Every essay needs a thesis statement, at least three body paragraphs and a concluding paragraph. Jenna is now taking an English based on writing letters to solicit scholarship funds. Her first theme currently is “Beat the Odds Scholarship”. I looked over her first rough draft and we changed some of it. It’s still not perfect but we knew that going in.
One of the suggestions that her
instructor has was that she should focus on overcoming disabilities or
hardships that affected her life. Jenna’s
only comment was the pandemic which is definitely NOT a personal struggle. It is still a struggle nonetheless – and the
only one that either of us can think of.
The fact that Roland and I are college
graduates has already kept Jenna from the summer program that at least one of
her friends had gone to this year. Our
family way of life offers many benefits over that of most of her friends. Many come from broken homes. Some have ambitions and some do not. Each student is struggling in ways that Jenna
often doesn’t or just can’t relate to.
Jenna has ALWAYS enjoyed
learning. She has ALWAYS looked forward
to school. Her greatest years thus far
(I kid you not) were the years spent in middle school (I haven’t known many who
have relished the “junior high” years – but she truly did). Jenna is her own person and is not swayed by
others.
The global pandemic is not a personal
problem but is definitely an issue that has somewhat deflated her soul. She tries so hard to remain positive but
seems to be walking on broken shells on an unfriendly beach trying hard to get
to the water but hasn’t reached it yet.
She said she is going to start recording the days that she doesn’t cry
about some sort of frustration. She’s
been in school only three days and I’m certain that things will pick up. Currently she is in her bare feet standing on
the sand.
Because she was taken out of school she
was also taken out of the system – meaning any logins or passwords she used as
a sophomore are null and void as a senior.
She has to start over. Because
one of the staff encountered COVID, all others had to quarantine – which put
them behind.
Jenna has a physical copy of her
schedule, but it is not in the system to check.
It has been frustrating. But
perhaps it’s the booster that Roland thinks she needs to leave high school
behind and enter into the real world.
When we moved into this community Jenna
and I became a part of it. We were eager
to assist one another. It was a great
place to be. Now everybody is so torn up
about the economy and making everything so political that there are civil wars
taking place all over the nation. I don’t
know what states and/or cities are the safest to be in right now. Roland and I each want Jenna to succeed in
whatever she does. Question is where? And what can we afford?
Roland just accepted a position as a
salesman at a jewelry store. Not a job I
was anxious about and still not comfortable with – although it won’t wear him
out as did the warehouse position that he had attempted for three days but his
body is not in the greatest shape to continue.
And he loves sales and is good at it.
He’s currently learning his lines and
I am trying to bite my tongue though I’m doing a really lousy job at using the
word “snake” to describe the average salesman.
His “acting role” is putting me out even further. If he is successful at this job and can
provide an education for Jenna, great.
But my fear is he will make too much in order for her to qualify for
benefits – “rumor has it that he sells engagement rings and therefore is
wealthy enough to provide for his little girl”.
Having a representative working at a jewelry
store does not a Rockefeller make. Jenna
may not appreciate that we have been financially struggling since before she
was born. We moved because of lack of finances. She had received reduced lunch and was on the
receiving end of the school charity drives.
At the time she did not see it as a setback but truly did appreciate
wearing new shoes that she was given at school or whatever it was. She and her friends will joke about it now,
calling it the drive for the poor kids, which doesn’t sound nice but seems
easier to accept when you realize that you are or have been one of them.
We don’t have riches but are definitely
not struggling anymore – even though Roland was let go from the online position
as the school closed. He’s really not
ready to retire as he seems to have the drive to do something. Jenna has been involved with volunteer work
and earned money picking blueberries for three summers. Her passion is now in the theatre arts. She believes everyone needs to be entertained
– especially during this time of uncertainty.
She does entertain.
I don’t like to see my baby struggle but
I realize just as this pandemic has been a growing time for me it will be
her. She just might not see that now.
