Thursday, September 10, 2009

Outliers

I am reading this book "Outliers", fully recommended and partially read aloud by my husband to put me to sleep. Actually, it is a really great book. If you read "Freakanomics", you'll enjoy this one. Anyways, the author takes a different look at how some people have become successful.

“It is not the brightest who succeed,” Gladwell writes. “Nor is success simply the sum of the decisions and efforts we make on our own behalf. It is, rather, a gift. Outliers are those who have been given opportunities — and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them.”

I am beginning to think a little more about my children's success. It's too late for me. I should have really gone for that theater actor bit. Alas....
Back to the kids. Sweet Pea is a senior, almost too late for her too. Lazy Boy is, well Lazy. That leaves Drama. The boy began 3rd grade this year. He has already submitted his academy award clip to the committee. That is a separate post that will come later. This is an actual quote from Drama last month after church, or maybe during:
"All the colors in my imagination are gray because I am bored."
Who talks like that?
I tell everyone "I am grooming Drama for greatness". I have no idea what that will be, but it will include the following:
4th Grade- Student Council, piano, Scouting-Wolf Rank, Little League

5th Grade - Student Council, Middle School Band( Instrument of my choice), Scouting-Weblos Rank, Little League

6th Grade- Band, piano, Student Body member, Scouting-11 year old Rank, Little League MVP

7th Grade- Band piano, Student Body member, Scouting-Tenderfoot/First/Second Class Scouting Rank,Travel Ball team, Debate Team

8th grade-Band, piano, Student Body member,Star/Life Scouting Rank, Travel Ball team, Debate Team

9th Grade-Band, piano, ASB Freshman President, Eagle Scout,JV baseball, Debate Team, Math Club President, Seminary 100 % attendance and Scripture Mastery

10th Grade-Band, piano,Seminary 100 % attendance and Scripture Mastery ASB Sophmore Class President, JV baseball, Debate Team, Math Club President,Drama Club, Chess Club.

11th Grade-Band, piano, Seminary 100 % attendance and Scripture Mastery, ASB Junior President, Varsity baseball, Debate Team, Math Club President, Drama Club, Chess Club, Honor Society.

12th Grade-Band, piano, Seminary 100 % attendance and Scripture Mastery, ASB Senior President, Varsity baseball, Debate Team, Math Club President, Drama Club, Chess Club, Honor Society, Jazz Ensemble

If we stick to the plan, he MAY be able to get into BYU-Honduras. Then we have a whole separate plan for post high school. Stay tuned. Poor kid. He doesn't stand a chance.

2 comments:

  1. I'm glad to see you are setting reasonable goals for your kids. I was a bit worried you would go overboard.

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  2. I am laughing so hard WITH you I am peeing my pants!!!

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