score one for me
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i've been harboring a friends kid on and off for the last few years. her family seems to be perpetually homeless and she spends months here at a time. she is the youngest of six, her five older sibilings all high school dropouts. mom is a great friend but has drug issues and is basically a semi-functioning dope addict. one brother and one sister are already single parents at a young age involved in their own dysfunctional relationships. it's a terrible cycle. and this youngster, with any luck at all, is going to break it.
her school "Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy" opened three years ago. there was a very competitive application process. on her own she got in. the entire application process was completed without any parental assistance by this 5th grader desperate to get into the top school in town. her field of study is art and theater. not my thing for sure as i'm more of a nickles and pennies kind of guy but who am i to say shit. she got in.
fast foward to last night. the school christmas play. 300 parents in attendance. she is now in 8th grade.
there were two short plays with some choir singing thrown in. the first play was the old standard about santa getting sick and possibly missing christmas.
the second play was called "A Christmas Crisis at PGTA" written by Monique V......... the same kid who is going to break this cycle of poverty and is currently sleeping on my couch!
as i watched this play i just barely held it together. it was basically about the spirit of Christmas. the message was the holiday is not about presents and material things. it is about family and caring for one another (i cant believe i just typed that). this play was a reflection of this childs holiday experiences.
i'm not a parent but for the first time in my life i got a taste of what it is like to be a proud parent last night. thank you MONIQUE!
going foward the goal is for Monique to get into PCTI (Passaic County Technical Institue). it is the premier public high school in passaic county and another application process. i have already contacted family for help making this happen but after what i saw last night i don't think this girl will need this old hustler to pull any strings for her. they will be lucky to have her!
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sun so hot, clouds so low
That sounds like a score for
That sounds like a score for many Efrog. The good fight wins!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lazyriverbob
Nice!!
Nice!!
Wishing her the best Christmas ever, and that she gets accepted!
Any video of the play?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Imagine
Great story, Ed. Good for you
Great story, Ed. Good for you. And great fit Monique.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: W. Claude Dukenfield
Did you help her write the
Did you help her write the story? Nonetheless, it sounds like you have some good karma heading your way.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Imagine
Great for Monique.
Great for Monique.
damn autocorrect
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: candyfrog
>Any video of the play?
>Any video of the play?
the school videotaped the entire evening Bob. I grabbed the opportunity to introduce myself to the principal. she was looking at me anyway as i was the only white guy in the building! i asked her for a copy but she seemed hesitant. no biggie i told her. i just really want to let her know Monique wants to go to PCTI and tried to make it clear any help she could offer would be happily accepted.
>Did you help her write the story
i didn't know she had written the play at all Claude! I was blown away.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: BBGD4fun
i'm not a parent<<< YES YOU
i'm not a parent<<<
YES YOU ARE!!! And a damn fine parent at that. It's about soul, not blood. Stories like yours make a huge difference in keeping this world in balance. Nice work!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Floating Flasher
once you care for another
once you care for another human; all bets are off
((Monique))
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: My Name is
Thank You Eddie for my
Thank You Eddie for my morning smile with this uplifting story. Go Monique shoot for the stars.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Strangha
That's amazing stuff, Eddie.
That's amazing stuff, Eddie. Congratulations to Monique AND YOU.
Excellent work on behalf of humanity.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: free to come, free to go
Now thats a christmas story.
Now thats a christmas story. Thanks for sharing Eddie. Monique rules!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Chuck511
Damn fine story there Ed.
Damn fine story there Ed. Good on you for looking out for this wonderful young lady. Clearly Monique has a great future ahead of her & you're a big part of that. Best Christmas story I've heard in quite some time.
All the best to Monique in all her future endeavors (you too Ed).
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
You go Monique!
You go Monique!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: jonaspond
Thanks for posting that Eddie
Thanks for posting that Eddie. You're a good man.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cb
Very cool, Ed.
Very cool, Ed.
Good luck, Monique!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Yukon Cornelius got,
Good on you, Ed!
Good on you, Ed!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joe
Right on Ed! You go girl
Right on Ed! You go girl(Monique)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Joe
Good for you ed. It takes a
Good for you ed. It takes a village
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: charmskooldropout
I can't pinpoint why, but
I can't pinpoint why, but eddies stories always give me the creeps
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: aiq
Good work and best of luck to
Good work and best of luck to her.
The best years of my teaching career were working in gifted ed. in poverty schools.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: andy
What a great story Ed. You
What a great story Ed. You're doing a great thing and changing more lives than you know. Not just one.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: candyfrog
thanks folks. gonna make it
thanks folks. gonna make it right for this kid or die trying.
she deserves the credit though. shes seen too much
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: christulsatime
Why won't people let me hang
Why won't people let me hang out with their kids? J/K I am taking my son and a few kids to see Christmas lights tonight.
Not anything like Eddie has done, but will be fun. Good work Eddie!!!!!!!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
This is a great story. Your
This is a great story. Your belief and support are giving her added confidence, and that's so important for how she goes on in life. It sounds like all is well for now. Excellent, Monique! Nice, Eddie.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: |-|/-\|_|_
nice
nice
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: My Name is
To keep the ball rolling this
To keep the ball rolling this rainy day. Check this movie out if you never saw it "Finding Forrester" starring Sean Connery
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181536/
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: |-|/-\|_|_
good call, Bart
good call, Bart
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: VivalaSchwa
Beautiful Ed. Thanks for
Beautiful Ed. Thanks for stepping up.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: .............
Score one for Monique
Score one for Monique
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: The Mayor
The Christmas spirit is
The Christmas spirit is alive ..Nice Work Eddie...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skyjunk
Way to go Eddie, may all your
Way to go Eddie, may all your future tickets be aisle seats with no additional fees
best wishes for Monique
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Scarlet
As a teacher, this truly
As a teacher, this truly warms my heart! And good for you to take her in and see her potential! Not many non-family members would do that for someone else, it takes a special someone..
You got this, Monique!!