Rambling Musings Because I Can't Sleep

Last night was Awards Night at my daughter's middle school. The only kids who were invited were those kids who scored a 3.2 GPA average or above. Emily has worked very hard this year, and has kept straight As, except for getting a B+ in science for third term which was during the madness of nightly play rehearsals. This, unfortunately, kept her from receiving the "Straight As" award.

But she got another harsh lesson in life last night. You might be an incredible kid, kind, a fantastic role model, a friend to all, but a bit shy, so you don't always stand out. And those kids are, perhaps, sometimes looked over for the "6th Grader of the Year" award, or the "Science Award," or the "Language Arts Award," or the...You get my drift.

I could see her deflate as the night went on. And she is an outstanding kid. I think I'd say that even if she wasn't mine...I see many, many kids over the years, and I know what Emily must be like in school. But apparently she doesn't "shine" in that way that always gets noticed.

I know she was real disappointed that the only award she got was for "3.2 GPA or better," which was what everyone at the awards night got, since that was the requirement to get invited. And however much I pointed out that that in itself was an achievement, that not every kid got invited, it didn't matter.

It's true that as I listened to the qualities verbalized why a particular student was chosen for a particular award, I thought, "Oh, Emily will get this one! She has all that!" And I'd be ready to take a picture, but they wouldn't call her name.

The principal's twin daughters received many awards. So is there a lesson there? Probably so. And no matter how much I preach that she needs to do well because she wants to, and not because she might get an award, it doesn't lessen her disappointment.

There are so many people in this world who do fabulous things for humanity but don't get recognized for it. Perhaps that's what makes a person truly great: They do those things for the intrinsic rewards-and not for fame.

Sometimes I wonder what I have done in Emily's almost-13 years where she is disappointed in her one certificate, because she didn't get any others...And I'm afraid that I'm capable of being just only so sympathetic over it, and then I just say, "Oh, Emily! Get over it!"