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Chari
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| Posted: May 29 2006 at 12:47am | IP Logged
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Here is the last essay of Anne's that I wanted to share with you. The professor gave them the topic: Define college success. We chatted on the day of the assignment.........she was stressed because she could not figure out how to write that definition......as she has no college experience to base it on.......I suggested the title 
I almost put it in the forum about teenagers......but then thought it would be nice for others new to RL or with young kids to see what one teen raised on RL was doing with her experience.
Anne needs prayers.....as her health problems continue to interfere with the dreams about piano mentioned in this essay. 
In the meantime, enjoy. You might want to have a cup of tea handy...........that's how I read the RL boards 
Chari
Words From A Novice
The hour is very late. My little siblings breathe softly on their pillows, in peaceful sleep. It is said that teenagers talk to their parents late at night, and our family is no exception. I sit on the kitchen counter, my legs dangling many inches from the floor. My brother’s tall frame fills the corner beside me. Our dad stands, like a speaker on a grand stage, facing us. Of light, there is little – merely a small bulb glowing above the sink. This is no problem, as my dad’s face provides for any deficiency of illumination. He is intense, eager, talking with shining eyes, and gesturing hands. It is a typical scene, and we converse of many things in these nightly sessions, covering politics to baseball. This time, though, we listen to my dad speak of a frequently covered topic: college. My mom is a college graduate, but my dad never had the chance to go to college, and feels the lack thereof. Because of this, he entertains ambition for his children to have the education he was not able to have. On so many occasions, he has spoken of the importance of college, inspiring us, telling us to endeavor to do our best. After nightly talks like these, I fall asleep with words accompanying my heart beats. College...important…education…strive.
College has always seemed so far away, a vague, distant thing, looming palely in the mists of the future. Suddenly it has become near, real, concrete, not the education available for “grown ups,” but for me. High school is nearly over. The years of college being a thought for the future are over. When I was small, I knew there would probably be a “someday” of college; recently, however, I’ve discovered that someday is steadily growing closer to now. As college seems more immediate, the importance of my recent realization becomes clearer. That is, my dad’s dreams for my education have become my dreams. I aspire to go to college, and I greatly hope to achieve college success.
Up to this time, my education has been delightful. I have been homeschooled my entire life and I am fascinated by that compound word. Home plus school equals homeschool. Yet for me, it has been more like this: home = school and school = home. There has been no defining line drawn between the two. Baking cookies, reading storybooks, and normal household activities were never considered separate from school, as they were merely a continuation of learning. Even in after-school hours, my siblings and I did not separate school from play, and all the characters and figures in history and literature came alive in our games. When WWII was the history topic, a war trench was dug in the back yard. All book topics seemed to have a real life counterpart - science from a book, then a nature walk in the woods, learning facts about composers, and then prattling out their tunes on the piano. This more unique approach to education has given me many memories I will cherish, and many outlooks I will carry with me forever.
Nevertheless, with such an unconventional educational background, I sometimes wonder how the transition will be from homeschool to college. I feel confident, though, and I know I am not alone. Dr. Brian D. Ray, the president of the National Home Education Research Institute says, “The end of homeschooling is not the end of the educational road for most homeschool graduates. Over 74% of home-educated adults ages 18 – 24 have taken college-level courses, compared to 46% of the general United States population.” It is of comfort to know there are many other homeschoolers attending college, and studies are beginning to show how well they are doing. I think, ultimately, homeschooling will have helped me immensely in my goal of college success. There are two mindsets I have gained from my homeschooling experience that I treasure. The first is a deep love of learning, and delight in gaining knowledge. Secondly, because there was no separation of home from school, my thoughts have been shaped to consider all events and situations as learning experiences. I feel my past will be vital in contributing towards future college success.
In fact, when I visualize my life as a whole, I see college as a bridge. I have already experienced childhood, and I have many plans and dreams concerning my future. I need college to be a bridge between the two, a solidifying of already gained experience, and preparation for what I want to accomplish in adult life. All the subjects I have been pursuing these past years – music, writing, math, science, history - will be, in a sense, completed during the college years. Next, the dreams nearest my heart for my future are modest, yet dear. I hope to have a piano studio and teach not only piano, but music history and appreciation as well. I would like to be a wife and mother, and teach my children in a way similar to my own homeschool experience. And I want to write! All the study and pursuit of knowledge during my college years will, I hope, create a firm foundation to apply and carry out these dreams. So, if college performs this role of a bridge, I will feel that I have achieved college success.
So, what is college success? The answer may vary greatly with each individual. Making friends, getting fabulous grades, attending a college of choice, majoring in a favorite subject, or perhaps applying finished college education to a particular field, are all possible definitions of college success. The more I think of college success as it applies to my life, the more I feel it has not one, but two stages. The first is success achieved during the college years; for me I hope this time will be manifest in gaining confidence, seeking learning opportunities, and expanding my mind. Naturally, this first step leads to the second step, which concerns an entire lifetime of continuing to learn, and using the knowledge of which college was the foundation. When I desired a definition of college success from a wiser and more experienced person, I sought Mary Anne Levine. She is a Professor of Maternal-Child Nursing at Humboldt State University, has her Masters Degree in Nursing, a Midwifery License through Great Britain, and is currently working on her Ph.D. through a university in New Zealand. I admire her enormously, and was grateful for her help. She defined college success as being “dedicated to hard work, perseverance, getting academic help when needed, and total commitment to one's studies.” I agree wholeheartedly with this, and I believe it relates intimately with the first stage of success that focuses on the college years, as well as forming the foundation for the second stage - the lifelong one. Regarding this achievement, Ms. Levine has words as well: “College success … relates to the tools one can utilize in all the facets of life forever more.” These two stages of college success connect, merge, and form a whole. It is the whole which I ultimately intend to have.
