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Education, Character, and Virtue

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 by Sarah Leave a Comment

Come visit me over at True North Homeschool Academy this week and read my first guest post, written about education and virtue and reactions to words of Wisdom from a few of America’s great men.True North Homeschool Academy is a newly revamped online home-school resource, focusing on quality Christian education, and real relationships in learning. Online classes were one of the biggest highlights of my homeschool years, so I’m really excited that there is someone focusing on bringing the details and quality of close knit classrooms of nerdy homeschoolers to the internet.  Thrilled to have the opportunity to share little pieces of my experience as a k-12 homeschool grad and college survivor with their audience.

 Forming Character with Education

I hadn’t known the late justice Antonin Scalia was an advocate of education until the cover of the recently released Scalia Speaks caught my eye at a local bookstore. Just a few moments with the book revealed his thoughts on the deterioration of American schools, the sinking standards of higher education, and the need for learning based on scripture and civic responsibility. Drawing on his experiences in law school, on the bench, and with the younger generations he mentors, he warned urgently against following the veering moral compass of our nation.

Scalia drew his opinions extensively from the words and writings of the earliest Americans, challenging me to examine my parent’s motivations in their decision to teach me at home. Each phrase directed me to the firm understanding that knowledge was worthless unless grounded in faith and virtue. An excerpt from Noah Webster’s On the Education of Youth in America impressed me so deeply that I pondered the meaning through the rest of the day. “The virtues of men are of more consequence to society than their abilities; and for this reason, the heart should be cultivated with more assiduity than the head.”

On the Education of Youth in America

I later found a copy of Webster’s entire essay, where he outlined the subjects he believed a child must be taught in school. He emphasized a rigorous study of law, history, and ethics, seeing these studies as not merely the acquisition of knowledge, but of virtue and character.  Along with Scalia, he believed schools should place a higher importance on forming a strong character than a brilliant scholar. Furthermore, Webster did not suggest teaching these subjects to produce a successful career. He believed instead in forming citizens qualified to take their place in governing society.

Character Formation

The message resonated with me as I recalled my parents, who valued the formation of their children’s character first and foremost, guiding their decision to raise a homeschool family. They believed in education as the transmission of Christian virtues and culture to their children, and saw home education as a powerful tool in achieving this goal.

Technology, Skills, Character

In our technology driven world, a person’s knowledge and skills are incredibly important. Yet it is character that determines how those skills are put to use. A child’s moral grounding will provide the rudder to steer through career development, civic duties, and family life. My parents were confident that they could give adequate instruction in the practical skills of learning, and that they would also be in a better position to court the developing hopes, dreams, and character of their children.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.~ Luke 6:45


Posted in: Homeschooling, Journal Tagged: Homeschooling

Homeschool High School Summer Ideas

Friday, November 17, 2017 by Sarah Leave a Comment

Reading, Writing, Arithmetic. Necessary, but falling short of what is needed for a true education. Some things cannot be taught, but must be learned through experience. Compassion, life perspective, and an awareness of one’s place in the  world. This also helps bring a roundness and maturity to students that is exceptionally helpful in college scholarship interviews. For this reason, these activities might be better begun at the end of the sophomore or beginning of junior year.

Use a High School Summer to Create a Homeschool Capstone Course

A summer filled with these experiences will prepare a student for college-and beyond. A journal of expereinces, reactions, and new impressions should be kept. This not only provides the students a chance for self reflection, but also helps bring out important themes that will be prime material for college scholarship essays and interviews.

High School as the Beginning of A Life of the Works of Mercy

Several  opportunities exposed me to new worlds I never knew existed. Experiences were an amazing way to begin to learn and practice the works of mercy. Our calling to live the Gospel is one that must be nurtured and allowed to be developed through His Grace throughout life. These locations are a beautiful way to start. I began to venture into these areas of service at the close of my freshman year of college. All I could think was  why did I not start this mission sooner?

  • Time spent  in a nursing home, not just for a performance or a one day event. Instead, plan for enough time to get to know some of the residents. This can be accomplished by getting in touch with an activities director. Glancing at photos  of the person in front of you, now decades older, when they were just your age. When I worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant, these snapshots of lives lining the elderly windowsill pressed deeply into my mind. A blink of an eye, and I would be where they are, dependent on others and staring eternity and my God as I surveyed my life behind me. Hospice centers also may be looking for volunteers

 

  • Mission trip-the phrase brings to mind third world countries and Sahara climates. However, the truth is that there’s likely real projects in your own backyard. Contact schools that work with immigrants and the poor to see what needs and opportunities they have currently. Volunteering in a homeless shelter or a kitchen that provides free meals to those in need is also a good starting place. Working with those less fortunate in life is a chance not only to evaluate your own blessings, but also to learn to speak to those in completely different circumstances than you.

