Pardon me while I channel Lorelai Gilmore....

Sure, I want to play it cool. I want to pretend that I come from a family that gets news like this on a regular basis. I could act like an entitled WASP and just shrug off the e-mail I got last night with a casual "Of course. No surprise there." But that would be a lie, lie, lie! This is BIG, big enough for me to violate my Must Not Brag on the Blog rule.

What am I talking about?

My niece Anne was accepted at HARVARD!!!!!!

And Williams (the number one liberal arts school in the U.S.), and Carleton, Case-Western, Haverford, Holy Cross, and Macalester.

She received admissions offers from these schools not because her parents have money, not because she attended a top-tier private school, not because her parents or grandparents are graduates, but because she worked her gifted little butt off, challenged herself, and seized every opportunity she could to advance her education inside and outside of the classroom. 

Anne did the work but her parents supported her every step of the way, managing to get her where she needed to be during all her activities, encouraging her to aim high, and pinching pennies at home so that money would be available to fund some of her bigger educational adventures--traveling as a youth "ambassador" to Japan, touring Europe with an orchestra, playing at Carnegie Hall last year, and attending various camps and events.

A talented musician, Anne expects to make her career in scientific research or medicine.

We're proud of Anne not just for what she's accomplished but for who she is, for her humor, her humility, and her well mannered, generous spirit. She has set the standard on so many levels.

Take a bow, Grrrl! We're applauding over here in Belgium!

April 1, 2007

Copyright 2007 Veronica McCabe Deschambault and V-Grrrl in the Middle. All rights reserved.

Comments

[Lynn]

WOW WOW WOW!!!!! That's such a big deal!!! I'm so glad you shared so that we can all applaud for her!! What an honor to receive all those acceptance letters, no matter what school she decides is right for her!

[Ortizzle]

Congratulations to your niece!!! That is stunningly great news, and forgive that awkward adverb. My step-daughter just heard she was turned down by Harvard. Sigh. And she is in the top 10 per cent of her class in a (public) school for the gifted that specializes in math and science. But she has been accepted at Baylor, U.T. and Rice, so that is a nice consolation. She works her butt off, too. Being a teacher, I feel especially proud of these kids who take the initiative to really develop themselves and also happen to be good people.

Anyway, good on you for bragging. That's the kind of thing that must be shouted from the rooftops. :-)

[Ash]

Wow! That is amazing! Congratulations to her :)

[V-Grrrl]

Ortizzle,

You touched on an important point: student motivation and attitude. If you're smart and disciplined, you're going to succeed wherever you go to school.

[me]

Congrats to her. Cream rises to the to. She obviously earned this opportunity.

[me]

rises to the TOP that should say.

[Di]

Proficiaat! or congratulations, as they say here in Belgium :)

[javacurls]

Congratulations to Anne!! That's awesome news!!

[wordgirl]

Brains, supportive parents who facilitate her dreams, hard work, vision...and boundless energy. Your neice sounds like she's got it all. Congratulations all around.

[amber]

Now you can call her Ivy Grrrl! ;)

Wow! hat is soo soo sooowonderful! I would be over the moon with pride. Congrats to her!

Now. Please write down step by step instructions for how I,too,can raise such a woman. ;)

:)

[mamatulip]

CONGRATULATIONS to her! That's excellent!

[Flubberwinklle]

Congratulations! And... WOW!

[Annie]

Congratulations to Anne and her family! What a wonderful accomplishment and opportunity for her future. Truly impressive.