<p>AMI: so sorry that you lost your dad. The image you painted of him as being “larger than life” made me smile and think of my dad who was the same kind of man. So grateful that these awesome dads/grandfathers were in our lives and our children’s lives for as long as they were :)</p>
<p>More on Senioritis:
[A</a> College Warns Accepted Applicants to ‘Keep a Shoulder to the Wheel’ - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/mom-u-02-08/]A”>A College Warns Accepted Applicants to 'Keep a Shoulder to the Wheel' - The New York Times)</p>
<p>Ami, I am so sorry to hear you lost your father. It sounds like he has left quite a legacy and I hope that brings you some comfort. And its great that your son has a sensitive guidance counselor to help him at this difficult time.</p>
<p>AMI, so sorry about your dad. But it’s great that your son is coping well. </p>
<p>Emmy, good luck to your D on the auditions!!</p>
<p>Our D says she has senioritis, but she’s still cracking the books a lot and not sleeping enough. I don’t think you can suddenly just not care about doing well in school. After a very busy weekend (including lots of studying) that didn’t allow for her usual mega-catch-up-sleep, she was deliriously tired last night and couldn’t focus on a writing task. I asked if it would be a problem to miss her first period so she could do the writing while fresh in the morning. It hadn’t even occurred to her, and it turns out that class is her really easy one. So that’s what she did, all work finished, everyone happy. </p>
<p>I’m having to suggest senioritis for her!</p>
<p>AMI - So very sorry to hear of your loss. He sounds like an awesome father, grandfather, and coach. An inspirational teacher/coach can make a very real and lasting impact on a student. It sounds like your father was that kind of man. I too am glad that your son’s GC was able to reach him and talk to him about his grief of his grandfather’s illness and the impact it was having on his college decisions. Our kids really are so entrenched in this process it is hard for them to see the larger picture. It sounds like the GC gave him very sound advise.</p>
<p>LoP - Thanks for the link to the NYT article. That was copied and sent straight to my son’s inbox! I reminded him how proud I am of him, and that I know if he doesn’t keep the same level of academic success he will be disappointed. I know that the intensity can certainly lighten, but their is a difference between intensity that causes stress and keeping up with assignments and making sure you continue to achieve at the level you are capable of.</p>
<p>AMI - So sorry to hear about your dad. He sounds like a great person.</p>
<p>Today has been a very strange day for me. My neighbor and friend called VERY early this morning to share the wonderful news of her daughter’s engagement. I’ve known the family for 15 years although the daughter only lived here for the first six. I cried and cried from happiness as my friend shared every detail of the most romantic proposal. Not two hours later did I find out that a very dear friend passed away. He had bypass surgery about two weeks ago. All of us expected to see him right afterwards since that surgery is almost considered ‘routine’. We were wrong. He has been struggling to survive since the surgery and he could struggle no more. So the tears started again and haven’t stopped.</p>
<p>Flmathmom: I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. A close friend of ours died of a sudden heart attack several years ago, and I still miss him very much. I’ll keep you in my thoughts.</p>
<p>I logged on to post some good (and potentially funny) news. And then I saw FlMathMom’s post. What a bittersweet day.</p>
<p>The principal called me this morning to say she had “good news from National Merit” but that she couldn’t find our son at school. She had “blue-passed him” out of class and called him over the PA. While she was on my cell phone, the guidance counselor called our home phone to say the same thing. All I could think of was: On the day he is named a NM Finalist, he snuck out of school for lunch! Or he is secretly texting in the bathroom! Or worse!</p>
<p>So I texted him and three of his closest friends. (No texting allowed at school, of course.) One friend responds right away that she is still home sick! Another says he just left him at lunch. (Phew!) Five minutes later, he calls on his cell phone–from the principal’s office. He had not heard the PA announcement because the cafeteria was too noisy. The student aide from the office who took the blue pass to his classroom came back because the classroom was empty. The student who looked for him in the cafeteria didn’t see him at the front table in the cafeteria. (Most have been a boy looking. Boys are bad at looking.)</p>
