Lisa Endlich's Blog, page 422
October 22, 2016
Why Halloween Costumes are the Tricky Part of the College Party
Last year, several colleges made national news when tensions flared over culturally insensitive Halloween costumes. The good news is that the issue launched thoughtful dialogues all over the country. The bad news is that not everyone agrees on what’s harmful and what’s humorous – so it’s up to students to make their own choices and deal with the consequences.
My daughter and her roommate struggled with this dilemma over their recent fall break. One rainy afternoon they raided our attic in se...
October 21, 2016
That Unforgettable Day When Your Teen Suddenly “Gets You”
I listen to classical music in the car which, Sam says, makes his ears bleed. It’s kind of a dance. We get in the car. I turn on “Classical New England”. Sam groans and changes the station. I hear “Ridin’ Solo,” and change the station again. Then I make a ridiculous, fictional statement about a pop celebrity, preferably a rap star.
“Did you know that Little Wayne –”
“Lil.”
“Did you know that Little Wayne and the one he went to jail with, the one with a T in his name. Mr. T – ”
“T.I. And they...
October 19, 2016
Dual Enrollment Classes: Are They Right for Your Teen?
Many students take college level courses while still in high school with Advanced Placement classes, International Baccalaureate classes or by taking dual enrollment courses. Here are some of the differences between these academic paths.
Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes are taken in the high school and are taught by college approved high school teachers. Some students take these advanced classes for the challenge and the opportunity to delve deeper into a su...
Why This Mom Thinks Her Sweet Spot of Parenting is Right Now
If every parent has a sweet spot, a period of time during which they most enjoyed being a parent, for me, that time is now.
When my children were babies and I was bleary-eyed from long nights that were as restful and scintillating as an endless game of musical chairs can be, well-meaning older folk would admonish me to treasure my children’s youth because, “it goes so fast.” They would take the liberty of advising me that in the blink of an eye it would all vanish and later I would miss my ba...
October 16, 2016
The Real Problem With My Son’s Empty Bedroom
When it comes time for teenagers to move away from home, there are two types of parents. There are those who leave the teen’s empty bedroom exactly the same, like a shrine to their childhood. And then there are the parents who break out packing boxes and start remodeling the room before the kid’s out of the driveway.
I always thought I’d be the latter, because I’ve had my eye on my son Seth’s bedroom for a long time. I work from home, with one of the rooms in our finished basement serving as...
October 14, 2016
25 Years of Motherhood: What “Being Here” Means to Me
A few years ago I was asked to write a short bio on myself for a committee I wanted to be on. That simple request opened up a Pandora’s box of issues for me. I wondered how to describe what I’ve done for the last twenty-five years.
I was born in the early 60s and was fortunate to grow up in a home where education was stressed. I went to a private university and then followed that up with three years of law school. At that time, the wisdom of the crowd was that a woman could have it all, do i...
25 Year of Motherhood: What “Being Here” Means to Me
A few years ago I was asked to write a short bio on myself for a committee I wanted to be on. That simple request opened up a Pandora’s box of issues for me. I wondered how to describe what I’ve done for the last twenty-five years.
I was born in the early 60s and was fortunate to grow up in a home where education was stressed. I went to a private university and then followed that up with three years of law school. At that time, the wisdom of the crowd was that a woman could have it all, do i...
October 13, 2016
All College Freshmen Get Sick and Here are 5 Reasons Why
You dropped off your child at college a month or two ago. You are finally getting over the daily shock of them being out of your house and you get that inevitable text: “UGH. I am soooo sick! Literally cannot get out of bed today!!” You wonder – how did this happen so quickly and how much will it cost to deliver them some homemade chicken soup? Rest assured, there are thousands of other parents out there getting similar texts and calls, and thousands of college freshmen who are sick and sniff...
October 12, 2016
Need Expert Help For Your College Essay? Look No Further
One of the most daunting parts of the college application is the essay or personal statement. Here is a piece of writing that seemingly needs to encapsulate 18 years of life in only 650 words. It needs to highlight accomplishments while sounding humble and understated. It needs to reflect a student’s genuine self, without making a single error. This is all a tall order and, for many students, the most daunting part of the applying to college.
Ethan Sawyer’s new book,College Essay Essentials:...
How to Plan a Successful Transition from College to Career
The job market seems forbidding to college students and it takes guts, determination and strategic thinking to graduate with a great job. Students can begin career planning during freshman year. It’s not about declaring a major. It’s creating a plan to improve your child’s chance of finding a career suited to his or her education and degree, talents and interests.
During the first year, students need to learn about possibl...
