Elizabeth turned 10 on Friday.  Marcia’s quote on Facebook:

Ten years ago today I met the determined little lady that made me a Mommy. She is still living her life with that same fierce determination that brought her into this world. Tell her she can’t and she will show you five ways she can. We are so proud of you Liz. Your large family loves you so much. Stay determined the world is filled with endless possibilities. Happy Birthday!

I couldn’t have stated this better.  Determination = Elizabeth.  Have you ever met a kid who has been denied more times but keeps proving everyone wrong?  And doing so with grace and humility.  I’m proud, and also impressed that my daughter has some qualities that I have lost in myself.  Such as humility … I have to brag on the kids all the time.  I don’t like braggards, but I see so many mediocre kids have been put ahead of my kids because they have been hyped so much by their parents, yet aren’t as worthy as mine.  So, I’m going to brag on my 10 year old.

She’s become quite the draw girl in lacrosse.  She pulls the ball.  Here she is against Perry Hall, she scored 4 in this game.

Liz in a 12-5 victory over Perry Hall.

On her Redshirts team, she is a 4th grader playing against 5th and 6th graders.  Two weeks ago, we lost to a RGLC 2018 team (6th graders), 17-10.  Liz scored 4 goals, including the last goal of the game as time expired, never quit, although she was the smallest girl on the field.  Marcia and I are so proud.

Tonight, she wrote an essay for the principal at Hillcrest in order to be a safety next year.  Her essay was on responsibility and being a role model.  Here is what she wrote:

Dear Mrs. McVey,

Please consider me for the school safety position for next year.  I would be happy to be any of the safety positions, but I am most interested in being one of the safeties that takes care of the kindergarteners.  I like taking care of little kids because they are cute, funny and they make me smile.  I would like to be a good role model for them.  I care about safety and following rules, and I think I will make an excellent school safety.

One of the qualities that I think is important in a safety is responsibility.  I show responsibility at home and at school.  At home, I am the oldest of six children.  I help my mother with my younger brothers and sisters all the time.  Everywhere we go, I help get them in the car and put their seatbelts on.  I also help with chores, like making their lunches in the morning or helping them at bath time.  I have a younger brother and sister at school, and I make sure they get to where they are supposed to be before and after school.  At school, I volunteer for the jobs that nobody likes to do, like the janitor.  I think it is important to have a clean classroom.  At school, I am responsible for myself and my schoolwork.  For example, I always turn my homework in on time, and my library books are never overdue.

I think it is important that school safeties are role models for the rest of the school.  I think I would make a good role model.  I am always on good behavior.  In class, I have always been on green.  I am quiet and I always follow the rules.  I am hard working and determined.  Because of that, I am a GT student and have earned straight As.  I also model good behavior at home and work equally hard at sports, including lacrosse, field hockey, basketball and swim team.

For these reasons, I think I would be a responsible and patient school safety.  I hope you agree with me.  I have wanted to be a safety since I was in 2^nd grade, and I hope that you pick me.  Thank you for considering me.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Kennedy

As much as I am proud of her, I also am fearful that she will be denied something again by adults.  I’m just so used to it at this point that it is discouraging.  I told her tonight that all we can do is try our hardest at everything, and if others don’t notice or pick us, that is their problem; just as long as we know that we have done our best, that is all we can ask.