Voodoo Magic

Today is the last day of school for Philip.  I don't know why they even  count it because they start the day with an assembly and then hand out yearbooks.  Then you go to lunch and the afternoon you get to sign.  I'm pretty sure the students aren't going to follow that plan.  In fact, mine certainly is not.  He chose to sleep in.  It is 9:15 and he is still in bed.  He participated in the "Day of Service" yesterday. It is a huge volunteer project to make fleece blankets for the school to donate.  If you spend time doing that, you get to pick up your yearbook that night...a day before the huge line.  So Philip already has his yearbook and it already has signatures.

Many of you might know,  I chose to be part of the yearbook team my Junior year of High School.  I actually learned a lot that year that I still use today.  Things about image selection, messaging, and designing a page.  Who knew??  But the big end result of that experience, is I can't wait to see his yearbook.  I go through that thing from front to back.  I look up all the people who Philip discussed during the year.  I read all the signatures and messages.  Do you know many people comment on Philip's amazing personality?  How he is so caring and funny.  And many many of them comment on how smart Philip is and how they couldn't have made it through XX class without his help.

In true teen style, Philip gave a little grade scare right at the very end. But he pulled out his voodoo magic yesterday afternoon and got a 4.0!!  This is not your regular 4.0 though.  In Utah, the grades are not weighted based on how hard the classes are.  People that take regular math carry the same weight of grade as someone like Philip that took a 2 block college level calculus class.  I firmly believe this is why Utah doesn't compete well nationally on academics.  Certainly doesn't motivate students to push themselves to take hard classes.  In fact, many take certain easy classes because they want that 4.0.  But not Philip.  He took 3 AP classes (college level) and 1 honors (Physics) class.  I always calculate what his GPA would be if Utah did weight classes.  His result is a 4.45!  It is never about the grade as much as it is about Philip's efforts.  That said, it is always nice when he is able to pull off the strong grades too.  This is going to go miles in his college pursuits.  This is the transcript he will apply to college with.

I'm incredibly proud of you Philip.  More than you will ever know!!

It is tough to realize he has 1 more year of High School.  Seven short months until he is 18.  I know...I know...it is what my job as a parent is about.  But it is going so fast!  But I am going to pause on my panic and celebrate with Philip and let him enjoy the summer working and playing.