[asianthree]

Our 12 year old grandaughter dances competition, which takes up 20 plus hours a week, and about five thousand dollars a year..yep lot of money, however this was not her problem...Tonight she needed to leave classes early due to homework and to study for an exam...she is in 7th grade, but takes two classes at the high school....instructor voiced her displeasure and told her she could not leave...She said i am sorry but i need to do this, and went out to the waiting room for me to pick her up...The young lady at the desk who is 24 told her dance was more important than homework....My grandaughter smiled and said i understand that was your decision, that dance was more important for you, but by the time I am your age I plan to be in medical school...so I am leaving early...so sad that people think that a good education for young girls is not important...

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Our 12 year old grandaughter dances competition, which takes up 20 plus hours a week, and about five thousand dollars a year..yep lot of money, however this was not her problem...Tonight she needed to leave classes early due to homework and to study for an exam...she is in 7th grade, but takes two classes at the high school....instructor voiced her displeasure and told her she could not leave...She said i am sorry but i need to do this, and went out to the waiting room for me to pick her up...The young lady at the desk who is 24 told her dance was more important than homework....My grandaughter smiled and said i understand that was your decision, that dance was more important for you, but by the time I am your age I plan to be in medical school...so I am leaving early...so sad that people think that a good education for young girls is not important...

And well you should be proud of her! Not many kids her age are that clear about the future. I suspect, though, that the issue was not that "a good education for young girls is not important," but rather that "dancing is more important than homework." I could be wrong, but that's how I see it.

P.S. Don't worry about the things you CAN change as well; just go ahead and work on changing them!

[lpkshop]

Wow! That's wonderful so GLAD to hear we have young women like her coming up!

[mfp509]

[njbchbum]

it's wonderful that your g-daughter has such confidence and speaks her mind so bravely. back in the day my g-mother would have called me rude if i had been that brave!

[jblum315]

you are right to be proud of her. I have a granddaughter like that, who knows and speaks up for her priorities. We should expect great things from these girls.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

it's wonderful that your g-daughter has such confidence and speaks her mind so bravely. back in the day my g-mother would have called me rude if i had been that brave!

My grandmother would have too.

I think it was lost on this young woman...who was probably doing what SHE does best. Not everyone can be in medical school EVEN if they study and work very hard if they do not have the I.Q. points, not everyone can have the gifts your granddaughter has received of academic ability. Intellectual ability is a spectrum thing. And gifted academic ability is a blessing, just as athletic ability is not given to all. I have to add that if I TRIED, worked, practiced and spent hours and hours and hours, I could NOT do a long dance routine. And I could never be the center for the Celtics. I am NOT very well coordinated, that is how I am made.

I think that although you and your granddaughter are right in your choices and she is blessed to have the ability to accomplish her goals and heavens knows the work ethic is huge with me and I believe that working hard can accomplish a lot when ability is lacking...

I think the the dance teacher was young and short sighted.

If our kids chose a team to join, then we taught them that that commitment comes with certain requirements. Our grandkids dropped a lot of activities as their studies became more time consuming.

I have tried to teach my gifted grandchildren that they are blessed to have what they have and it doesn't make them any better in the scheme of things and that they should be respectful of the person in charge who may not always be right.

Again, a matter of personal values sometimes.

I would have voted for her to just leave with, "If I don't go home and study my grandma will skin me."

Just my very humble opinion. VERY humble.

[Boudicca]

I believe the ancient Greek philosophers worried about their next generation, and their lack of positive character traits. The philosophers need not have worried. All the time there are youngsters already mapping out their careers, and making sacrifices to benefit the long run, all is well.

[Uptown Girl]

[QUOTE=graciegirl;680588]

I think it was lost on this young woman...who was probably doing what SHE does best.



I agree with that Gracie, but I think perhaps what "our" Granddaughter was doing, was affirming her own truth as diplomatically as she was able, out loud, so she could hear it herself as well.
(I say "our" because for the moment she is our collective Granddaughter)

For her to be more considerate of the possible limits
of the future of the young woman at the desk (for the reasons you mentioned).... to have laid her truth aside and the reason to leave at someone else's feet would have been disingenuous of her. That WE were taught to navigate that way, was a mistaken program. Our elders offered us the best wisdom they could, it is our job to take their best and make it better.

In my opinion, the experience was really a good one for her at this young age, even if it was lost on any others. It served to be an exercise in personal integrity for her, even if it was a bit disconcerting to go through.

Hopefully she will not judge or hold herself higher than the others involved. (Grandma, focus on the importance of that!) As Gracie points out, everyone aspires to follow the paths their passion and abilities will allow.

To me, NO path is inconsequential. ALL are of value. I may not always understand another's path, but their's may not be meant for MY understanding. I applaud her for meeting her own standards in the best way she knew how.
(and a big hug to you, Graciegirl!)

[Whimsey]

Kudos to your granddaughter. Knowing who she is and what she wants and what she must do to get it is invaluable. She has apparently had good guidance from loving parents and grandparents that so many others don't get. So I think kudos are in order for all of you. Good job.