In the last couple years a proud moment for the entire family was when my cousin Sam had a reading level of 12 and he only needed a 3 to finish Kindergarten. The kid is a little bit brilliant. I thought of him when oedb.com sent me this article, "50 Essential Links for the Parents of Gifted Children."
The article divides the list of 50 suggestions into helpful organizations, Twitter feeds, blogs, designated resources, and note-worthy articles. I went through and picked my favorites from each section.
My favorite organization included in this list is Mensa for Kids. This organization develops monthly themes to get kids reading and learning at an advanced level. Their website can be accessed here.
The Twitter feed I was most impressed with is a non-profit that offers advocacy and resources for gifted kids and the people that want to see them continue to exceed. Follow @JeffcoGifted here.
The Prufrock Blog supplies resources and support in encouraging not only gifted and advanced students but also special needs students. The blog can be found here.
Obviously all these links supply resources for the people involved in a gifted student's young life and education but this resource seemed pretty stellar. Gifted Child Today is an open-access journal for parents. Students of any intellectual capability need a strong support system of people that have taken a vested interest in making sure they have the most successful education possible. Find it here.
The article included in the list that jumped out at me the most is titled "Gifted Students Go Dumb to Fit In." Let me tell you, intelligent students at any age do this which never ceases to befuddle me. Read the article here.
Showing posts with label Cousins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cousins. Show all posts
Monday, August 6, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
To Be An Adult, Or Not To Be An Adult
For the past couple weeks, I have delved into my graduate school quest a little each day. And it is a tad overwhelming. Starting from the time we are about 17 to well into our 20's if not later, we are searching for the thing or things we want to spend the rest of our lives doing. This search can seem like a fairly daunting task. Parents are very important in this whole process, hence why I readily agreed when my mom told me I should go on and get my doctorate... why not?
This article titled, "12 Ways to Make Sure Your Teen Doesn’t Boomerang Back" was sent to me by bachelorsdegreesonline.com and can be read here: http://www.bachelorsdegreeonline.com/blog/2012/12-ways-to-make-sure-your-teen-doesnt-boomerang-back/#.UAgXEhwvlX8
Yes, parents want us out of their houses and to be fully independent but they want to make sure we get to that point successfully and of course, happily. This article discusses the importance of parents sharing with their children at an early age the multitude of steps it takes to becoming a successful individual. So I guess when I bring my 7 and 5-year-old cousins to hang out at Augie and subtlety tell them to go to Augie in oh, a few years, that's not a bad thing?
This article titled, "12 Ways to Make Sure Your Teen Doesn’t Boomerang Back" was sent to me by bachelorsdegreesonline.com and can be read here: http://www.bachelorsdegreeonline.com/blog/2012/12-ways-to-make-sure-your-teen-doesnt-boomerang-back/#.UAgXEhwvlX8
Yes, parents want us out of their houses and to be fully independent but they want to make sure we get to that point successfully and of course, happily. This article discusses the importance of parents sharing with their children at an early age the multitude of steps it takes to becoming a successful individual. So I guess when I bring my 7 and 5-year-old cousins to hang out at Augie and subtlety tell them to go to Augie in oh, a few years, that's not a bad thing?
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| Starting early |
Thursday, June 28, 2012
A Weekend for Megan
Woah! Long time, no blogging. That's ok, this post will make up for that little hiatus!
This past weekend was quite possibly the greatest weekend of my life. Here's the story...
Last summer, my second cousin, Megan Willkom was diagnosed with a devastating cancer and in the last year her entire family - near and far - has rallied behind her. And after spending the weekend with her one would wonder if there has ever been someone Megan met that wasn't instantly drawn to her. She is stunning in every way and extraordinarily vivacious.
On Friday of last week my friends, Jackie, Molly and I hit the road and spent the next 12 hours in my 15-year-old, un-air-conditioned car. They were troopers... so was my car. Once we arrived in South Bend, Indiana I was elated for the entire weekend. My cousins commented on the fact that I seem to always be smiling and why wouldn't I be? I was surrounded by family that I haven't seen in eight whole years and met phenomenal people. A theme of the weekend was all the good that has come to the Willkom family even through such an unfathomable hardship that cancer truly is.
We spent those three days with my awesome family, exploring the gorgeous Notre Dame campus, and celebrating Megan and her life.
