I’m taking a moment here to have a Proud Mom post for my daughter. Shannon is currently in the middle of doing the college app/scholarship app thing, and I want to share one of the glowing letters of recommendation her English teacher did for her. Am I bragging about my kid? Hell yes 🙂 it’s my blog, I’ll brag if I want to 😉 She deserves it ‘cos she’s pretty cool.

If words were wings, this letter would deliver itself. Such is the airy power of what i will share with you about the finest student i have encountered in 27 years in education. For there is a story being written here on the Plains, a hopeful prophecy of golden days ahead, the genesis of a singular life and manifold accomplishments that will matter – the life and future accomplishments of Shannon ______.

Truly, were you to know her, you would understand the force of nature she is as a writer, the compassionate observer of the needs of those around her, the gifted scholar who has done Promethean works at such a young age, and the precocious future educator destined to inspire those students fortunate enough to have her teach them in the decades to come.

To say that Shannon is exceptional and well-rounded is like blurting out that the Earth is a nice place to live – the understatement compels any would-be advocate to find a better, stronger way to create a picture of her true capabilities. And they are dazzling! How many students write a novel their senior year in high school while balancing the demands of coursework, involvement in over a half-dozen activities and clubs, and a nearly full-time job? How many consistently finish assigned work in rigorous academic classes and ask for ancillary enrichment reading to satisfy a thirst for deeper insight? These have been my experiences with this startling young woman.

I could rattle off a menu of her many accomplishments, medals won, competitions mastered and superior academic performances. I could list aperitifs such as her 32 score on the ACT and her leadership in the fine arts program and the clubs within our school community. However, my space is limited, and her resume is doubtless attached; thus, I choose penultimately to tell you that your committee has an opportunity to advance the education of the next Sexton, Bishop, or Browning. So strongly do I believe in the gifts God has given Shannon that I urge you to give her your strongest consideration. She already has my highest recommendation. Thank you.

You can tell it was written by an English teacher eh? Hehehe. I read this and was just filled with so much pride I thought I would burst. I mean, of course I already think highly of my amazing kid, but finding out that her teachers do as well is a really good feeling. She has two other, just as beautiful, letters from other teachers that make my heart sing.

It’s been a long road for Shannon and me. There were times when her grades weren’t so hot and it took some understanding to discover that when Shannon finds the work too easy, she finds ways to not do it. A lesson both of us needed to learn because I couldn’t grasp why my intelligent child would not be doing well in a class. One teacher (and this still pisses me off) in third grade wanted Shannon to be examined because she thought she might be ADHD because she was “daydreaming” a lot. I put my foot down on that and we came to discover Shannon was simply bored in this woman’s class.

Anyway, I’m extremely proud of my extraordinary daughter. I believe she will be one of those teachers that students always remember the rest of their lives.

I love you kiddo.