High School as the Beginning of Seeking and Facing Challenges and Growth

  • Seek out immersion opportunities for the foreign language studied in High School. This could be through a city multicultural center, local festivals, or clubs. Ideally this would be an ongoing opportunity, since languages take years to master.. I watched my closest friend in college look for chances to practice in the international student dorm. By senior year she was a fluent speaker, and able to be the only one of the nursing students who could talk to a sick patient suffering from a disease causing complete paralysis, though with hopes of future recovery. Before this patient could even regain full use of his mouth to speak, we was smiling to hear his own native language spoken.  My sister had similar opportunities speaking with members of the deaf community. My chosen language in high school, Latin, served me well through my medical studies. However, I do regret not having a foundation in a living language to spring off of into this new frontier.
Posted in: Homeschooling, Journal Tagged: college, college prep, Homeschooling

Impress College Admissions through Volunteering

Tuesday, August 1, 2017 by Sarah Leave a Comment
Scholarship and College Application Tips-Volunteering Edition

Volunteering is a crucial part of a compelling college application. However,without proper emphasis in applications or interviews you will not benefit from the experience. indeed, giving the appearance of volunteering to check a box can give the opposite impression and count against you.

I first began interviewing for college scholarships as a junior. I wrote and interviewed not knowing I was clueless about what my audience was looking for. The essay I wrote later that won a full ride scholarship through my state was of a much different character.

Several qualities are needed in order to turn experiences in volunteering into an asset in the competitive college world:

  • long term commitment to volunteering
  • leadership in that organization
  • incorporate the experience into who you are as a person
  • incorporate the experience into larger worldview and mission
  • write frequently about experiences to turn experience into scholarship power

To fully capitalize on the opportunities offered by a history of volunteering requires diligence. Volunteer at a variety of humanitarian organizations through high school, preferably starting in late middle school. As a homeschooler, you have a strong advantage in time and flexibility. Being free from the constraints of an eight hour school day gives homeschoolers an edge against your traditionally educated peers. A long term record of volunteering and service will set you apart. Find an area you are passionate enough about to give a long term commitment to it.

While there may be hundreds of worthy charities some organizations will be more trendy. These types of service experiences will receive much more attention from local colleges. Note which charities align with programs popular in your area. Efforts I noticed in my area included:

  • Early childhood care and education (especially for immigrants)
  • Community health education and services
  • Local food banquets
  • Multicultural centers
Write and Journal on Volunteering Experiences to Stand out as a Scholarship Candidate

Journal, journal, journal. Write an entry after every volunteering experience. Organize your writing into themes. This is what will help you transform your experience into a powerful asset in essays and interviews. Without this, your presentation will be identical to a thousand other students who spent a summer volunteering. Don’t underestimate the power of the small moments and reflections in your experiences.  Spend time reflecting on how you were changed in that moment. Were your beliefs and suppositions confirmed or challenged? was your worldview or life goal changed? Frequent writing will enable you to easily recall and discuss experiences under the pressure of a college scholarship interview.

Focus on Relationships

Develop relationships with those you serve.  Come to see every person as a story. It’s up to you to learn to read them like a book. Journal about the most surprising revelations in character in those you serve. Write about how that impacted you. Develop relationships with other volunteers as well, and write notes from interesting conversations. Ask them what the most significant issues are in the populations you serve. What are the current barriers to your mission? How could you remover those barriers as a team?

Become a Student Leader in your Organization

Leadership experience is essential if you really want to stand out from the competition. Think about Eagle Scout senior projects and the level of creativity and community networking required to make the most impressive projects successful. Start small, and work your way into this. Fundraising or raising awareness of your cause is a good place to start. Who has buy-in to your organization? Who would be willing to link you with people who can help partner to allow you to be more effective? For example, a local school that serves underprivileged children partnered with a local church to help make sure they could offer each of these children breakfast in the morning if they hadn’t eaten.

Develop a Plan to Engage the World in College and Beyond

Develop a plan to bring those skills into college environment will help you stand out. Again, it is simple to write, “I was touched and inspired by my experience with Mrs. Smith at the soup kitchen.” Thousands of other students have done the same.  Research what similar organizations or programs the college offers. Present yourself as a future leader in that program or effort.

