Tag: College

  • My Sons First Teacher

    My Sons First Teacher

    Hello Honeybees,

    I was having a conversation with my sons about the ACT.  My oldest son is a Junior and my youngest a Freshman in high school. My oldest asked what’s a good ACT score and my youngest went into the explanation of what is bad, average and good before I could even say anything.  I was so proud that he knew this information and that he has already set goals for his ACT. 

    Our conversation turned to scholarships.  I told him that I wanted him to get as many scholarships as possible, especially since I have seen his list of schools.  That’s when he sprung this on me:

    Last year Ronald Nelson, a young Memphis student was accepted into all 8 Ivy League colleges.  My son told me that as I watched Ronald’s story on TV, I was smiling and nodding my head. And you know what…He was right!!  I was so proud of that young man that I was smiling like he was my child.  I didn’t know it but that moment meant something special to my son.  He wants me to smile and nod my head for him. He wants to make me proud.

    Me Boys
    Christmas 2006

    Don’t get me wrong, I support both of my boys in whatever they want to do. And they know this.  As of now my oldest wants to be an author and the youngest an astrophysicist.  Think Walter Mosely and Neil Degrasse Tyson

    Christmas 2015
    Christmas 2015

    I said all that to say… our children watch us even when we don’t realize it. My reaction to being proud of a child that I have no connection to meant everything to a child that I will forever be connected to. What if I had a negative reaction to that story?  What if my reaction had been one of jealousy?  What if I just didn’t care at all? How would that, without me even knowing it, impact my child?  Would he still have the same list of colleges?  I’m just glad that in that moment I was a good teacher for my son.

    We are our children’s FIRST teacher…………………Be careful what you teach them!

    Belinda Bee pic

    Beewisdom- “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”  James Baldwin

     

  • Boys To Men

    Hello Honeybees,

    I had the pleasure of attending two events this past weekend that made me feel nostalgic and showed me that there is hope for the future.

    Saturday my cousin graduated from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. He will start graduate school in three weeks.  He will pursue a dual degree with a Masters in Political Science and a JD.

    Graduation Brunch
    Graduation Brunch
    The Graduate
    The Graduate

    I am so proud of him.

    He wants to work in Political Psychology.  Until him I had never heard of such a career.  I’m glad that he has chosen a field that is typically outside of the box. When I was growing up something like this would’ve been frowned upon. We were encouraged to major in something “safe”.  Something that guaranteed a “paycheck”.  Those days are long gone. I talk to my boys about their future careers all the time. I encourage them to do something that they think they will enjoy, not just something that is safe. Reach for YOUR star!

     

    On Sunday I attended the truck party for my godson. He is leaving for Lane College in a week.  The road to college hasn’t always been easy, but nothing worth having ever is. I’m so proud of the work that he has put in. This only shows his strength of character.  As he begins the next chapter of his life I pray for his success. His village is strong and ready to jump in when needed. 

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    Cole's Trunk Party
    The Village

    I have known both of these young men since the day they took their first breath. I have watched them grow, stumble, fall AND get back up.

    My hope is renewed that they will one day change the world.

    I’m honored that I have the pleasure of having a special view.

    Are you part of a young persons village? Why or why not?

    Belinda Bee pic

    Beewisdom- “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” – Booker T. Washington