Jessie's Blog
admissionsONPURPOSE
Links Worth Sharing: Not Leadership Material? Good.
Santiago Salvador Ascui Source: NY TimesSubscribing to valuing only one type of college applicant is a disservice to all of us. Do we value only one type of person? And what message are we sending the next generation by perpetuating the everyone-must-be-a-leader ideal? Is this akin to the same vacuous thinking that convinces us that everyone-must-be-a-winner at all times? In this recent article, published in the New York Times, Susan Cain continues a conversation that is decidedly worth having.…
Wading Through the Middle: What to do while waiting on admissions news
Maybe. Maybe not. Source: Bitmoji“I’m not good with this waiting business.”
“What if I don’t get in?”
“I just want to know.”
“When will I find out?”
“Why does it have to take so long?”
The above is a sampling of text messages I received from both students and parents over the past eight weeks. Applications to college are out the door, and we now wade through the dark, often angst-ridden middle, what some may consider the most difficult, and perhaps the most nerve-wracking, part. During the waiting,…
A Student Named Liv That Contracted an Acute Case of Senioritis
Did you know that college acceptances are "contingent" on your performance?
After the rush of applications and push to bump up your GPA, some may succumb to the lure of leisure, of showing up a little less academically. Of posting on social media sites sharing about your "in-school" staycation.
A few years back a student named Liv shrieked with excitement when she received her acceptance letter to Super Selective College. She had taken the hardest classes, written dozens of papers, prepped for…
Why I Was Denied Admission
“The irony is that we disown our difficult stories to appear more whole or more acceptable, but our wholeness—even our wholeheartedness—actually depends on the integrations of all our experiences, including the falls.” —Brene BrownExperiencing, in totality, and accepting all of ourselves, —yup, the good, the bad, and the ugly: this is the toughest, and the most important, work of all.
I was denied Early Decision from Trinity College in December of 1984. The envelope, although of nice card stock…
Let's get started.No! I’m Right: Cultivating Curiosity Over Ego
“It’s not the real Liberty Bell. You know, the one in Philadelphia.” Mary exclaimed with utmost conviction.
“Sure it is,” said Dave.
“It’s not the real Liberty Bell.” Then Mary laid out THE three words—loudly. “NO! I’M RIGHT.” (Aka my ego challenges your ego. Bring it. )
I retreated to the kitchen sink to let the two of them go at it. Dave had summoned Google, and Mary was yelling at Siri to get her the answer she needed to settle this.
While loading the dishwasher, I wondered: When does healthy deb…
I’ll Only Be Happy if I Have GASS Earth Shoes & Get Into the University of Wisconsin
Who remembers these swanky soles?There were 26 kids in my fourth grade class, and I am pretty sure that Adam G. and I were the only ones without GASS Earth Shoes when we started school that September.
Mom would ask, “Why do you need a pair of those? You have sneakers. And a pair of clogs.”
“I’m can’t wear the clogs to school; they are made out of wood. Grandma brought them back from Holland. They’re a decoration.”
“How will you play football at recess if you wear dress shoes?”
“They’re not dress sh…
BERATING YOURSELF, AGAIN? — The Power of Rewriting Your Mindspeak
What’s that tune you can’t stop singing to yourself?
We’ve all got one; in fact, I feel pretty safe in saying we’ve all got more than one. We’ve got a whole chorus of tiny voices demanding our attention, but here’s the thing: Some of our internal voices empower us, reinforce our authentic selves, and feed the greater good. Too often, though, they are the roadblocks that spring from our deepest fears about ourselves. And, they are remarkably good at keeping us stuck, especially when we don’t eve…
Focus on Normal! Not.
This holds a prominent place in our kitchen. I wouldn't want anyone to get any crazy ideas. In August, we attended a family reunion in Ocean City, New Jersey. To prove that we were all in the same place at one time, we took the group shots. I also managed to get a few of my nuclear family — that I didn't have to take! But some things remained the same: Aaron poked Mary. Mary squealed. My husband’s hand squeezed my shoulder, and I felt Bryn aiming to bolt. Through a quickly fading smile, I plead…