High school alma mater

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alma mater, blogging, high school, postaday2013, speeches, writing

You’ve been asked to speak at your high school alma mater — about the path of life. (Whoa.) Draft the speech.

My high school alma mater, is Saint Francis Preparatory high school in Fresh Meadows Queens, New York. I think that I was lucky to have gone there because the education that I received was an excellent one and I was well prepared for college. I have fond memories of many of my teachers, especially the Franciscan brothers; they were truly dedicated to teaching and providing us with strength and support. These days one doesn’t often hear that about teachers, unfortunately the attention that teachers often get is of the negative variety and so many of the good teachers go unappreciated and unnoticed.

If I were to speak to the graduating class about the path of life, I would assure them that no matter which path they followed, their education given to them by the excellent teachers at Saint Francis would serve them exceptionally well. My high school curriculum was varied and solid as I’m sure that it still is, why change something that works? The opportunity to study the basics of legal studies, business management, computer programming, advanced sciences and math, music and art; all these choices gave myself and my class experience and ideas about what path we might choose during college. These qualities are why I feel that you, the graduating class, have been blessed and that you should leave your high school years confident that you have been given wonderful tools to continue to build upon the strong foundation that you started here just four short years ago. I am very happy for all of you and I wish all of you the best of luck. Go forth and continue to flourish.

Back in time

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A Ha, acceptance, fitting in, high school, memories, music videos, postaday2013

What song transports you back in time?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TD6LEw1zsw

The Norwegian band A Ha with their U.S hit Take Me On brings me back instantly to my teenage years. Not quite back to my memories of high school; I didn’t particularly enjoy high school. I loved the learning part of school, just didn’t care for the social hierarchy and the silly games of fitting in and which group deemed you acceptable and which didn’t. It took me three years before I fit in anywhere, but this song made me forget all that; it’s catchy, upbeat and his voice strums the strings of your heart just right; where it puts a smile on your face, a hum in your throat and a spring in your step.

The video is also quite clever and back then it was a rare treat to actually see music video’s so this one really stood out.

The buildup to graduation

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empty nest, graduation, high school, postaday2012

Tomorrow is graduation day for our last one, it’s a milestone in every young person’s life, not the last but one of many along the journey of life. Actually, I feel that my hubby and I are experiencing a milestone as well, we are going to become empty nesters in a few short months. The baby girl is plotting a new ensemble for the ceremony, Mamie is taking a train in from New York and we are all going to be gazing proudly as the baby girl walks up to accept her high school diploma. Afterwards, we will be continuing the celebration at the excellent Japanese restaurant/tea house/clay pot gallery Bizen in Great Barrington. We won’t be having dessert at Bizen, we’ll wait until we get home to properly top off the healthy Japanese food with a special graduation ice cream cake from Carvel. Nothing says celebration like a proper ice cream cake from Carvel.