<p>So, all is well. He’s a NM Finalist. At MIT (deferred) and Purdue (admitted), it doesn’t mean a thing. It’s $2,500 more at Mizzou, our state flagship where he most likely will be next year (barring an admissions and financial miracle at MIT.)</p>
<p>The principal announced it of the PA to the entire school while he was in office and I was on the phone, listening. A pretty cool moment.</p>
<p>Hope everyone else hears good news soon as well.</p>
<p>^Very cool. Congratulations to your son!</p>
<p>OWM: Congratulations! It’s really nice that the school acknowledged his achievement. I’m sure that he will shine wherever he lands.</p>
<p>AMI - sorry for your loss. FlMathMom - sorry for the bittersweet day you’ve had so far. We’ve been hearing a lot of sad news on this forum lately - here’s hoping the trend will change soon.</p>
<p>owm - what wonderful news to hear - and what a neat thing to let you listen in on the announcement. </p>
<p>Out here, things are quiet. Lull before the storm?? Perhaps! Grades for the first semester are due out tomorrow - so far, D has grades in four subjects and no surprises. I don’t know if our school does recalculate GPAs/ranks after the first semester - there had been a conversation to this effect earlier and things were left undecided. After this, we’ll have to make sure the mid year reports reach the schools that need them!</p>
<p>OWM - I love it! I would be doing the same thing. OMGosh, my son picked today of all days to do something stupid…crud, call out the cavalry!'. I know just who I’d text, and just who would respond, and pretty much where those kids would be. I can just see you! 
Regardless of additional money, it is very nice he was recognized! (btw, the $$ award is pretty cool too!!).</p>
<p>I’m not sure how it works with NMF, but with schools you are deferred to I believe you are encouraged to notify the school of major awards/achievements. This would absolutely count. Would MIT be notified automatically? If not, a call from the GC to update the admissions office with a letter for his file would be very nice. I’m sure you are already on top of this.</p>
<p>GC told me that D2 is a NMF on Friday. He asked me if we’d heard anything, and I told him I thought it was supposed to come home but that nothing had. Then he showed me the letter he received with her name and the two other girls from her class who are now finalists. Still nothing at home, though I haven’t checked today’s mail.</p>
<p>D2 told drama director today that she’s decided not to audition for the spring play. It’s a little sad, but she’s at peace with it. Maybe we’ll actually see her at home this spring!</p>
<p>Our second semester senior has a lot of irons in the fire,
6 APs,
varsity sport w 8 practices a week, team captain
dating & social life,
and thoughts about nationals this summer…</p>
<p>Pretty relaxed w acceptance in hand, the biggest issue is getting the taxes done and FAFSA/IDOC…</p>
<p>OWM - so happy when I hear that academic achievements get recognized. Cool that you got to listen in. Bravo. We’ll cross our fingers re:MIT. One of our kids has to get in. I think several applied.</p>
<p>We are still waiting to hear news from school or mail about NMF.</p>
<p>FlMathMom - I am so sorry for the sudden loss of your friend. It really is scary that what seem to be routine procedures can quickly become emergencies. </p>
<p>I do think it seems like as a group we are experiencing so much loss right now. I can’t help but wonder if some of that is because we are past the ‘honeymoon phase’ on this board where we only feel comfortable posting the good news. For a while it was the great SAT scores, good Jr year GPAs, a few early acceptances with rolling decisions. Someone keenly pointed out that our kids were bound to face deferrals or be turned down at some point and we hoped everyone would feel comfortable sharing that news as well if they wanted support. I think we have certainly gotten to that point. A few of our kids will come out unscathed, but most will face some disappointment, frustration, and general ‘blech’ this year. Although I am so sad to hear when others are experiencing hurt, I am grateful that I have a place I feel comfortable sharing the good, the amusing, the sad, and the ‘blech’ moments that have been rolling through my life in this process.</p>
