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My high school students rock! Three of the five students I have been working with since early November were selected to interview for an opportunity to attend a United World College - a two-year, pre-university school made up of an international student body, that teaches the International Baccalaureate Diploma...in other words, this chance to attend a UWC inevitably will lead to the student applying to and being accepted by an American or European four-year college. For a group of students who have never been outside of China, this means that one of them will be changed forever. Literally. Her world view will expand far beyond the struggles that she faces as a child of migrant workers, and she will continue to work toward directing her own future. One of the students wants to teach Chinese as a foreign language, another wants to be a television host traveling around the world to raise awareness of social issues and charity, and the third student wishes to change the world through politics and economic reform. I've no doubt that each one of them will accomplish her goals. With only eight days notice, and eight straight, 12-hour days of mock interviews, soul-searching and critical thinking they all did phenomenally well. I think the UWC committee was impressed by their thoughtfulness and by their English speaking skills. The process was exhausting for all of us, but I am so proud of the way they expressed themselves. I am thankful I do not have to make the choice about who will attend the UWC, as we anxiously await the final decision.  


Image that you have fewer than eight days to apply for college, by completing a series of essay questions and preparing for an interview in front of an international committee of educators and administrators. Force yourself to do some major meditative self-reflection to answer the questions "why do you belong?" and "what can you contribute?" Now imagine doing all of that in another language. I know. Try not to feel so bad about yourself now. There's no point in measuring yourself against these kids. They'll win every time.

a visit from my Mom in April! The students are wearing shirts from Mom's Mount Olive Middle School.
On the chalk board - the lesson on "What's Your Slogan?"