So Afif, Tala, and I decided we were going to surprise Jeneane and show up to the closing ceremonies of her program at Northwestern State University. I didn't know if we were going to make it because it is a 5 hour drive and Osama was not going to be home till Friday evening. He caught an early flight and we ran to the airport to rent a car and try to make it by 6. It was close. At 80 MPH made it in less than 3 hours. It was a crazy drive but I really wanted to see her preform.
The town is called Natchitoches. This is the sweetest little college town in Louisiana. It is where the movie Sweet Magnolias was filmed. They have a beautiful little river running through it and a million small bed and breakfasts....very pretty place.
Last year was her first year to be invited into the program and this year she accepted a big scholarship and an invitation to return. This program and those who teach it are amazing. The staff of Professors are top notch, the teacher assistants are full of life and amazing, and the Room assistants who care for them after 8 daily hours of class are full of fun ideas and motivation to get them to complete this program with a positive attitude. It is very difficult for these kids, most of whom are middle school students, to be able to take such challenging classes as a years worth of college level physics and logic in 3 weeks...and to really learn to love the subjects and succeed . Last year Jeneane completed a Shakespeare class and this year she completed a Film Studies class. Her aspiration is to become a book critic for the NY Times.
At the end of every program kids are invited to sing, dance, and do what they like. Jeneane loves to sing and I am going to post her video on my FB account. I am also posting the video for the room assistants and teacher assistants also on my FB account. They put on their own show every year.....it is so much fun for the kids...and I have to admit that I love it as well.
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