• Athletics
  • Big Ed
  • Ed Tech
  • Educators
  • Elections
  • Federal Policy
  • Parents
  • Students
  • The Testing Industry

K-12 News Network's The Wire

K-12 News Network: People-Powered Public Education News

  • Budgets
  • Charter Schools
  • Federal Policy
  • School Districts
  • State Education Law
  • School Boards
You are here: Home / Parents / “Live The Life That Was Meant For You”

“Live The Life That Was Meant For You”

November 6, 2014 by K12NN Site Admin

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

SPomponi-headshot.jpg.Stefania Pomponi is Clever Girls Collective’s Co-Founder, President and Chief Evangelist. A respected social media thought leader and nationally recognized, award-winning blogger, she leads Clever Girls Collective’s corporate communications and PR efforts and has been instrumental in inking several key deals. Clever Girls was recently named 21st of the Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies by the Silicon Valley Business Journal and is currently one of the most influential social media agencies offering content marketing and native advertising at scale. She lives and works in Palo Alto, CA.

Sounds odd to say that I am happily sharing this in light of the fact that a child in our community took his own life yesterday and there have been 7 teen suicides in our community in the last 5 years, but I am happy to share this. I’ve been a teacher. I am a parent. But before that, you know what I was? I was a “pretty good student.” Not a stellar student. Not a 4.0+ student. Not an Ivy League-wannabe-student. I was a FINE student. I went through the AS/AP program at my high school. I went to college. My mom had expectations for me and my 3 siblings that we’d go to college. And all of us did. Maybe it was because she a single mom. Maybe it was because she had 4 kids. Whatever the reason, we all in our own way, did our thing and graduated from college without feeling undue pressure, stress, or that we failed if we didn’t get straight As. I was a B student. A fine student. I am a product of a parent who “calmed down.” And look at me today.

Could I have achieved more? Sure. But — I DIDN’T WANT TO. I wanted to take dance classes, perform in school plays, and have a social life–not kill myself with academics, club sports, or a skrillion extra-curricular activities. I was a pretty shy kid (except for when I was performing) and the thought of running for student council or joining a debate team was terrifying for me. Did I ever for a minute think my life would be over if I didn’t get into Stanford? No, I did not. Because my mom assured me it would not. And look at me today.

I live in a community where some parents put a lot of undue pressure on kids. I know parents whose kids struggle with math who have pushed their kids to be in higher math classes for fear of being “tracked.” Kids who need extra support and tutoring but HEY, as long as they have a shot at Harvard, right? I know parents who push their kids into charitable projects their kids don’t understand. Or club sports that kill their home life. But HEY, scholarships, right? I sucked at math. I never made it beyond Algebra II. I never played a high school sport. Did no charitable projects and joined no community clubs in high school. And look at me today.

All I want for my kids is to be good people and to know happiness. I follow their lead when they tell me (or show me) what their interests are. It’s not that I don’t have expectations and standards–I absolutely do. They are high but not unattainable and I know that the standards that apply to one child may not apply to the others. I am mindful every day to avoid comparing them to each other or to others in our community. They are special and unique individuals who have a lot to offer the world. I want them to know that they can make it through high school and on to college (if that’s what they choose) and I won’t think they are failure if they didn’t work in soup kitchen every weekend throughout high school or take 7 AP classes in one year.

(Please universe) I want to them to remain alive long enough to know they can get through hard times (because life is hard sometimes), because they are resilient and have the support of their parents and community around them. I want them to know they can learn at their own pace, pursue their own interests, and live the life that was meant for them because that is what their mother did. And look at me today.

Parents, please take to heart what this child and community member has to say. I know I am.


24 hour crisis hotline: (888) 247-7717
National Gay and Lesbian Youth Hotline: (800) 347-8336

Facebooktwitterlinkedinrssyoutube

Filed Under: Parents, School Districts, Students Tagged With: Emotional/Social Health

About K12NN Site Admin

I'm Cynthia Liu, Owner/Founder of K12 News Network. I'm the proud product of public schools through post-grad, the mom of a child in public schools, and the daughter of two teachers. Connect with me professionally on LinkedIn.

Comments

  1. Jilla Roth says

    November 9, 2014 at 3:29 am

    i had a very tough time fitting in when I was in high school. My heart goes out to these kids because despite my less then stellar gpa I am very happy and have a great life. I wish I could help reach out like this smart young woman has. I commend her for her thoughtfulness. I hope many people watch her video. Best of luck, tiger

  2. Morra says

    November 13, 2014 at 1:57 am

    This is such an important point of view and post Stefania. The pressure starts so early.

Sign up for our newsletter

* indicates required
Email Format

Buy a hybrid Facebook+ website today!

Federal Policy

Quick Education Voter’s Guide to the California CD34 Race, April 4, 2017

There are twenty-three candidates running to fill former Congressman Xavier Bacerra’s seat in Congressional District 34 in Southern California. (Bacerra is currently the state’s Attorney General, replacing Kamala Harris, who, after November 8, 2016, became our US Senator.) Election Day is Tuesday, April 4, 2017, 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. You can find your polling […]

Betsy DeVos, #NOTMYSDOE

Take the pledge to #resist and fight for public schools as a public good TODAY. DeVos had to have the assistance of Vice President Mike Pence’s unprecedented tie-breaking vote in order to win her confirmation. Two GOP Senators voted against, all Democratic Senators voted against. Yet all the other GOP Senators who received campaign donations […]

Next #DemDebate MUST Include K-12 Education Policy

The next #DemDebate is scheduled for the important primary state of Iowa on November 14, 2015. It’ll be broadcast by CBS in partnership with the Des Moines Register. Professor Julian Vasquez Heilig is leading the call for the families of 50 million students K-12 across the nation and the communities they live in to have […]

More Posts from this Category

K12NN on Blog Talk Radio

Online Politics Progressive Radio at Blog Talk Radio with MOMocrats on BlogTalkRadio

Categories

November 2014
S M T W T F S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« Oct   Dec »

Copyright © 2022 · The Wire Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in