What a wonderful update! I remember some of the challenges your son was facing. I am happy to hear that things have improved so dramatically for him. Thank you for updating us and best of luck as he moves forward with CC this fall!
4 Likes
We just returned from a 12 day trip to Japan. It was a bucket list trip that I’ve been hoping to take since I lived in Japan 26 years ago. It was such a treat sharing a new country with S 25. He was mesmerized by Japan and is embarking on some Japanese language study on his own. It was the best adventure, and I was moved to tears with gratitude a few times on the trip.
S25 ended the year with a stronger semester than fall and it feels good to know where he stands for college applications. He leaves on 6/18 for 10 days at Rose Hulman and I’m crossing my fingers that he likes the school. He had no other schools on his list and I told him he has to come up high six potential schools to apply to by the end of summer.
We did find out one set back with next year’s schedule. S25 was already in a bit of bind with foreign language as he was only going to have two years of Spanish due to other conflicts. Well he just found out that Spanish 2 conflicts and he would have to either drop AP Calc AB, AP Chem, or his Computer Sciencr DE/Capstone. Since he wants to major in a STEM area, these aren’t viable options. he is trying to figure out a solution with his counselor but I’m a bit stressed about it. Hopefully he can work something out.
Sending good thoughts to everyone for the start of summer!
5 Likes
Trip sounds amazing! Is there anyway he could take foreign language online?
1 Like
We are planning on going to Japan next spring with D25 and D30 for a D25 grad trip/50th bday trip for DH. Where did you go? DH has only been to Tokyo and the rest of us have never been to Japan at all. So far I have Tokyo and Osaka (DH likes food).
Hope the language gets worked out. I agree with murray93, I’d look for some asynchronous online language courses. Have you checked UC Scout? D25 is taking a language through community college this summer, and it is a huge time suck. I wish we had found something asynchronous for her.
1 Like
D asked me to drive her to school this morning instead of riding the bus so she could buy 2 dozen Dunkin Donuts for the seniors last day. Plus she’s carrying a big Costco sized bottle of lemonade for the potluck they’re having in one of her classes for the one senior in it. Fortunately she doesn’t also have to carry her large instruments as well. Friday she’s doing it all again for her last day of school.
If anyone feels up to it can you send through the universe good thoughts? D is auditioning for drum major after school today. She wrote the essay portion over the weekend but today is the demonstration of conducting part she’s much more nervous about. She just lost her position as president of the music honor society and is VP. She’s sad but understands that the girl who won is awesome and very deserving, plus she had her year. Thank you!
12 Likes
Good luck to her!
3 Likes
D25 had 3 days off from studying/school and today starts her 2 dual enrollment courses she needs to meet grad requirements. The one course posted the syllabus the other day and one of the requirements was “to have at least one complete sentence in any email sent to the professor”.
Hopefully these classes don’t take up too much of her time.
2 Likes
We went to Tokyo, Kyoto (with a few day trips), and Hiroshima (with a day trip to Miyajima). Happy to share any feedback. I bet you all will have the best time!
And thanks for the suggestions about finding an online option for Spanish. S25 is going to reach out to his counselor today to see if that’s an option.
1 Like
This made me LOL… and since I’m sitting at my desk at work, I’m sure people wondered.
We are So Close to the end of the year. Come On Wednesday!
Nothing exciting on the Class of 2025 front. My guy has his senior pictures for the yearbook tomorrow. Why they do them in June, I don’t know, it feels early to me, but whatever. As a previous poster mentioned, I’d like to get some kind of nicer senior portraits done, but I’m holding out on that. I can’t decide if I want Fall (yay, nice color on the trees, cool crisp air, but still like six-eight months before he graduates and given how much he’s working out, he could have a differently shaped body) or Spring (not quite as great color, but still, spring trees and flowers are lovely, closer to his actual graduation, and won’t be accidentally running into holiday card photoshoots for other people, but what if we have The Spring Of Never Ending Rain again…)
Other stuff, it is so hard for me to let go and let my kid drive the essays and application materials. I know that’s what I need to do, and I’m doing it, but I have to bite my tongue so hard to keep from haranguing him to Just Do The Things Already. He KNOWS he should get his essay done this week, as his summer turns into crazy pants on Monday. But is it done? No. It was supposed to be finished yesterday. I said to him “Is the essay done?” and he said “the essay is done” to which I replied “really???” with all the hope and happiness in my voice… and then he said “the essay is done for today, nothing else is happening on it now.”
