So you are wondering why I say I’m so PROUD? It has to do with my grand daughter Alyssa. She recently graduated (or as the school district states – Promoted ) and is on her way to High School. What a quick three years. I remember her and her friends talking about all the eighth graders being so tall and lucky to be going on to high school. Well guess what future high school student, now the 6th graders are saying the same thing about you.

There were many ups and downs along the way. I guess the biggest complaint I heard all the students comment about was the dreaded “Run Day” This occurred once a week during their P.E. period. They had to run seven laps around a dedicated course on the school grounds. Many times Alyssa didn’t make the 7th lap in the allotted time. If this occurred to many times, each student was invited to participate in what was called boot camp. Now from what I’ve heard her and her friends comment about boot camp it would behoove them to do their best during the weekly run day. (Boot Camp was a lot rougher to endure) sort of got the students thinking, do I really want to keep going to boot camp or do I want to add a little more effort to their run day efforts. I can sort of see what the P.E. teacher was trying to accomplish by throwing in boot camp. The students finally put in the effort that was needed to make it through run day with in the allotted time that was required of them.

The next pain in the arse was having to find enough seats at a table for lunch. When they were in the lower grades, they always complained about the eight graders taking all the tables. Well guess what? Now as eighth graders they complained about the lack of seating at those preferred tables. They worked it out one way or another. I made Alyssa her lunch every day. The usual lunch included the well know PB&J, some chips, a couple of snack bars (to help with the energy needed to make it through run day), a bottle of water, and finally some fruit.

Homework, ahh the dreaded nightly routine that occurred just about every day. Many of those days, she came home without any homework and soon I found out that she had been sloughing it off and she paid for the lack of effort. It didn’t happen but she was tapped more than once on the shoulder and told that there was a possibility that she might have to repeat that class and could hold her back. Well, the light came on above her head and she started to really get into her home work. Her grades came up from the pits and she ended up doing great.

During the three years of taking her to school in one of my cars, I became quite aware of why my dad didn’t like the music I listened to. I had the same problem, I don’t like Rap music and all the things that are suggested in the lyrics. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of songs that I do like (Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, One Direction, and many others, just not the Rap stuff) and I will admit my dad also liked some of the music I listened to also.

Alyssa is now on summer vacation and enjoying herself. She has had outings with her friends and has spent some days with us along with her younger cousins that we babysit every so often while their mom and dad are at work. She is looking forward to going to high school. So many of her friends to continue on to the same high school while some of her friends will move away and attend other high schools.

Alyssa, congratulations for a job well done in middle school and continue on your journey to high education.