Here is the highlight of the weekend, besides Megan's benefit on Sunday.
On Saturday night my cousin Ross, his girlfriend Maureen, Jackie and I went across the street from our hotel to Applebees for a drink. We were making fun of ourselves for drinking at the 'neighborhood bar and grill' on a Saturday night but we soon realized it was the absolutely perfect place for us to be at that time. Through showing our ID's from various states the bartender asked why we were all there. We started explaining Megan's benefit and I passed around the fliers I had stored in my purse advertising the event and Ross and Maureen gave out rubber awareness bracelets promoting LMS awareness. As the night progressed we got to know our fellow Applebee's bar-goers and one amazing gentleman bought the entire tab for everyone at the bar and wrote us a check for $1000 for Megan's benefit.
It was truly the greatest moment of my life. Everyone hears stories about stunning gifts of generosity but it is the most peculiar emotion to feel when you are actually experiencing such generosity from a complete stranger. Crying into your drink brought on a different meaning after that moment...
Needless to say, we were glad we ran across four streets of traffic to hit up the family-oriented bar!
I was in awe of this part of my family the entire weekend. The Willkom family seems to be fully encompassed by a genuine positive energy that never escapes them no matter the difficulties that befall their family. They are so united and truly love one another, not just because they are family, but because they know they have been united to some of the best people on earth. You see this family and see how much they all mean to each other and you simply want to do something good for them.
The trip was definitely the highlight of my summer and possibly the greatest weekend of my life.
This past weekend was quite possibly the greatest weekend of my life. Here's the story...
Last summer, my second cousin, Megan Willkom was diagnosed with a devastating cancer and in the last year her entire family - near and far - has rallied behind her. And after spending the weekend with her one would wonder if there has ever been someone Megan met that wasn't instantly drawn to her. She is stunning in every way and extraordinarily vivacious.
On Friday of last week my friends, Jackie, Molly and I hit the road and spent the next 12 hours in my 15-year-old, un-air-conditioned car. They were troopers... so was my car. Once we arrived in South Bend, Indiana I was elated for the entire weekend. My cousins commented on the fact that I seem to always be smiling and why wouldn't I be? I was surrounded by family that I haven't seen in eight whole years and met phenomenal people. A theme of the weekend was all the good that has come to the Willkom family even through such an unfathomable hardship that cancer truly is.
We spent those three days with my awesome family, exploring the gorgeous Notre Dame campus, and celebrating Megan and her life.
Here is the highlight of the weekend, besides Megan's benefit on Sunday.
On Saturday night my cousin Ross, his girlfriend Maureen, Jackie and I went across the street from our hotel to Applebees for a drink. We were making fun of ourselves for drinking at the 'neighborhood bar and grill' on a Saturday night but we soon realized it was the absolutely perfect place for us to be at that time. Through showing our ID's from various states the bartender asked why we were all there. We started explaining Megan's benefit and I passed around the fliers I had stored in my purse advertising the event and Ross and Maureen gave out rubber awareness bracelets promoting LMS awareness. As the night progressed we got to know our fellow Applebee's bar-goers and one amazing gentleman bought the entire tab for everyone at the bar and wrote us a check for $1000 for Megan's benefit.
It was truly the greatest moment of my life. Everyone hears stories about stunning gifts of generosity but it is the most peculiar emotion to feel when you are actually experiencing such generosity from a complete stranger. Crying into your drink brought on a different meaning after that moment...
Needless to say, we were glad we ran across four streets of traffic to hit up the family-oriented bar!
I was in awe of this part of my family the entire weekend. The Willkom family seems to be fully encompassed by a genuine positive energy that never escapes them no matter the difficulties that befall their family. They are so united and truly love one another, not just because they are family, but because they know they have been united to some of the best people on earth. You see this family and see how much they all mean to each other and you simply want to do something good for them.
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| Me and my cousin Beth |
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| Me and my incredible cousin, Megan |
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| Me and my cousin Katie's daughter Maddie |
Friday, June 8, 2012
One Year
I have now been writing "Good at Summer" for one year and two days. June 6th - the actual anniversary of this blog - was a crazy busy (not!) day spent at the DMV, drinking wine and catching some sun, coffee with Adam, and enjoying Mama Ladas complete with sangria with Kaycee. Obviously no time for blogging.