<p>fogfog - very good to hear from you! your kiddo sounds very engaged (read BUSY!). I do think if your student is on a roll, is happy, and enjoying being a senior, being busy can actually help them keep up with their grades.</p>
<p>Oh, btw, dignified1’s D has been accepted to MIT EA. So, one so far!</p>
<p>It seems like we’re at the age now where we and our friends are experiencing the illness and/or loss of our parents and some serious illnesses ourselves. This, coupled with raising teenagers, is so emotionally draining. I hope we can all take care of ourselves, although God knows, I need to work at that. AMI, I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad, and FIMathMom, i’m terribly sorry about your friend’s passing. I’m hoping that we’ll hear lots of very good news very soon to offset our sad news. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for all our kids.</p>
<p>Emmybet: good luck to your daughter! Can’t wait to hear your news when you return.</p>
<p>OWM and phbmom: congrats to your NM Finalist kids! That’s great news!!! </p>
<p>Here, my son continues to work hard as a second semester senior. Lots of papers due. He opted to take two additional courses this year – both advanced – because he wanted to study computer science and philosophy before he got to college. Well, he hasn’t had much of a social life since he continues w/ his varsity sport for the next few weeks and also has a lot of EC commitments. I can’t wait for his winter season sport to end because for the first time this year he’ll be coming home at 4 pm instead of 6:60- 7. He leaves here at 7 am and has been staying up over midnight to finish his work. He’s running on empty and needs a break. I feel like I need one too. I’m sure we all do.</p>
<p>AMI, my deepest sympathies. Your dad sounds like a really terrific person, and I’m so sorry for your loss.</p>
<p>OWM, congrats to your son! Songbird’s principal made the announcement in school yesterday that she and 2 others at her school made NMF. We kind of knew it was coming, but still nice news, and she brought home the certificate from the National Merit folks, which her principal suggested we frame. I think we will. I know it “only” means another $2500, but it sure represents years of dedication and hard work! If she doesn’t want it on her wall, I think I’ll hang it on mine! :)</p>
<p>FlMathMom, I was so happy to read the beginning of your post - finally, some really joyous news on this thread…and then was so saddened to read of the death of your friend. I’m so sorry. I know all too well how shocking an unexpected death can be, and then the deep sadness that creeps in as shock gives way to acceptance and grief. I’m thinking of you and sending hugs your way.</p>
<p>
That story was so beautiful - thank you for sharing. I had tears in my eyes…and I hope she gets that scholarship to boot!</p>
<p>My daughter had a tough December for couple of reasons, including that she did not get in to her (EA) first choice school. On the day after she found that out, she went to her local high school to check out the cast list of the big high school musical, and she was not on the list. (She goes to a specialized, magnet-like program but still participates in the local school activities.) She had gone out of her way to track down the play director the second day of school to audition before she went to Italy for the fall and the teacher had been very positive. D was really bummed not to even get in the chorus (as she had been a chorus member for both 8th and 9th grades). One of her friends, who got the lead, finally asked the teacher at practice why D was not in the play this year. Teacher, who is a most proper lady, said, “Oh s***, I forgot” (looking stricken). It was the first time any of the students had EVER heard her swear in 12+ years of directing the play. Needless to say, D is somewhat gratified that it was just the weird circumstances (of not being around) that kept her out of the play. On the other hand from my perspective, not getting into the play and her first choice school has actually opened up a number of other avenues/opportunities (both social and academic) that are not so limiting so I can’t say it hasn’t turned out for the best.</p>
<p>I loved your story MOSB, it was very moving. OhioMom, sorry to hear of your Father’s passing. </p>
<p>EB, Here’s hoping that this week of Auditions is a good one!</p>
<p>I have to say that it’s taking me a little bit of time to catch up - I was away visiting my daughter in Nashville for 4 days- and reading a half dozen pages of postings is amazing, like reading a Readers Digest condensed version of life. Deaths, college acceptances, Deferrals, crazy kid stories… It’s all here!</p>