If I had to choose a woman in the entire world who understands everything about me, I would most definitely choose my mom.
Mommy (and, yes -- I still call her that!) has been a step ahead of me ever since that infamous stick, showed a “+” back in the early 90s.
Since birth Mommy has worked tirelessly and endlessly to make me feel stupendous as often as possible. (Daddy does a great job of this, too!)
While my mom and I have our share of disagreements, especially now that I’m a teen; I don’t know of any other woman that I feel completely safe and comfortable being completely open with.
Mommy is the ideal role model. And when I say model, I mean it. She is “drop-dead” gorgeous. Period.
But, aside from radiantly stunning beauty on the outside; on the inside, Mommy has such a big heart. She helps people of all kinds at all times.
And, she always treats people (even strangers) as if they are her longtime friends. It wasn’t until I’d become a pre-teen and wasn’t so oblivious that I realized she really didn’t know all of those people in the stores and on local streets she would flash her million dollar smile to and say, “Hi! How are you today?!” before starting friendly conversations with them!
Just recently Mommy and I talked for over one straight hour all about me. And for the first time, I REALLY listened and hung on to her every word…
I mention all of this because I am at the point in high school where the reality of “college and real life” have begun to sink in, so as a result; my parents and I have already started planning for my college days.
We recently attended our first tour of a university and took in A LOT of new learning and insight. As we walked around the beautiful campus, I realized that Mommy had been the one who organized the entire trip down to the smallest detail. It couldn’t have gone so well without her good planning.
I started feeling so grateful for Mommy at that point. I’ve always appreciated both of my parents, but just how much Mommy does and cares for me really hit home during that college tour.
Then a scary reality dropped on me like an atomic bomb and trumped those thoughts when I realized that in just two short years, I will be in college.
In all honesty, that sudden thought completely petrified me for the first time.
Although the tour guide was engaging and hilarious, and kept reassuring the group that college is fun, educational, a fantastic experience… etc. I was filled with real fright.
The thought that soon, I would be alone in unfamiliar terrain for four years straight…. Well, that’s just plain weird.
But then the tour guide said something that Mommy has literally been saying to me all my life:
“I know all of you guys are really scared right now, but remember EVERYBODY is in the same boat you’re in. Being scared alone is more dangerous and isolating than being scared together. Together you can overcome and get out of any terrifying situation faster. Alone, it will take you a whole lot longer. So, just remember that you’ll have the support of your COLLEGE FAMILY to help you through this when your parents are not physically around.”
And, I know that I’ll be really nervous when the time comes to actually move my belongings into my college dorm room. But, I also know now that everyone else around me is just as afraid, nervous, and scared of even the thought of being away from their parents for any real length of time.
We’ll all be able to help each other, like families do all the time. And once we get used to the flow of college, we’ll surely all call our Mommies and Daddies and tell them how great everything is going in our new and exciting college lives…
In the meantime, here are some helpful tips we’ve gotten from college admission officers, high school guidance counselors, and current college students about what we need to be doing NOW:
Be a high school student leader & ambassador – VOLUNTEER & DO COMMUNITY SERVICE. Also, make sure your transcript looks good & includes good grades – TAKE HONORS AND ADVANCED COURSES whenever you can. Another important reminder is to study for the SAT and/or the ACT so you get used to the test format.
You will also want to put extra practice into writing your COLLEGE ENTRY ESSAY, and write so that your personality shines through…the great thing is that you can write about anything you want! Participation in EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES shows that you're a balanced person.
Develop a COLLEGE RESUME that includes all academic, extra-curricular, community service, volunteer, and work activities – YOU WILL SEND THIS ALONG WITH YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS. And, don't forget to start thinking about FINANCIAL AID & LOAN packages NOW.
Start deciding who you will want to ask for LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION – some colleges/universities want 2 or 3 (maximum) letters. And, VISIT COLLEGE CAMPUSES & GO ON INFORMATION SESSION TOURS with relatives & friends – this gives you a good picture of the physical campus, but you also get to hear from current students about college life.
Researching the possible benefits of taking a DOUBLE MAJOR is said to be a good idea by some admissions officers & job recruiters since this might help us be more marketable in the future if there is ever another RECESSION OR DEPRESSION, etc.
Consider where you might like to STUDY ABROAD after you've started college -- these INTERNSHIPS are a real plus when you start looking for a job after graduation in a GLOBAL ECONOMY -- find out what kind of study abroad internships are available as you are applying to different colleges.
And finally, take a few minutes to really listen to the advice your parents have been giving you for years because before you know it the time comes when that GREAT ADVICE will really need to kick in for you! Take it from me, just another typical teen...
Danielle M. Biggs
High School Student
Danielle Biggs is a high school student who has always believed and focused on balancing her high academic achievement with co-curricular enrichment activities, including two favorites: dance and theater/performance, which she’s done since the age of two and a half. Danielle and her mom began drafting her college resume in middle school so that they would easily recall activities to include once the time came to finalize the resume – she sent out her first copy to a university just recently! Danielle lives in New Jersey with her parents, Terence and Sharon, and credits her love for family, community service, education, leadership, being an entrepreneur, and regular involvement in sound co-curricular activities to her parents and other adult relatives & close family friends; whom she says she has watched excel in these same areas throughout her life.
E-mail: httplifelineextensionsblogspot@gmail.com
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