In essence, this is a sales pitch on why the college should invest in your education with a scholarship.  How will you help them accomplish their goals? How will you increase engagement among other students? How will you help their school stand out from the crowd and make a difference in the world.

Posted in: Journal Tagged: college, college prep, Homeschooling

College Scholarship Interviews and the Homeschooler

Tuesday, May 16, 2017 by Sarah Leave a Comment

I earned a full ride scholarship to a local liberal arts college. This, however, had nothing to do with my skills interviewing with college administrators and admission. I was a young and naive homeschooler with idealized ideas about the world of higher education. I didn’t know it, but I was completely mistaken about what types of students would walk away from scholarship interviews with the coveted prize. I was a strongly academic student, and I wrongly assumed that this would give me an edge in the contest. I didn’t realize how wrong this was.

Now, I am not able to go back and repeat this part of my life to test my theories or sit in on the winning student’s interviews, but after spending four years in the college liberal arts system. I worked closely with my professors and paid  lot of attention to the ideals emphasized, and which students were chosen for special honors. Now, I have a much better idea of the type of student they have in mind. I realize that nothing is given away for free – the college considers the scholarship to be an investment in their long term goals.

Skills college admissions interviewers are looking for:

I graduated with a 3.93 GPA, and participated in choir all four years. However, I was not the ideal student from the administration’s perspective. I now realize that being a strong academic performer doesn’t help much unless it’s focused in these areas:

  • Writing. Practice writing. Learn essay structure are invest in classes that teach you how to think. Find out about their college paper, which is a good reflection of the values of the school. Is it run by the English department students? Do general students have an ability to submit articles?
  • A strong student and an interest in their honors program. Here is the exception to the normal case where academics doesn’t matter. A college sees an honors program as a chance to invest more into you and
  • If you play sports and are also strongly academic, you have a firm advantage.

Ironically, when I was interviewing with my choice college, the skill they honed in on was something I had to offer their college, and also the least academic thing I am able to do. They were intruiged by my certifications as a ballet instructor, and my interest in giving classes to their student. In hindsight, I see why. It was the only thing in the interview about what I could do for them to make their campus a more interesting place for other students.

Show how you engage with the world

Colleges want to believe they are growing the next generation of thinkers. They want to believe that their education is impacting the future course of not only their students, but the country. Note my sceptisicm. I have heard that when academic standards were high. What I experienced was often a place where ideas were presented one sidedly, and only a few times did I hear genuine debate presented. Even this was limited to a few of my high quality professors. I would like to share how I believe future students can use this to their advantage rather than sidetrack into ranting about the negatives of my college experience.

High school activities to emphasize:

Emphasize activities where you held any sort of leadership or organizing role. Large projects and activities involving community coordination should also be stressed. Eagle scouts projects are a good example. Talk about volunteering and public service work you have accomplished.

Be a people person.

If you are homeschooled and interviewing with someone involved in formal education, discussing socialization is a must. Find out if they have met homeschoolers in the past. If not, they may be a victim of the socialization myth. Give them a rundown of what your education really looked like.

If you’re an introvert, casting yourself as a people person can be tricky. Emphasize your unique traits, perhaps how you love to study people and really get to know them as people, how you build connections, or any way that puts your patterns of social interaction in the spotlight. I am quiet in groups, naturally drifting to the back of a room during group activities. My personality is well adapted towards hours in the library prepping for a test but did not make me the star that interviewers were scouting. However, I counteracted this by getting involved in lots of clubs right away when I began school. Even living off campus, I soon made my way into several different circles among the student nurses and choir culture.

Most surprising question.

“What will you change about our school when you’re here? ” This followed more typical interview questions such as ‘tell us about your strengths’ and ‘what activities were you involved in with school?’. I was taken aback. I believe I stammered out an answer to the point that I was just arriving and learning about the school, how could I want to change anything?

Had I known then what I do now, I would have done a lot more research on whaat the current focal points of the school were, and tried to find a way to fit myself into that mission. From the admission department’s perspective, there’s always room for improvement. This would require some research ahead of time. What projects is the school working on? Where would they like to be in the next 5 year, after your time there is complete? After some reflection, I realized what the ideal candidate for this scholarship would look like.

I realized that the ideal candidate is the student who will spend four years learning the values of the school, working for increasing admissions, and improving the experiences of all the other students around them.

