People to People Student Ambassadors

[AGDee]

So, we went to the meeting. We drove separately from her friend (who had actually gotten the invite letter) and got there first. Her friend clearly believes the whole "selective invitation" stuff and asked us how we got in without her. I told her that we had registered for the meeting online and Shannon just had to fill out a thing with her address on it when we got there. Shannon sat next to her friend during the presentation and said that her friend kept pointing out that she wouldn't be there if it weren't for her. This same friend (they've been friends since preschool) has quit every activity she starts and asks my daughter for answers on homework all the time, which has been driving my daughter crazy lately. So, now she's questioning whether she would want to travel somewhere like this with this friend. She said "I could totally see her asking me what things were all the time when I'd be trying to listen to a guide to learn about it myself and I wouldn't end up learning anything!"

Anyway... so they want $400 with the application and they want to start interviews in 2 weeks. They schedule the interview after they process the application. I told her that if her dad could put up the initial $400, we could do it, but my mom's estate isn't liquidated yet and I don't know when it will be.. probably not in time for the interviews. Additionally, the interviews are scheduled for 3 Saturdays in row. She has band competitions all 3 Saturdays (including states, if her band makes it, which is questionable.) I told her that my philosophy is that if things are meant to work out, they will, so if she is meant to go this year, then the money would come through in time and we'd figure out a way to schedule an interview around band competitions. I also told her that she could always do one of these trips next year and go to Interlochen this year instead.

So, things are pending 1) Her own decision whether to travel with this friend or not, 2) finances, 3) scheduling an interview and 4) the decision of Interlochen vs. Europe.

She was looking at the application and asked me what she thought she put down for what is special about her. I asked her what she thought and she had a lot of good answers (wanting to make a difference in the world, being thoughtful and her ambition). I told her that she impresses me with how goal directed and self motivated she is and that I don't worry about her that much when it comes to things like drugs and alcohol because she knows.. (and she finished my sentence with) "It would totally screw up my life plan". 13.. and has a life plan. Now that's what I'm talking about!

Thanks for all your testimonials! It did help a lot to "know" some people who've done this program.

[Fleur de Lis]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Shannon sat next to her friend during the presentation and said that her friend kept pointing out that she wouldn't be there if it weren't for her. This same friend (they've been friends since preschool) has quit every activity she starts and asks my daughter for answers on homework all the time, which has been driving my daughter crazy lately.

I wonder if you could write her a "no rec".

Your daughter sounds very mature, and I hope she has a great summer, wherever she ends up!

[AGDee]

At lunch today, her friend brought up again that my daughter wouldn't be able to go if this friend hadn't invited her to the information meeting. My daughter finally got fed up and told her about the dead cat who was invited. Of course, her friend didn't believe her but was referred to Wikipedia for the truth! LOL My daughter is leaning toward P2P for this summer anyway. I told her, if it's meant to be, then the interview schedule will work out, the finances will come through, etc. She's going to go ahead and apply.

[AOII_LB93]

I've had loads of students get the "specially selected" letters. When they ask me about it, I say if they are interested to look into it, but it's no different than the trips that I plan in the end, and with me they travel with someone they know and trust, and their friends who come along as well. Being as I'm a foreign language teacher, I actually plan trips to Europe for my students and I've got 11 going with me this spring. I've got my own rules, and my students need to be B students, no truancies, at least in language level 2, etc...I don't take students I don't know personally, nor those who have not been in my class, or ones from whom I get bad vibes.

It's a great experience, but honestly I think P2P is super expensive for what you get. The trip I am taking my students on is 13 days and only 2200...and they stay with a host family for part of the time in France to practice their language skills and compare/contrast American/French life. My students last year even got to check out a French high school, and with the exception of their stellar cafeteria, and different daily schedule, all came back with a renewed positive feeling about American education (meaning that the teachers aren't mean and don't humiliate them in front of the class like in France).

Maybe see if your daughter's future HS offers anything that might be a little less pricey and more geared towards FL learning? Just an idea.

[AGDee]

Well, she applied and interviewed and got her letters of recommendation in and was accepted. She's very excited. Now we have to apply for her passport ASAP.