Question: What are your child’s strengths, interests and hobbies, achievements in these, awards, and briefly describe their character.
Answer: My child is a teenager. On some days he moves effortlessly through his life, with total confidence and a sense of purpose. On other days he wanders aimlessly, doesn’t tie his shoes, forgets his homework, forgets his lunch that he specifically asked me to make five minutes beforehand, goofs around and hums to himself when I’m trying to get his attention.
He is always loving but does that matter to your school?? He is a loyal friend and confidante, and makes friends easily. His achievements academically are inconsistent. The truth is, when he’s had an engaging teacher, he’s performed remarkably and with huge gold stars and when the teacher seems bored with his subject, so does my son. It’s not a blame game, it’s just an observation.
In sports he’s competitive and will want to win your school their banners. He’s won awards for his soccer but if I list them you’d probably not know any of their meanings. He sees himself as a professional soccer player and is becoming quite obsessed with the sport. Of course that would never interfere with his academics…
In London he was in a hothouse environment that didn’t suit him as at 11 he is supposed to have it all together and test like Einstein. It didn’t work out that way, and now I’m hoping that he can sit long enough to test well for you in your four and a half hour exam. Honestly, four and a half hours for a 14 year old boy in one morning?? I guarantee he’ll have to go to the bathroom at least five times and miss points because of it.
I have no idea if your school is our number one choice, the perfect match. He’s 14. What I do know is that he’ll figure it out, but how much support he’ll need from you along the way is a question mark, and can you provide it? Will you step up for my son?
My son is precious and special and soulful and wonderful, but so says all the parents who are writing to you today, because we’re their moms and dads and we want them to get into your school. I would just love for you to know the real boy that I know, the child who is becoming a man and a beautiful one at that. Will his scores be enough to impress you? Will he get the opportunity to show you who he really is?
Getting into your school may pave the way for his brothers, for our family’s life journey. These pages are more than just an application in the pile; they are our family’s fate. This may seem like a lot to put upon a school, but I’m just being honest and surely that is what you wanted me to be in this application. Right?
Yours sincerely.
