serious look at all of her incredible opportunities and made an informed decision. I think this is really important in order to live a life with no nagging regrets. I like Texas and understand the attraction. I also like the size of Baylor and its athletic scene. I must admit I’m stuck on the “moral compass” comment combined with the comment that turning down Harvard had nothing to do with secularism, and the observation by Platoguy that some of her profs at Baylor are Ivy grads. While I agree with xiggi that people need to be very careful about disclosing personal info, once it is out of the bag, I would have appreciated it if she had been more forthcoming, rather than forcing us to wrestle with her decision.</p>
<p>P.S.
My earlier weird posts were a result of responding from my new phone - accidentally touched “Reply” and the edit prompt didn’t show up for some reason.</p>
(No wonder this is a CC “hot topic”!) No one has yet had the courage to address the issue of whether the culinary integrity of chili cookoffs is under assault by meddling Asian parents.</p>