Inevitably, one might ask what my formula will be for achieving college success. It is a good question, though I have difficulty answering. So far, my only college experience is the English class for which I am writing this paper. With only dreams, hopes, an abundance of advice and encouragement, and no personal experience as of yet, it is hard for me to mark out an actual strategy. Still, I will try to use my best efforts to attain success. I intend to work diligently, think of everything that happens, both good and bad, as a learning experience, and view college as the bridge between what I have already experienced and what I mean to do when I am older. With that in mind, what can others learn from my intentions? Again, being so new to college, it is difficult for me to actually pen suggestions for others – like a person who cannot swim, teaching an Olympic swimmer! My strategy and hopes for college success are utterly untested; nevertheless, anyone is welcome to consider my lately budding thoughts, and apply them in any way they wish. Also, while I hope that during college years I might scatter a few insights that will be beneficial to others, it is the chance to learn from the people who will affect the next few years of study that I truly anticipate.
Sometimes the most important lessons come from the least expected sources. This leads to a mindset which I feel is crucial to college success, and success of any kind: an open mind. Again, Mary Anne Levine has words to share. Part of college success is “acceptance and appreciation of diverse cultures and life styles, and a genuine openness, to others.” I try to keep an open mind, so that when unexpected learning opportunities arise, I will be ready to benefit from them. One of those opportunities met me the other day; I read a quote from David Frost, and it has haunted my thoughts, repeating itself like a litany in my heart. “Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.” I have already discovered this to be partially true, though of course, it is sometimes necessary to be successful at something one does not love. Even so, I will keep the words in mind concerning college success. I think if you put out your very best effort, and believe in what you do, that in itself is success.
Please mark well; these pages contain only words from a novice, who can look at college, not from experience, but from years of dreams, plans, and intentions. After writing about college success, it is natural for my thoughts to wander back to the late-night talks with my dad. He began my dream. I thank him from the depths of my being, for guiding me to realize what I want, and exhorting me to do my best, in school, and more importantly, in life. Perhaps his education dreams for me will be fulfilled, as I follow my own dreams, and strive to attain college success.
Works Cited
Frost, David. “Success.” The Quote Garden. Feb 18. 2003 <http.//
www.quotegarden.com/success.html>
Levine, Mary Anne. Personal interview. 24 Feb. 2006
Ray, Brian. “Homeschooling Grows Up.” Home School Legal Defense Association.
Feb. 2003 http://www.hslda.org/research/ray/2003/Beyond.asp
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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MaryM
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| Posted: May 29 2006 at 1:08am | IP Logged
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Wow - great essay. Thanks for sharing it, Chari.
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Jen L.
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| Posted: May 29 2006 at 9:13am | IP Logged
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A real pleasure to read. 
Thanks for sharing,
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Jen
dh Klete,ds (8/95),dd (12/97), dd (11/00), and ^2^ in heaven
"...the best state in which to glorify God is our actual state; the best grace is that of the moment..." St. Peter Eymard
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Dawnie
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| Posted: May 29 2006 at 10:15am | IP Logged
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Chari,
Thank you for posting this! It gives me great hope for my own little daughters' future!
Dawn
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Mom to Mary Beth (99), Anna (02), Lucia (04), Clara (06), and Adelaide Victoria (2/28/09)
Visit my blog!Water Into Wine:Vino Per Tutto!
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 29 2006 at 2:53pm | IP Logged
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Just beautiful!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Victoria in AZ
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| Posted: May 29 2006 at 3:17pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for sharing this delightful work. Praying for Anne and wishing her every success.
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Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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Anne Marie M
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| Posted: May 29 2006 at 7:12pm | IP Logged
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Chari,
Thanks for sharing this! I'll share it with my high school and college kids.
Anne Marie
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TracyQ
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| Posted: June 05 2006 at 7:59pm | IP Logged
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Wowsa, that's excellent, and wonderful to read! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
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Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
 homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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cathhomeschool
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Texas Bluebonnets
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| Posted: June 07 2006 at 3:02pm | IP Logged
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Chiming in late here, but wanted to say that I loved it! Thanks for sharing, Chari and Anne!
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Meredith
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| Posted: June 07 2006 at 4:56pm | IP Logged
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Thanks so much for sharing this Chari and Anne, well done and so beautifully written, from the heart!!
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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ladybugs
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| Posted: June 07 2006 at 5:37pm | IP Logged
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I'm weepy today...maybe it's Anne's sensitivity and writing ability...
How are her hands?
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Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Words from a teen raised on Real Learning
