Chaging Her Mind: Yet Again

We are Christians, baptist actually. So she has been raised in Church, as a very active member. She has been in the children's choir, pantomime ministry, helped in many others. Our Church, like many others, has a youth ministry. Which she is part of. Every summer they have their spiritual retreat. Four days long, where they go away from parents, school, TV, and other distractions to receive spiritual instruction and strengthening. She has participated of the, since she was 10 years old.

Every year she comes home transformed. Whit a new outlook and telling of the wonderful experiences they had. Every year, she is so impacted by those experiences that if affect her life.

For example, she had been a member of the Guayama Female Soccer Club for seven years, played all positions, was a regular on the playing field. She had left ballet for soccer. She did both for two years and finally decided that soccer was her true passion. So she divided her time between Church and soccer. It was never a problem, but suddenly soccer was interfering with a lot of church commitments.She wasn't happy. She had been thinking of what to do, if she wanted to leave soccer, to be faithful to church and God,or if she was going to keep on with soccer and fail at some things in Church.

If she stayed with soccer she would miss the youth meetings on Fridays and some worship services on Sundays. She was very upset. She loved both a lot. Soccer made her happy, and so did God, so its was very difficult. She spent a whole year considering what to do.

Every summer they would get July off from soccer practice and games. Then on August the practices would resume and by the end of September the games would start. the youth summer retreat, would always be during that month, so she never had a scheduling conflict with practice or games. Since February of that year (2008), when she was injured during a game, she had been considering leaving the team. The main reason was, because she was going to be promoted to a higher level, and it would require that she sacrifice more of church time to be part of the team. She had been debating what to do for so long, and it was hard because she loved soccer so much.

So finally, summer came, that year they had games up to a week before she was leaving for the retreat. After a game, the coach wished them a good rest period, and told them they would be back on August 10, 2008. A week later she went of the the youth retreat. When she came back she was transformed. Her mind was made up, the experiences she had during those four days made it clear what was of most importance. She said goodbye to soccer, and the team. And even though she still love soccer, god is the most important thing in her life.

That was the first radical change in her life. So 2009 wasn't going to be any different. What we didn't know was how much this experience would change her life. Another youth retreat would be the source of the second one. This change of heart more profound than the first, because it was going to determine the course of the rest of her life.

It's 2009, she has finished the school year on an excellent 3.95 GPA. Everything is set for the summer, the first one in her life that she will be able to do whatever she wanted. She had wanted to go on a missionary trip to Bolivia, but because she was only 15, the age requirement wasn't met. She was disappointed, but she made other plans. As in other years she would help in the Church's Children's Bible Summer School, and this year wouldn't be the exception.

June came and went and finally July was here and the youth retreat a couple of days away. Ever year a new preacher would come. Usually a missionary in another country. That year the missionary was from Guatemala, he worked in a missionary field in Mississippi for a Hispanic congregation, he came with his wife and children. The were Elvis and Wendy García. Their children Pablo and Josue. This time she had the opportunity to meet the missionaries before they left for the retreat. so she had bonded with them, had the confidence to speak with them about their work. Specially with Wendy. that made a big impression on my daughter.

By the time she got on the bus to leave she had great expectations. By the time she got of the bus, four days later, her whole future had shifted into something different. Again I couldn't be mad. The reason, a conference for girls during the retreat given by Wendy. It was during that time and the service that night that she felt the hand of God upon her to received her calling.

What is it you wonder? Missionary life. Breath, breath, breath, just breath. That is what I tell myself now every morning, because that means her departure from home is more permanent than four years or five of college. It means that she will go to some far away country and will work there, she won't come home after college.

That Thursday when she got out of my brothers car I new something was different. Half an hour later she told me she had her calling to be a missionary. Fifteen minutes later she has an appointment with our pastor, a missionary himself, to counsel her about how to proceed. That appointment, would change her college choice.

On Saturday, after her meeting with our pastor her future had shifted yet again. Goodbye Liberty University. Hello Central Baptist College.

Central Baptist College

• Enrolment Cost $15,500
• Room and board included
• Student Aid up to $15,000
• Acceptance requirements above 23 on the ACT
• Community service requirement N/A
• Acceptance rate 80%

CBC is a baptist college, as stated in its name, that has a faith based curriculum.Focused on ministry, but also fives professional courses and degrees. After speaking with our pastor she decided she would go there, to study missions and nursing. Her plan is to get her bachelor in nursing, with a minor in missions and pre-med. Then after graduation go to med school and study surgery, specializing in pediatric surgery. So that she can go around the world spreading the Word of God at the same time helping those children that don't have the means to get medical help, the care they need.

That's the new plan. For her is like she can't wait for these two years to be over with. So she can star to work on the Lord's plan. For me it's agony, AGONY I tell you. There is no way that she will stay now.

So forget the Klenex, find me some Bounty paper towels before I flood the house with tears. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy that she's found her true calling, but I'm sad also, what an oxymoron. It's bittersweet, a sweet sorrow and all that. Gosh where's the paper bag, hyper-venti-lating can't breath, feeling light headed. Now I'm left with my new friends Agony, Depression and Neurosis. Let's meet them.