Dude. That is not DONE. Just get a rough draft done. Then the rest of the summer can be polishing that and doing whatever needs doing for the schools that have their own unique essays.
7 Likes
Our D25 was in a similar position last year with her foreign language. Our school was flexible enough to allow an asynchronous online option. I felt (still feel) that the quality of language learning was dubious at best, but I have a similar feeling of the language learning had she actually taken the class through her school. In the end, it was a box that was checked, but I’m not sure she came away with any substantive knowledge. If you want, I can send via PM the online program she used.
4 Likes
Yes, if you don’t mind PM’ing me, that would be great. We might also look at our local CC and local state school. We will figure this out! It’s just an unexpected wrinkle. Thank you!
Two…more…class days…then 3 Regents exams plus Spanish AAPPL. Ten days until she’s DONE with junior year! June is rough for us in NYS LOL She’s excited to be a JIF at HOBY camp, but it’s this weekend! Bad timing with the ELA Regents on Friday and Fathers Day on Sunday. Oh well. I’m thrilled she has this awesome opportunity!
Hope she has a fun rewarding experience as a JIF at HOBY. My D25 did HOBY last year as a participant and left with a far better experience than she was expecting at drop off. She and 3 others from her high school attended and they brought back to school a program that they were introduced to at HOBY which has turned into an incredibly popular club at the HS. All because of what they learned at HOBY and I am sure the JIFs were instrumental in that teaching / coaching. They were certainly impactful.
But the chants. Not sure that I could deal with all the chants for a week.
1 Like
Omg the chants… 
Last year my daughter was honored to have been invited, but wasn’t even sure she wanted to go. And the look on her face when we were walking up to drop her off and she heard the chants….LOL But she had an amazing experience!!!
Hello! DS25 finishes up this week. He took the 6/1 SAT and I was shocked that all of the 8/24 dates within two hours were full. So, 10/4 it is. Still narrowing down his list, but the front runners remain LMU, Syracuse, Chapman, Emerson, DePaul, Hofstra, and Fordham for film. We also have a few more schools closer to home, and that don’t require a film submission. Still haven’t had the chance to visit Hofstra and Fordham. Hoping to fit that in this summer, although campus tours are never the same when the students are gone. He will have to write, shoot, and edit a few short films for the 11/1 deadlines, so he will be busy! Has anyone been through the film school applications with older kids?
9 Likes
Have not done film, but we have two music students and yes that sunmer before senior year was really busy! Has your child looked at Ithaca? My S26 is there for music but they are also very strong in film! It has been a fantastic experience for him and he knows a lot of film people.
1 Like
Ithaca is terrific, but we are mostly focusing on schools with a chance for a tuition exchange scholarship since I work at a university (that sadly doesn’t have film). I’ve heard they are generous with aid, however, so we haven’t completely ruled it out. Music is tough! Auditions! His best friend is applying as a music major so I’m mildly familiar. Film seems more subjective on “talent” than music - but I’m not an expert at all.
1 Like
So we have some solid overlap—Syracuse, Hofstra, and maybe Fordham are going to end up on C25’s application list, though for math and linguistics, not anything in the fine arts.
C23 was most interested in audio production and support, but since arriving at college has become interested in media production and support more generally, and particularly film. Which highlights one of the difficulties with the fine arts and the fields adjacent to them—asking a kid to decide firmly on their specialization at 17 or 18 is kind of crazy. C23 ended up prioritizing programs that would allow for movement between modes, and I’m quite glad of that.
7 Likes
Check frequently. It’s not unusual for sites to be added during the summer.
4 Likes