An exceptional candidate will have a goal past school that will create name recognition. I realize someone hoping to become a prominent lawyer or government official would have more of an edge in a scholarship competition.

Maybe they will love the college environment so much, they won’t leave when they graduate. They will either go on to further studies in a graduate degree, or be hired into the administration to continue their work at the school.  In this way, the college’s investment of a scholarship will have paid off, fully to their advantage.

Posted in: College Life Tagged: Education, Homeschooling

August

Sunday, August 14, 2016 by Sarah 1 Comment

The sun’s bedtime is retreating rapidly. Cicada symphonies perform in the dusky evenings, and every once in a while I spot a tree with bronzing tips. Still, August managed to catch me by surprise. (Although I’m not sure it feels like it is time for any month-except perhaps March and April.)

My desk and all my schoolbooks are now arranged, and I’ve started reviewing last year’s notes. The darker evenings are perfect for studies along with a cup of tea. For much of the summer I have been hoping the break would not end too soon, but now I am impatient to get started. Just this one last year stands between me and graduation, and I’m excited to get my footing in the nursing field.

The weather is beautiful, and some of the younger brothers and I have been taking advantage of it by moving story time outside. Joseph has discovered the magic of Edith Nesbit’s Five Children and It series, and Daniel loves Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories.  Cooler evenings put me in a baking mood, so they have also been helping me taste test several new recipes. So far, carrot muffins have been the favorite.

Posted in: Daniel, Family, Homeschooling, Joseph, Journal Tagged: Homeschooling

My Brothers Favorite Books

Tuesday, July 12, 2016 by Sarah Leave a Comment

Books for boys can be hard to find, but when I asked the young men in our family which ones they couldn’t put down, here were their answers:

My Grade School Brothers’ Favorite Books
  • Redwall Series
  • Boxcar children
  • Hardy Boys
  • My Side of the Mountain Series
  • Ranger’s Apprentice Series  (very popular for many years at home)
Middle School Brothers’ Favorite Books
  • Hatchet
  • Trumpeter of Krakow
  • Outlaws of Ravenhurst
  • The Hidden Treasure of Glaston
  • Ransom of Red Chief (short story)
  • The Purloined Letter
  • The Black Pearl
  • King Solomon’s Mines
  • Johnny Tremain
  • The Princess Bride
  • The Candy Bombers
  • Legend of sleepy hollow
  • Journey to the Center of the Earth
  • Around the World in 80 Days
My High School Brothers’ Favorite Books
  • Great Expectations
  • Old Man and the Sea
  • Lord of the Rings J.R.R. Tolkein
  • 20,000 leagues Under the Sea
  • Sherlock Holmes
  • Les Miserables (This one surprised me, but Landon was a big fan)
  • Dracula
  • The Virginian
  • The Count of Monte Cristo
  • Screwtape Letters
  • Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
  • Murder on the Orient Express
  • 11th grader cheekily recommends the dictionary
Posted in: Journal Tagged: books, Homeschooling

2015’s Best Unposted

Thursday, December 31, 2015 by Sarah 1 Comment

Maria as Queen of France in the January 2015 homeschool one act play competition:

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Landon in his last one act play competition-his performance won a ‘best actor’ medal.

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I think he’d fail the marshmallow test:

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Apparently we invited a dwarf to Daniel’s birthday party:

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Claire slipped smoothly into her role as big sister. Benjamin is only one week old here!
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Landon assists Maria in making a Galadriel costume.

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Little brothers. Love.IMG_4576

Musician in training:

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Posted in: Birthdays, Creativity, Dominic, Drama, Journal, Landon, Maria Tagged: Homeschooling

A Homeschooler Goes to College

Friday, October 10, 2014 by Sarah Leave a Comment

Classes are going fairly well, though I’m still trying to figure out how much study time I need to put into each one. My teachers are approachable, and willing to help if you have questions. Of course, there has been a few difficulties in transitioning from a studies in a home environment, and since I promised I would show the world exactly what happens when a poor, unsocialized homeschooler finds themselves in college, I must be honest and tell all of the challenges I have had to face in the last three weeks:

The Language Barrier

I have found that students who came from a traditional school environment have a language of their own. Last week, I got up the gumption to answer a question Chemistry, and a girl next to me raised her fist in my direction. Maybe she had wished she had given the answer? Not knowing what she expected me to do, I just smiled at her sheepishly.  The girl lifted her other fist and demonstrated (with some exasperation) that she expected me to bump her fist with mine.

