<p>Wow douche, you still don't seem to get it. Yes, I was <em>extremely</em> put off by your attitude-- just perhaps a tad less diplomatic than Tokenadult, Thedad or Drusba. My.s's stats arent the issue-- he was honored, not only for his academic abilities, but moreso for his tireless and unending community service-- He spent 6 years (starting at the age of 12) volunteering every week at a homeless shelter, beginning by teaching computer skills to the mothers that they were then able to use to get jobs. He realized that there were no computers available to the residents at night to practice on, so for his eagle scout project he designed and built a fully functional computer lab in the homeless shelter--he got the computers donated, he refurbished them, installed them, (plus monitors, printers, etc) and continued to teach there weekly. I could go on and on about his work, including the fact that one of his awards included a 5 minute TV spot featuring his community service, but this isn't the place to chronicle all of his work. I am extremely proud of his efforts, but moreso of his ethics and values. These are important attributes to develop, and I hope you will do so. But if you must know, his stats were: 1570 (800 m, 770v) all 5's on AP's (AP scholar with distinction), NM award winner, SATII- 770 writing, 800 math level 2, 770 chem. He only got a 730 on his SATII biology- but that is because he took it in the 9th grade. He did volunteer research in a prostate cancer research lab the summer after 10th grade, he's an eagle scout, National Honor Society, top 10% of his class, 4.1 GPA. Oh.. and he didn't want to leave the homeless shelter without continued coverage for the newer and bigger computer lab he built, installed, networked and maintained in their newer facilities... so he trained up his younger brother to take over in his absence when he left for school. So please, for your own sake, don't post a complaint that says you didn't get enough of what you were somehow owed. It still gets under my skin even as I type this. Learn to be humble and gracious, not entitled. If my s. knew I posted his stats he'd be embarassed. He doesn't wear these on his sleeve-- I get the priviledge of doing that...</p>
<p>Jym,
What a pleasure it was reading about your son's work at the homeless shelter. A pat on the back to you for raising a son with such ethics and values.</p>
<p>How did your son start volunteering at the homeless shelter? What led him to think of teaching the women computer skills? </p>
<p>I would be very interested in any wisdom you can pass on to parents about how we can inspire our children to have such empathy for other people. We spend a lot of time on these boards talking about how kids can get high test scores, college admissions, etc. But what you have raised your son to do -- to go out of his way to help other people -- is much more important.</p>
<p>Thank you , Northstarmom. Your comments mean a lot to me. I do agree that we too often lose sight of what is truly important. If you are really interested, I will PM you with the link to the article about one of the community service awards he won-- it is on the local NBC-TV website.
My s. has a natural gift with computers-- my H. is in the business and my s. just started watching and learning. So, at age 12, when he began to think about a bar mitzvah project to do, it was a natural selection-- to do something with his computer skills. He is also remarkably patient and understanding (must get that from his f., not me :)) . Anyway, he has always been compassionate, and he truly loved seeing the women learn and get jobs (this shelter is predominantly for mothers of newborns). In fact, his very first student at the shelter was such a quick learner and so good that the shelter hired her as an ass't secty!! Others have gotten data entry jobs at a drugstore, an office, in the prison system, etc. It is rewarding to all of us. He loved what he did, and felt a deep sense of committment. He was disappointed that there weren't more computers available that could be used by the residents when he wasn't there to supervise, which led to the Eagle Scout project. He also trained the staff, and fixed anything electronic that needed fixing. He also established, mostly by word of mouth, a very successful computer repair and installation business that he did on the side for friends, neighbors and small businesses. In the first few years, he had to be transported because he wasn't old enough to drive!! We all like to do for others (I am in the healthcare industry) and my h. and I do a lot of volunteer work. We try to set a good example for our sons. We took them on hunger walks when they were in elementary school (you know, where someone sponsors every mile they walk and the $ goes to feed the hungry) and they learned the value and the joy of giving back. So my advice-- start early to instill good values,and set a good example. You can see why it steams me when someone bellyaches that they didn't get enough free money. Geez. Well, enough. But,at this time of year, it is especially important to keep our priorities straight. I hope everyone has a happy holiday season.</p>
<p>How did your son decide to use his computer skills at the shelter? Was that a place where he had volunteered before? I am curious about how he made the connection between the women's lack of jobs and their lacking computer skills. I work with lots of young people and would like to help them figure out more ways of using their ideas to help other people. I have found that many young people (and people in general) are way too passive about implementing their own ideas.</p>
<p>My husband and I have involved our kids in community service of all kinds since they were babies and toddlers. Our older son came to the conclusion that people were poor because they were lazy. Ironically, he dropped out of school and now is among the working poor, though he doesn't recognize this.</p>
<p>Younger son, however, has always enjoyed service and has a compassionate heart. Community service is his main EC, and he does it happily and for the joy of helping others, not for resume padding.</p>
<p>My s. said that his first thought was to put his computer skills (as fine tuned as they were at 12!)to good use. My h. looked at a list of volunteer organizations supported by his company, and they put the 2 together. When they contacted the shelter, they discussed volunteer opportunities with the head of their volunteer program, and together came up with the many ways he could put his skills to good use. He also built them study carrells for the computer lab so they could lock up the computers when necessary so the toddlers wouldnt mess with them ( and despite the fact that they set up a computer just for the kids, the kids thought that it was fun to remove the balls from the mice!). Anyway, one thingsor of led to another. Thinking of talents and skills, looking at lists of volunteer opportunities in town, and matching them up.
Sorry your older son has decide to "take a few years off'. But sooner or later he'll realize that he will not be able to get what he wants/needs as a member of the workingpoor and he'l prtobably pull himself upp by his bootstraps. Hang in there...</p>