So, A is home for the winter holiday.
He's been jammin' on his guitar (don't I love to be serenaded? I do, after a long absence from hearing the guitar!), reading Sir Thomas Mallory, going to the movies with me to see "Atonement" (just for you older teens, okay?) and "I'm Not There" (ditto), and looking up words on Google such as "IDF" and "Haganah" and "Shin Bet" and "Mossad" (Oh, dear, I knew the day would come).
He has completed a Fall term and part Winter term nearly unscathed in his new "institutional student" status from his new prep school in New England.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it can be done.
But done does not mean done without challenges.
We have such a one in A's email inbox. "You have been selected on the recommendation of Teacher XYZ to intern this summer at Big Time Global Financial Services Firm. Please attend the Global Financial Services Firm orientation in New York City, to take place on the Twelfth Night. The golden door with the candle will mark your entry to the Tower of Orientation. Please wear your cloaks, under which you must have on business attire. Satan will await with a deep green pen as you sign your souls away to corporate life under Big Time Global Financial Services Firm. Of course, we will pay for acquisition of your soul. Ten dollars an hour, for six weeks. "
Or something like that.
I wonder if Big Time Boarding School A (BTBSA) forgot that they gave Alex a scholarship to do science research this summer?
I read the "invitation" the first time and my heart sank. My son is a scientist/artist. Not a businessman. No No NO!
Then I remembered Mick Jagger studied business and went to the London School of Economics. Oh yes! Redemption!
But then, lest I forget, there is also the Summer Term in China and the summer term in Calculus...both in which A wanted to embark. This is where we curse the laws of Physics that govern time and space (A can only choose one course for the same 6 weeks on the calendar), and also curse the calendar for offering such a short summer.
Sigh.
In other news, A is studying for the AP French exam. BTBSA refused to place him in fourth-year French, so he is going to take the exam, anyway. He studies every weekend and seems to be making very good progress.
I've noticed that BTBSA doesn't like when students do "their own thing." I keep reminding myself, "It's an institution. They can't help it. They don't know better."
And really, they don't.
4 comments:
Do the students really have no say in how they are going to spend their summers?
(Nice to see a new post; I miss this blog)
The students absolutely get to choose. A is being offered summer stuff that he might not have even considered previously.
Ultimately, A will decide how he will spend his summer.
oh, I'm glad.
the "you have been selected" thing threw me.
Merry Christmas!
hey la mai -
your rant about the AP french reminded me of my private high school experience. i wanted to take the test sophomore year, and had to turn it in a federal case. the teacher spent the year telling me how it wouldn't be possible for me to pass, and it was ridiculous for me to hope for a 3. (i was the only kid in the class and she was bitter about losing a free period.) guess who got a 5? I hope A does, too.
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