Let's Play the College Game v2

So like I said last time she changed her mind again about college. But I can't blame her for changing it. Here's the reason why:

So on her sophomore year of High School a university scout goes to her school to talk with the seniors. There are only four seniors that year. Let me explain. Her school is what is known as a Church School, participating in the School of Tomorrow curriculum of the Accelerated Christian Education Program. The students have advance classes, so they graduate when they finish all credit requirements for graduation, to be able to get into college.

That year there were only four students graduating. So the school counselor took all the high school students to listen to the scout. He was from Liberty University, in Linchburg, Virginia. From that day on she fell in love with Liberty. First,because its a Christian base university. Second, because it had a female soccer team. Third, because of the campus. I fell in love with it because of the costs.

Liberty University (2008)

• Enrolment costs $18,698.00 per year
• Room and board included
• Student aid up to $20,000
• Acceptance requirements 2.85+ GPA 1,200+ SAT
• Community service requirements N/A
• Acceptance rate 80%

OK, so it's no UVA, but still is in Virginia a state we love. They give up to $4,500 from the university, without including Federal Student Aid. The best thing of all it's a Christian University. She will be in a Christian environment, which is perfect for her. they have a sports program that she liked, and they have a pre-med program. the admissions requirements can be met without problems, and they understand her high school program, and are familiar with it. So it's perfect, well besides the fact that she will be in another part of the world, I can live with it. See no hyperventilation or fainting. I'm OK, I'm OK, I'm OK.

So for a year we are part of the LV family, we are getting updates, invitations. She's practically accepted in tenth grade. We are happy, it will be difficult to pay the rest of the tuition, but I have research, she is a candidate for several other student aids and private grants. So I'm not so worried. We have friends and family close, so if she needs something they will be able to help. (I'm no longer allowed to move with her).

Everything is on track, she finishes her sophomore year in the top of her class with 3.95 GPA. She's working on her community service, not a requirement for any of the schools we have looked at, but it can do nothing but help. Specially for those additional student grants.

I get on the, and resources Internet, look for student aid site, and resources. Not only government, federal or state, but also private grants. I fount www.studentaid.ed.gov, a resource site that allows you to see what student aid the government has, and you qualify for, and apply to it there. Another good site is www.students.gov, there you find additional information about grants and aid available in your area.

Finally, probably the best is www.collegescholarship.org, because it divides the grants and aid available in different categories. It tells you how to find it,, how it works and hot to apply. As well as tips to get the most for your money.

Another good one is www.edu.fastweb.com and www.finaid.com, because they take your information and matches all the aid, grants and loans available to you. the requirements, submission dates, who is the organization giving it and why. it not only matches government, but also private funding. that can help supplement your state or federal grants.

Everything is set. She's working hard, focused and ready. Can't wait for graduation. Am I really that good, or is she trying to get away from me? Well, let's say it's a little of both. I'll admit it I'm a little over involved. But she is my only child, and my reason for being. (Exaggerate much, not).

All the research is done, now is just a matter of staying the course. Keep updating the information. Look for other resources, be prepared. I'm not even trying to convince her to stay. That's her grandmothers job.

Everyday I chant to myself, I'm ready, we are ready, we are ready. I sound like Sponge Bob. I start counting the days until graduation, at this time as am writing this there are just 730 days until graduation (May 2009). Ah, the brown bat is right here. Yes we are ready or so we thought. That was before the summer 2009. When a very special experience changed the course of our lives, and at the same time sent me back to my research. Just when I was finally adjusting to LU everything changes again. At least my faithful companion is the same, always here with me. Right Brownie

Let's Play the College Game

We will begin from, pardon the redundancy, the beginning.

College selection is key to make future plans. If you don't know whats your child's first or second choice college then no preparations can be made in regards to academic acceptance standards, student aid, and community service requirements. all of which are important for planning. of course when your child is in seventh grade is difficult to make them chose a college, but you can do it for them. Can't you?

Well for me it was easier. In Puerto Rico there are only three universities worth considering. And for us, we are baptist, only two. since one is a Catholic university. So here the best school is State in the form of University of Puerto Rico. It really is very good,and they offer all areas of study. So it was easy, she would go to University of Puerto Rico, the campus in Mayagüez, which of course is the best, and study pre-med. She already knew she wanted to be a doctor by then.

So University of Puerto Rico:

• Enrollment costs (2009) around $10,000 a year
• Room and board - around $4,000 a year
• Student Aid - up to $20,000 a year
• Acceptance Req. - IGS 370 for pre-med
• Community Service Req. - N/A
• Acceptance Rate - 30%

So she could go there, student aid would cover must of the cost. I would only have to worry about room and board. She had a good GPA and if she managed to keep it up until high school graduation she would be accepted. She already did a lot of community service in the Girl Scouts and Church. So there was no problem in her going to State. Of course, she never makes things easy for me.