Socialization Concerns from Professors

The socialization scene replayed constantly my first month at school. At times this became somewhat repetitive, and I was discouraged to find how deeply this stereotype was still rooted in the academic world, but I believe this ended up as a positive part of my first days as a college student. While frequently conversations don’t go much farther than “what’s your major?” and “where are you from?”, I got to know quite a few people that I wouldn’t have otherwise when they asked about my high school and the conversation took a drastic turn.

Faculty at the college were very concerned about my ability to socialize. Early in the semester, doted on the freshmen, asking the routine questions: hometown inquiries, dorm room conditions, etc. When they learned that not only had I been homeschooled, but was still living at home, their faces displayed surprise and concern. They were sure I must be entirely socially incompetent! I could often allay their fears by telling them I had made a few friends and joined both choir and attended meetings run by the student nursing association. As we parted, though, I could still sense apprehension in their voices.

Socialization, Texting, and Millenial Students

Ironically, these same staff seem to not have noticed the crippled social skills of my classmates. They would only have to peek their heads into a classroom before class, or visit a student get-together to see that something is dreadfully wrong. Times and places that should be filled with introductions and conversations have been transformed. Students have traded actual face to face interactions for the virtual world of texting and Facebook.

This has been my greatest impediment to finding new friends at school, and other students in my class over and over again. Why take the trouble to make new friends when you have instant contact with your old friends via your phone?   I hoped to get to know girls I see every day at rehearsal but haven’t formally met by attending a choir Christmas party. It was hard to find someone to introduce myself to, however, since over half the choir plopped down with their cell phones and texted. It was a very quiet ‘party’.

Lest I sound like an anti-progress ranter, I must state that I use texting frequently. It is a great way to send a quick note to a friend you might not have otherwise called, or for Mom to ask me to pick up groceries without interrupting homework. A line has been crossed when it’s acceptable to have a conversation while holding your phone in your hand and glancing at it in between sentences.

 

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‘socialization’ during a break in class

Posted in: College Life Tagged: Homeschooling

Socialization and Homeschoolers

Tuesday, January 14, 2014 by Sarah 3 Comments

The socialization scene replayed constantly my first month at school. At times this became somewhat repetitive, and I was discouraged to find how deeply this stereotype was still rooted in the academic world, but I believe this ended up as a positive part of my first days as a college student. While frequently conversations don’t go much farther than “what’s your major?” and “where are you from?”, I got to know quite a few people that I wouldn’t have otherwise when they asked about my high school and the conversation took a drastic turn.

Socialization Concerns from Professors

Faculty at the college were very concerned about my ability to socialize. Early in the semester, doted on the freshmen, asking the routine questions: hometown inquiries, dorm room conditions, etc. When they learned that not only had I been homeschooled, but was still living at home, their faces displayed surprise and concern. They were sure I must be entirely socially incompetent! I could often allay their fears by telling them I had made a few friends and joined both choir and attended meetings run by the student nursing association. As we parted, though, I could still sense apprehension in their voices.

Socialization, Texting, and Modern Students

Ironically, these same staff seem to not have noticed the crippled social skills of many of the other students. They would only have to peek their heads into a classroom on the first day of class, or visit a student get-together to see that something is dreadfully wrong. Times and places that should be filled with introductions and conversations have been transformed. Students have traded actual face to face interactions for the virtual world of texting and Facebook.

This has been my greatest impediment to finding new friends at school, and other students in my class over and over again. For example, at a post-choir practice party, I wanted to get to know girls I see every day at rehearsal but haven’t formally met. It was hard to find someone to introduce myself to, however, since over half the choir plopped down with their cell phones and texted. It was a very quiet ‘party’.

Lest I sound like an anti-progress ranter, I must state that I use texting frequently. It is a great way to send a quick note to a friend you might not have otherwise called, or for Mom to ask me to pick up groceries without interrupting homework. A line has been crossed when it’s acceptable to have a conversation while holding your phone in your hand and glancing at it in between sentences.

 

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‘socialization’ during a break in class

Posted in: College Life, Journal Tagged: Homeschooling

The Close of One Chapter…And the Beginning of the Next

Tuesday, June 11, 2013 by Sarah 1 Comment

The  past week has been bittersweet, as it saw the end of the school activities that I have participated in since ever since I was little. Last Saturday was the performance of my last Drama Camp EVER. I have been participating in the annual homeschool drama production since I was just four years old. That’s a mind boggling fourteen years!!! 