Before I start talking about this last year I must share my DMV experience. I finally went to get my official grown-up, super legal, 21-year-old license on Wednesday (five days after my birthday). I was there for an hour and half and while I was enjoying that long waiting period I was watching the videos about both families involved in an organ donation and of course, being me, I started to cry. Yes, I cried at the DMV! Thus the ONLY picture I have ever taken in which I am not smiling while showing all my teeth is on my license. The license that I don't renew until 2017...
I am ridiculously proud of the fact that I have written this blog for an entire year. I originally started writing it for a variety of reasons. I knew at the beginning of last summer that I was going to have three months of memorable experiences while living with my grandparents in Spearfish, working at a fish hatchery and not doing anything with fish, exploring other parts of the country with my aunt and uncle, and growing into being a grownup. It only made sense to continue writing it when I was back at Augie.
As I approach another summer of what can only be memorable experiences and my senior year that will be accompanied by a staggering list of bittersweet "lasts", I can only imagine what the posts I write in the next year will look like and how they will define another incredible year in my life. Here's to another year of being good at summer year round and two a second year of blogging.
A year of being good at summer
Before I start talking about this last year I must share my DMV experience. I finally went to get my official grown-up, super legal, 21-year-old license on Wednesday (five days after my birthday). I was there for an hour and half and while I was enjoying that long waiting period I was watching the videos about both families involved in an organ donation and of course, being me, I started to cry. Yes, I cried at the DMV! Thus the ONLY picture I have ever taken in which I am not smiling while showing all my teeth is on my license. The license that I don't renew until 2017...
I am ridiculously proud of the fact that I have written this blog for an entire year. I originally started writing it for a variety of reasons. I knew at the beginning of last summer that I was going to have three months of memorable experiences while living with my grandparents in Spearfish, working at a fish hatchery and not doing anything with fish, exploring other parts of the country with my aunt and uncle, and growing into being a grownup. It only made sense to continue writing it when I was back at Augie.
As I approach another summer of what can only be memorable experiences and my senior year that will be accompanied by a staggering list of bittersweet "lasts", I can only imagine what the posts I write in the next year will look like and how they will define another incredible year in my life. Here's to another year of being good at summer year round and two a second year of blogging.
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| The first picture ever uploaded to this blog. A Blueberry Pomegranate Fruit Tea Blast at Green Bean |
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| My "Grandpa" Mug |
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| Enjoying the rodeo on the Fourth of July before we started checking out cowboy butts with binoculars |
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| Camille and Grandpa on Duck Day |
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| I am the awesome cousin that taught them how to make s'mores |
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| Sam the S'more Pro |
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| I am also the awesome cousin that took them to a water park for the first time |
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| My summer uniform |
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| Three friends about to go to another friend's wedding |
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| Solberg ladies at Nick's wedding |
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| My first married friend |
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| Molly Olly and I dancing at Nick's wedding |
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| My best friend |
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| The first occasion in which Matt wore my shorts |
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| The Men of Solberg |
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| Solberg Women at Laura's 22nd birthday |
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| The first reunion for my 1N girls |
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| Four friends at Touch of Europe |
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| Pre-Queenship |
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| My best friend was Homecoming Queen |
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| Gaga-ified |
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| The second time Matt wore my shorts |
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| Palisades on November 1st! |
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| Three Cousins |
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| Holidays in Solberg |
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| Holidays in Solberg |
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| Holidays in Solberg |
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| Sol-idays |
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| My 1N girls who became PA's |
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| That one time I cut 14 inches off my hair! |
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| Such a beauty! |
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| Spearfish Canyon with my sister! |
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| Jackie and I in Spearfish Canyon |
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| Goofballs |
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| Who else visits Mt.Rushmore during spring break? |
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| My favorite person |
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| Campaigning |
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| Dance Team Captains! |
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| Sara Bareillis Concert! |
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| Sara Bareillis Concert! |
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| Rachel and I at the PA Benefit |
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| Dressing as our boss |
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| The Man. The Legend. |
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| I adore her |
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| Preschool Graduation is a big deal |
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| First 5K! |
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| 5K runners! |
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| Reunion with Becca! |
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| He is a stud |
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| My 2N girls |
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| New Years Eve |
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| Cow. Crap. |
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| 21!!!!! |
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| My best friend in the entire world would of course jump off a dock fully clothed with me |
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