Half Way Through Upper School

Summer officially started for Carter today since she had her last exam as a sophomore yesterday. As a parent it is almost as exciting to not to have to think about school as it is for the child. Being half way through high school is hard for me to comprehend especially since I feel like I was just half way through yesterday.

As I think back to myself at Carter’s age I realize that I did not really begin to find my voice until well into my junior year. There is so much pressure on kids today to invent fabulous new technology or be a world-class athlete or save an endangered species all before they get to Upper school, but in reality most people are just not fully developed yet.

Learning what you like in the world and how you might fit in is a long process that should involve some stumbles along the way. I certainly was no star at anything at the end of my sophomore year at Ethel Walkers. I was just trying to keep my head above water while not falling into some hole at the same time. One of the hardest parts was learning to deal with people who were equally as undeveloped.

For Carter I look forward to her having a successful summer as a CIT at Camp Cheerio. It is a great chance to try out new leadership skills while being at her favorite place on earth, after London and Rome, oh and Paris. But Cheerio is the place her heart is happy and the stress level is low, low, low and friends are supportive.

Discovering all that you are takes time so, Carter, keep exploring and being curious and trying new things, especially if they are hard. It’s Ok not to know exactly all that you are going to be at just 16. How boring life would be if you did. At sixteen no one would have bet that I could write a lick, I had never left the country, I did not know that my true passion was to help hungry people, I don’t think I knew any hungry people, I also was probably not even that funny. What I did know is that good friends are worth investing in and that cooking was a useful skill.

So cheers to a good summer. Rejuvenate, rest and relax. Mostly explore and expand your understanding of your true self. It is a self that has lots of time to unfold.