It’s a little hard to say goodbye to recitals, quiz bowls, and memorizing lines, but not quite as hard as I thought it would be. After eighteen years, there’s a sense of ‘it’s time’, and what is dawning on the horizon is much too exciting to spend much time looking back.

The next chapter is opening quickly. In two weeks class registration for college begins, and a brand new laptop is in my closet, waiting for classes this fall. I am going to my first job interview this afternoon, as I need to start working towards a car to call my own. Very soon, I shall be writing the next four year long chapter of my life.

 

Posted in: College Life, Homeschooling, Journal Tagged: Homeschooling, pondering

Graduation

Tuesday, May 21, 2013 by Sarah 2 Comments

 It’s hard to believe that the year is over, and four years of high school have passed already. Sunday our homeschool group had a graduation ceremony for the three homeschoolers in my group graduating this year.

Receiving my homeschool diploma from Dad:
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Image

Yay!

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I decorated my table in blue and yellow, the same colors that are painted on my room walls (my ‘school colors’).  : )

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A hobby corner on my table featured pointe shoes, a trowel, teacup and saucer, spoon, knitting needles, parrots, and books.

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This is the first picture of my whole family together since the addition of Claire:

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Though it’s a little sad to be finished with high school activities such as quiz bowls and drama competitions, I’m really looking forward to fall.  I’ll be attending school for nursing  while still living here at home.  I can’t wait to start!

Pictures by my Dad and Grandparents

Posted in: Dad, Homeschooling, Journal Tagged: Family, Homeschooling

The Ballet Recital (School Assignment from Last Year)

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 by Sarah 2 Comments

I’ve been going through some of my school work in from the last year or two, and I rediscovered a set of assignments for a writing class I took last summer. This was one of my favorites:

 

 

There were only a few minutes until the beginning of the annual dance  recital, and I was fumbling with my pointe shoe ribbons, unable to tie them in my haste. Finally I was able to make a knot, and I looked up, sighing with relief. Noisy chatter bubbled through the immense, brightly lit room as dancers in vibrant costumes flitted from one end to the other like exotic birds in a tropical forest. I made my way to the crowded mirror where I smoothed my hair for the fifteenth time.  Suddenly, faint music began in the distance, and my heart skipped a beat. Instantly the room fell silent, and each girl stood tense and still. The show had begun. Quietly, we lined up in the order we were to perform. My classmates gathered near me, and we adjusted the ribbons on each other’s costumes one last time. Then we stepped out of the warm light and ascended the dark flight of narrow steps to the stage.

Backstage was nearly pitch black, lit only by what light made its way through the curtains over the entrance to the stage. As I waited for my class’ turn to perform, I began to rehearse the dance in my head. Suddenly the choreography vanished from my mind. My heart thundered, my legs melted into pudding, and an icy hand gripped my heart.  I tried to collect my thoughts, but there was no time. The audience was waiting. Heaving a deep breath, I led the way towards the deserted stage with my legs and arms trembling uncontrollably.

The music began to play and at once the steps leapt into my mind as fast as they had left. Confidently, I stepped onto the stage and began to dance. The blinding light dazzled my eyes and made me dizzy, for I could see nothing but the swirling red skirts of my companions. I thought surely I would fall, but somehow I managed to stay on my feet.  Finally my eyes adjusted to the light, and the energy in the crescendoing music pulsed through my body. The thrill of performance gave life to my movements, and I danced and twirled and leapt as I had never done before. Too soon the melody faded, and I found myself curtseying low as applause rained down from the audience.

Posted in: Dance, Homeschooling, Journal Tagged: dance, Homeschooling

Quiz Bowl Season Starts Again

Tuesday, October 19, 2010 by Sarah Leave a Comment

My team took home fourth place at the first quiz bowl of the year.

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Posted in: Homeschooling Tagged: Homeschooling

My Favorite Board Books

Saturday, October 9, 2010 by Sarah 2 Comments

I love looking at these beautiful board books that feature paintings by famous artists with Daniel. Aside from being a lesson in art from the impressionist era, the pictures are quiet and relaxing. They are a nice change from the vivid red, yellow, blue and green pictures found in many baby books.

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My favorite is the book with paintings by Degas, who was an artist famous for his paintings of ballerinas. Our quiz bowl team wears matching shirts with a nickname for each person on the back, and my nickname is ‘DegasDancer.’

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My Grandma Becky read

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Posted in: Dance, Daniel, Journal Tagged: books, dance, Homeschooling
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