<p>After a freak out a few months ago (thanks for helping to talk me down!) I absolutely committed myself to focusing on the PROCESS of college search and application this time around, with S2... and NOT to get caught up in the worry about the final result (at least not this early) or the competitive aspects . And folks (mostly those all finished up) always say the whole thing can be a growth experience.</p>
<p>But how can we really make that happen (and for most of us, also ensure the best outcome as well)? I thought a thread where we could share those experiences and moments where what we did with our kids really made a difference, or where our kids taught US something. Where we could reflect on a way we approached this that made us BETTER at the process because of maturity or insight, not just because of more data or knowledge.</p>
<p>And could share moments where we saw our kids grow in front of our eyes because of something we did or said, whether planned or not, because we handled a moment in the process just right (by skill or luck, or even despite ourselves).</p>
<p>Yesterday I had such a moment. You've heard me talk about my quirky smart anxious tiny school oddly LD son. He's been saying for years that he's lazy, he wants a job where you don't have to do any work, etc etc. I just keep saying, when you learn more about the range of jobs and fields out there, something will spark your interest -- and every now and again I raise the Q again.</p>
<p>Yesterday we were talking about the upcoming SAT and how several years ago I didn't think he could go to a strange school and take a test in an unknown place among strangers. He told me how much he loved taking tests. We had just had the above job discussion, and he said, I wish I could have a job taking tests.</p>
<p>And thus ensued a terrific conversation in which his interest in life blossomed before me. I told him that there are many careers that could be conceptualized as spending all day answering "test questions". Where a manager or executive or someone else in business or law or government or research or education asks a question and a mathematician has to figure out the answer by using equations and formulas and problem solving, and then hands the answer back to the non-mathematician to make the business decision or handle the people or materials. We talked about financing, actuarial jobs, accounting, manufacturing... it was the first time I had ever seen him excited about anything related to work!</p>
<p>Does Intel have accountants? Yes, I'm sure. I want to be an accountant for Intel. Maybe I should study business as well as being a math major. Wait, does Google have accountants and math people? Yes. THAT's what I want to do. I want to be in charge of their money when they take over the world. (I make him sound younger and sillier than he seemed a the moment)</p>
<p>Now, I am not saying that's what he will become! But until that conversation, the only thing he thought he could do with math and his interest in science was teach math as a theoretical mathematician, be a research or applied lab scientist or an engineer, none of which appealed to him. yes, he could have researched "math careers" but just getting a list does nothing to "spark" you if the moment was not right.</p>
<p>So I feel really good about this spiral, incremental process as we move along... We're looking at schools, refining our "list", he's learning about himself, he's becoming a more motivated student, thus improving the "list" at the same time...</p>
<p>So, what lightbulb, process and growth moments have YOU had?</p>