Because when she was 10, we went on an educational tour of Washington DC. During our visit we also went to visit Charlottesville, VA, to see presidents Jefferson's and Monroe's houses and couple of other places. In our visits we passed by Virginia State University, founded by Jefferson, with a beautiful campus. She loved it so much that it became her dream college. (Of course, she wanted to go to state university, just not our state university)

I didn't think about it. I just thought that she would change her mind. Four years later she hadn't changed it. She was in her freshman year of high school so I was forced to look at UVA admissions requirements (year 2007).

Virginia State University

• Enrolment costs (2009) - $31,870 a year
• Room and board - $8,220
• Student Aid (estimated) - $12,300 a year
• Acceptance Req. - GPA didn't state it
• Community Service Req. - not required
• Acceptance rate - 24%

So here we go, have to work, look for other student aid and grants. Oh here we go, can feel it, coming on, hyperventilating. Uff, what happened. One I'm sitting in front of the computer and, the next minute I'm on the floor. Oh yes $31,870 and that's for general studies, want to know how much is pre-med $62,026. There I go again I must do this things on the floor.

But it's my daughters dream school, she will work to get there and so will I. Again I promise that she will have all the opportunities she wants, experience every good thing there is. If she wants to go to Virginia State, she will. It will be hard, but not impossible, the the help of the Almighty we will make this dream happen. So I begin praying for that chance, to find a way that she can go to that prestigious university. I'm ready, know the costs, admissions requirements, just have to wait until she graduates. And there she goes again, changing everything once again.

Tomorrow I will tell you how.

Hello Again

Is it pathetic to say hello to my only two followers, when they are my mom and my aunt. I guess, but anyway, hello. After a long vacation from the blogosphere I'm back, with a lot more to write about.

The Mission - Road to College 2

So get your calculators out its time to play how mush is college. But wait I didn't tell you she also wants to be a missionary. Which is great, she has found her calling from God, but that means travel to other countries, dangerous situations, and maybe she might be moving to the furthest place on Earth from Puerto Rico, like Kathmandu. Which is basically anywhere, but that is besides the point.

Now we have to look for a school that will allow her to, study medicine, missions and at the same time allow her to participate on missionary trips during her time there without holding her back.

At this time its 2009. The first semester of my daughter's junior year. She is focused, no boys, no parties (not that she went to any before), nothing that will sidetrack her from her future, as a missionary pediatric surgeon (breath). And this time, with no help from me. she has made up her mind, she knows what she wants and I'm going to help her get it (breath, breath, breath, just keep breathing, its OK. Where is the brown bag?)

So what should she do. Should she go to missionary school first, and then go on to college. Or should she go to college, do pre-med, go to medical school, do everything related to the medical professional and then missionary school. My head hurts.

Well we will answer those questions latter. For now keep her on track. She has to get a good SAT or ACT score, do the local College Board college test (PEAU), maintain a good GPA. So no matter what she decides, she is accepted anywhere she wants to go.

And this is how I find my self the victim of panic attacks and mockery from my family. My obsession and neurosis worsens, intensifies. But that will only help (I think) I will see it as a positive, in getting my daughter to where she wants to go. After she gets there, my family can send me to a mental institution. But for now, a brown paper bag will be my faithful companion, and will have to get use to those hyperventilation attacks.

For those of you who don't believe me here is my brown paper bag.

The Mission - Road to College

Second year of high school, she is a sophomore now, was a breeze (well for her). Like I said she is smart, and likes to study. For me it was agony, I found out how much it will cost to send her to her first choice school.

(I really should go see a doctor for my hyperventilating, its becoming annoying.)

That year during honors night, again she took home all awards. Well except the Cup, that is only given once to a student. Although I think they should make an exception. This year she was not only top of her class, but top student of the high school. she finished the year with 3.95 GPA. Almost perfect.

She has her second choice school picked out. Did I say she wants to go out of state. Well in our case out of country. Did I explain that we live in Puerto Rico. Well we do, and we are true born and proud Puerto Ricans. Which makes all our college planning a little more difficult, but not impossible.

She is a junior now, just two years away graduation (deep breath, just keep breathing, deep breaths). Her experiences are changing, she is more aware of the world outside school and church. She sees the importance of school, but for other reasons. She wants to be a doctor, well a pediatric surgeon, to be exact. She wants to help others through medicine.

Next get your calculators ready. Lets play the price is right.

The Mission - Raham's Cup

So last time I spoke about the Raham Cup. To recap she was nominated with other two students. We are waiting to know who will win the cup, and I'm about to rip the head off the MC.

So they are up there with the Cup between them. There are three nominees this year.The MC is toying with us. stretching the suspense. Who does he think he is, Ryan Secrest. I wonder if he's a fan of American Idol? Get it over with already, your killing me.

And the award goes to (I'm not going to cry, it's OK if she doesn't get it I'm not going to cry), YES WE WON, o sorry yes she won. Screams, applause, yelling. I was proud of myself, I did not cry, well not in public anyway. That year she not only got the highest award in the school. She was top of her class with a 3.95 GPA. We are very, very, very happy.

My daughter with her teacher and the Cup.