Kelli in TN Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 (edited) First of all I want to personally thank SWB and JW for taking the time to write WTM. I had already been homeschooling for several years when I read it. My oldest two did not really reap the benefits from the shift in my homeschooling paradigm, but the oldest of my younger four is now a high school senior. She was in the grammar stage when I began making changes in the tone and intensity of my educational plan. We were never able to implement everything that I wanted to. Latin fell away because I was overwhelmed. We never really made it very far in logic. WTM made the gaps in my education even more obvious than they already were. But I did not let this discourage me and I soldiered on and we did the best we could do to live out the ideals in WTM. These forums, esp the high school board and the curriculum board, were a huge help to me; a very real and tangible support in keeping the rigor and keeping it real. This afternoon Sarah received a personal phone call from the director of the honors program at the college she has chosen. She was accepted into the University Scholars program, an elite group that only accepts 15 freshmen per year. We know from the competition weekend that she was on the low end of competitors as far as ACT and GPA, just a little higher than what it took to be invited to compete. It was her ability to hold her own in group discussions on diverse topics, to stand up to the interview process, to keep it together during the timed essays. The competitors were watched every minute of the competition weekend to see if they would be a good fit for the program. I knew she would be a good fit and now her chosen college has seen her for what she is; a bright, well read, well rounded, thoughtful young woman who knows who she is, what she stands for and how to defend that stance. Thank you Susan. Thank you Jessie. The time you invested in pouring yourselves out into the pages of WTM is a large part of the reason that we are where we are today. Thank you for the roadmap. Edited March 5, 2009 by Kelli in TN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan Wise Bauer Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 CONGRATULATIONS! Tell your daughter WELL DONE from me. SWB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Kelli, Congrats to you and your daughter! How exciting and inspiring to read success stories. Jane (who just wants to give you a big hug) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Wow, congrats to you and your dd! What motivation for the rest of us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C_l_e_0..Q_c Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Major congratulations !!! I doubt I will be able to do that well... Good job, mom! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam "SFSOM" in TN Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LG Gone Wild Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Hugs to mom for a job well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niffercoo Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Kelli, I want to add a congratulations to YOU as well! I've been reading your posts for a few years, and I am always impressed with the care and concern you show in choosing your curriculum and your overall path! You are obviously a dedicated homeschooler, and your children are very lucky! And congratulations to your daughter as well!! You two need to go celebrate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen in NS Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 WTM made the gaps in my education even more obvious than they already were. But I did not let this discourage me and I soldiered on and we did the best we could do to live out the ideals in WTM. This afternoon Sarah received a personal phone call from the director of the honors program at the college she has chosen. She was accepted into the University Scholars program, an elite group that only accepts 15 freshmen per year. Congratulations, Kelli and Sarah!!! Kelli, you are one of my biggest heroes here on the boards. You are SO encouraging, esp. about those gaps that I keep discovering in my own life. Go girl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean too Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Congratulations to you and your dd! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brigitte Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Congratulations to one and all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osmosis Mom Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Congratulation. Wonderful news. Hope she gets a wonderful 4 years there. P.S. If so inclined, please share the college?? How was she considered for the Honor's program? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy loves Bud Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 And thank you, Kelli, for sharing this and encouraging those of us who are still on the journey! Congratulations to Sarah, and to you! :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2legomaniacs Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 :hurray::hurray::hurray: I couldn't be more proud of Sarah and of you as well. Congratulations dear. You are very inspiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Katia Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Well done! Many congratulations to both of you. :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraceinMD Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Hooray, Kelli and daughter! Kelli, you've been a light on these boards for years, and I appreciate YOU. I also appreciate your mentioning the gaps that still remained in your schooling of your children - it's terribly encouraging to me, and helps keep me plugging away, even though it's not all perfect in this old schoolhouse. Great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 nt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli in TN Posted March 5, 2009 Author Share Posted March 5, 2009 P.S. If so inclined, please share the college?? How was she considered for the Honor's program? I would prefer not to reveal the school. She qualified to compete based on her ACT score and her GPA. Once invited to apply for competition she had to submit a resume, an essay detailing why she should be a University Scholar. She also had to submit letters of reference and a letter from her "counselor". Since she does not have a counselor they said the letter could be written by me. I worked hard on that letter and a handful of folks from here helped me word it well. Instead of just the "blah-blah my daughter is so wonderful" letter I detailed attributes of hers that I thought would benefit the program as well as traits of hers that would be made better by participation in the program. We sent all that in and then attended a competition weekend. During the competition weekend she sat in on classes and then participated in group discussions on current events with upperclass Scholars and professors. Everything mattered, every detail of the weekend mattered. We actually stood in the parking lot and debated whether she should drag her exhausted self to the social mixer just to impress the other Scholars when all she wanted to do was sleep and prepare for the harder parts of the competition the next day. She chose sleep and we hoped that it would not be a strike against her. The big day of competition involved interviews by the deans of the various departments, writing a timed essay, and being watched. Even lunch was nerve wracking because the president of the Scholars chose our table to sit at, and since he was there the dean of the university sat down too. So our daughter used her cell phone under the table to text messages to me like "Please ask Dad to get his elbows off the table.":lol: She wanted this more than she has wanted anything in her life. She will spend the next four years being mentored by professors and working on academic projects outside of class with the Scholars. All of this will be in addition to carrying a full course load and maintaining a minimum GPA and taking the Honors Core classes. Her junior and senior years will be spent balancing her normal courseload while working with a faculty mentor from her major on a research project. Some of these research projects end up being published in professional publications. One of the Scholars we met was getting ready to fly to Vegas to present her project to a professional association. They tell us that when these students apply to grad school the fact that they have already done independent research is invaluable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*anj* Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Kelli, I am just so very excited about this bit of news. I know that you and Sarah have worked so hard, and this is really a dream come true. What a wonderful achievement for both of you. Woohoo!