Mrs. Friend, why did you become a teacher?
Mrs. Friend, why do you coach Academic Decathlon?
Mrs. Friend, are you proud of us?
These questions filled my weekend as I chauffeured and cheered, coached and collected nine teen Academic Decathletes. At Lone Star High School in Frisco, we gathered them to prepare for battle. They spoke and interviewed. They wrote and quizzed. They mathed. They tested in art, music, and economics, lit and history and science.
We also laughed and laughed and laughed. My cheeks ache still today.
Through trembling hands and voices, clenched teeth and picked nails, our students persevered. They can't specialize in the subject they love; in Decathlon, they do it all. Thus, they experience the highs of acing their strongest subject and the lows of struggling and stumbling through their weakest. It truly is the drama of the teen life rolled into 48 hours of competition!
They are why I do it.
Each time we hopped into our rental van to shuttle them to their next destination, the one with the spiral curls would quiz me from the back seat. Her innocent voice lilted questions forward, and with each question, I giggled and wondered why she asked. I dutifully answered. From the back, her replies of "awwww" followed. But I don't know that I did her justice on that last question.
You see, these kids are extraordinary. They love to learn. Love it! And, through too many study sessions, they have come to love each other as a family should. I heard one say, "I would have never known her if it weren't for Ac Dec, and now I adore her!" True story. This program attracts some of the most unique, quirky, and driven students and turns them into friends. In our case, it also attracts the most sarcastic and witty ones also! And I like them. They are my ducklings and I their mother duck.
I kinda like my co-coach too. He'll tell you he's only the "assistant coach", but this is far from the truth. He is the grade and calendar man. He is the master strategist. And, fortunately for me, he is phenomenally patient with both the kids and me! A forever-learner just like the team, Zuber "gets" them. Don't get in his way because he wants to WIN. I don't recommend putting a chicken on his head and making him dance to the birthday song when it's not his birthday either... But give him a team of nine and a deadline for gold, and he's off. And nothing - not even a tornado - will stop him!
This year's team has - so far - accomplished ALL that they set out to do. They said they wanted to break 40,000 points, and they did - by almost 2,000! They said they would all score over 6,000 individually, and they did! They promised to finally return to the state meet after a two year drought, and we will! I cannot wait to see what they do there.
So, to answer Amna's question, I am beyond proud of them. I fought tears many times during our weekend, the tears of a teacher and mother who loves her team dearly. I've watched them grow and flourish in ways they didn't even think they could. I screamed louder than I should have each time a medal was draped around their necks. And come the end of February, I will be even louder as they take on the state meet. No matter what they do there, I will be eternally proud of them for their intelligence, determination, and commitment. And for their guts and heart. Especially their heart.
Let's do this, Hebron Ac Dec! #wegotthis #statebound2016
Mrs. Friend, why do you coach Academic Decathlon?
Mrs. Friend, are you proud of us?
These questions filled my weekend as I chauffeured and cheered, coached and collected nine teen Academic Decathletes. At Lone Star High School in Frisco, we gathered them to prepare for battle. They spoke and interviewed. They wrote and quizzed. They mathed. They tested in art, music, and economics, lit and history and science.
We also laughed and laughed and laughed. My cheeks ache still today.
Through trembling hands and voices, clenched teeth and picked nails, our students persevered. They can't specialize in the subject they love; in Decathlon, they do it all. Thus, they experience the highs of acing their strongest subject and the lows of struggling and stumbling through their weakest. It truly is the drama of the teen life rolled into 48 hours of competition!
They are why I do it.
Each time we hopped into our rental van to shuttle them to their next destination, the one with the spiral curls would quiz me from the back seat. Her innocent voice lilted questions forward, and with each question, I giggled and wondered why she asked. I dutifully answered. From the back, her replies of "awwww" followed. But I don't know that I did her justice on that last question.You see, these kids are extraordinary. They love to learn. Love it! And, through too many study sessions, they have come to love each other as a family should. I heard one say, "I would have never known her if it weren't for Ac Dec, and now I adore her!" True story. This program attracts some of the most unique, quirky, and driven students and turns them into friends. In our case, it also attracts the most sarcastic and witty ones also! And I like them. They are my ducklings and I their mother duck.
I kinda like my co-coach too. He'll tell you he's only the "assistant coach", but this is far from the truth. He is the grade and calendar man. He is the master strategist. And, fortunately for me, he is phenomenally patient with both the kids and me! A forever-learner just like the team, Zuber "gets" them. Don't get in his way because he wants to WIN. I don't recommend putting a chicken on his head and making him dance to the birthday song when it's not his birthday either... But give him a team of nine and a deadline for gold, and he's off. And nothing - not even a tornado - will stop him!This year's team has - so far - accomplished ALL that they set out to do. They said they wanted to break 40,000 points, and they did - by almost 2,000! They said they would all score over 6,000 individually, and they did! They promised to finally return to the state meet after a two year drought, and we will! I cannot wait to see what they do there.
So, to answer Amna's question, I am beyond proud of them. I fought tears many times during our weekend, the tears of a teacher and mother who loves her team dearly. I've watched them grow and flourish in ways they didn't even think they could. I screamed louder than I should have each time a medal was draped around their necks. And come the end of February, I will be even louder as they take on the state meet. No matter what they do there, I will be eternally proud of them for their intelligence, determination, and commitment. And for their guts and heart. Especially their heart.Let's do this, Hebron Ac Dec! #wegotthis #statebound2016
So very excited for a dynamic team of kids and an unstoppable team of coaches. You are making them strive to new heights. Can't wait to see what comes next!
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