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Wow, this is so amazing & inspiring! Well done & congrats! It's always wonderful to read great news, so thanks for sharing! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elise1mds Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Congratulations!! What a wonderful accomplishment as a homeschooling mom, and here's to your daughter for thriving. I wish her the best in her collegiate future! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyboys Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Oh Kelli, That is sooo wonderful to hear! What excellent news for both of you, the whole family! Way to go, teacher-mom!!! :D :thumbup1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Congratulations to both of you! WowWowWow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Congratulations! What a wonderful success story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepy Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 That's wonderful, Kelli! Congrats to you and your dd! :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blessed2fosteradopt Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Congratulations on an outstanding accomplishment. You are an inspiration to all of us! Blessings, Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Wow, that's just great!!! Can we use you as an example when nay sayers come our way? "How will they ever get in to college" "Well, as a matter of fact, I know someone who's daughter...":D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staci in MO Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 What exciting news. Congratulations to your daughter and you. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Jenny Flint Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 It is inspiring to read of people who are just a little ahead on the same path, reaping the rewards of the hard work that you know you and your children are also doing. Our time will come, and we will soldier on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam "SFSOM" in TN Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I don't want you guys to miss this part that Kelli added later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretchen in NJ Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Congratulations to you and your daughter. Thank you for sharing your good news. Best wishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in AL Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Oh make me cry! That's every mom's dream to see your child succeed and to know you did a good job! Congrats! :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda in MA Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Congrats to you and your dd!!!!! Brenda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie in AR Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 This sounds like a golden opportunity, Kelli. Congratulations to her, and to YOU, for jobs well done! Just awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise in IN Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Kelli, that's awesome! Congratulations to you and your dd. Thanks for the inspiration to keep digging in day by day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Lynx Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Kelli, that sounds *amazing*!! I am so thrilled for Sarah, and so proud of you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN Mama Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Wow! Congratulations! Not only is that very exciting news for you & your daughter, but it's quite encouraging for the rest of us. I appreciate you sharing your news and details about the process. Way to go, y'all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basketmaker Amy Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Congratulations! You have given me some encouragement today...when I needed it! I know BOTH of you have worked hard. Now it the time to enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamagistra Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Brag away, girl! Wonderful news! (I didn't see this post before...) :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLG Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 WOW!! Congratulations and what a huge endorsement of WTM!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 :party: YaY!!!!:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanamom Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I'm kinda late to the party, but... Congrats!! That is awesome!! :party::party::party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSMom2One Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Thank you for sharing your experience on the boards, and especially in this post. Thanks to SWB, JW, this great forum and people like you, I have great examples and guidance to follow as I homeschool my own dd (09). Reading your post is a delight and inspiration, and it reminds me of why I'm making this huge effort to raise and educate my little girl in the way we have chosen. Blessings, Lucinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2legomaniacs Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 I just still think this is way cool. Mine are smaller and the bigger stuff is very scary. So awesome to see how it can actually work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill- OK Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 I would prefer not to reveal the school. She qualified to compete based on her ACT score and her GPA. Once invited to apply for competition she had to submit a resume, an essay detailing why she should be a University Scholar. She also had to submit letters of reference and a letter from her "counselor". Since she does not have a counselor they said the letter could be written by me. I worked hard on that letter and a handful of folks from here helped me word it well. Instead of just the "blah-blah my daughter is so wonderful" letter I detailed attributes of hers that I thought would benefit the program as well as traits of hers that would be made better by participation in the program. We sent all that in and then attended a competition weekend. During the competition weekend she sat in on classes and then participated in group discussions on current events with upperclass Scholars and professors. Everything mattered, every detail of the weekend mattered. We actually stood in the parking lot and debated whether she should drag her exhausted self to the social mixer just to impress the other Scholars when all she wanted to do was sleep and prepare for the harder parts of the competition the next day. She chose sleep and we hoped that it would not be a strike against her. The big day of competition involved interviews by the deans of the various departments, writing a timed essay, and being watched. Even lunch was nerve wracking because the president of the Scholars chose our table to sit at, and since he was there the dean of the university sat down too. So our daughter used her cell phone under the table to text messages to me like "Please ask Dad to get his elbows off the table.":lol: She wanted this more than she has wanted anything in her life. She will spend the next four years being mentored by professors and working on academic projects outside of class with the Scholars. All of this will be in addition to carrying a full course load and maintaining a minimum GPA and taking the Honors Core classes. Her junior and senior years will be spent balancing her normal courseload while working with a faculty mentor from her major on a research project. Some of these research projects end up being published in professional publications. One of the Scholars we met was getting ready to fly to Vegas to present her project to a professional association. They tell us that when these students apply to grad school the fact that they have already done independent research is invaluable. I knew she was pursuing this, and that it was a big deal...but until I read this I didn't realize just how big a deal it is! Sooo awesome. Give her a hug from me...and give yourself one, too, Mom!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenschooler Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 I never had any doubt that Sarah would be chosen for such a prestigious program. She's poised, exudes a calm sense of self-confidence, and comes across as very intelligent and well-read. Kelli, you stuck to your chosen path even when it wasn't easy, and it has paid off! Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 :party::party::party::party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber in AUS Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 That is so wonderful!! All the hard work has paid off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.