tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693524596049634080.post4051003992498844288..comments2023-05-19T11:00:46.794-04:00Comments on moves and removes: Long Legs and Walking with Confidencekessia reynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06261374862108423866noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693524596049634080.post-31087732547298722652013-02-08T11:09:42.425-05:002013-02-08T11:09:42.425-05:00Growing up as the little sister of our family'...Growing up as the little sister of our family's "gifted child" gave me a different perspective on academic acheivement. My scores on those standardized tests also revealed to me my isufficiencies. I wasn't able to recognize that landing in the mid 80 and 90-something percentiles was pretty fantastic. I realize now that my idea of perfection was not measured by percentiles or a 4.0, but rather by how closely I could come to performing as well as you - you were my standard of academic pefection and my definition of "smart." Clearly that is flawed logic. I set a standard for myself which I could not meet, and only set myself up for perpetual disappointment. I chose not to go to college because I thought I had to be like you when I got there (which I am not). As an adult I see how truly silly that is. Just because I will probably not maintain a 4.0 now that I am finally in college, doesn't mean I shouldn't shoot for it or believe I can. I still find myself struggling to feel confident in my classes, as though I'm a fraud and my professors will soon discover I don't belong in their classroom. I see now that my self-doubt is the same as yours. Although we have set our personal measurement for success a bit differently, I see them as the same. I know now that if I want to complete as many degrees as you have, I can! Maybe I don't want to, but I am capable. When all of that doubt begins to creep in I remind myself of how hard you worked to land where you are in your academic career. I always thought it was easy for you, and the fact I had to work hard to even come close to your performance meant I wasn't cut out for it. I couldn't have been more wrong. You have worked so hard and if I am willing to work hard, I can do it too. I have learned to value your talents and hard work for what they are, and mine for myself. It has been a struggle and probably will be for a while longer. Growing up you were defined as "the smart one" and I was "the cute one." Now I see (and I hope everybody else does too) that our mother gave birth to two intelligent, loving, and beautiful girls who have grown up to be two intelligent, loving, and beautiful women.kelseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04265814664088416003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693524596049634080.post-83270722116523447012011-09-20T20:36:24.282-04:002011-09-20T20:36:24.282-04:00Kessia, I believe you have a gift, and you are usi...Kessia, I believe you have a gift, and you are using it. It is okay to be good at something and know it, and you have never come across as proud. I know God has great plans for you, and I am so happy you are going after your PhD. Moreover, you are a great pastor! The changes regarding worship at Paw Paw, your preaching and writing, are all amazing. and I bet you Juniors Sabbath School class is pretty amazing too. You and Joshua are great friends, we are blessed to know you guys and call you friends.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08044486111431169414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693524596049634080.post-44972816058780471192011-08-12T21:55:49.217-04:002011-08-12T21:55:49.217-04:00Oh Kessia. This post makes me miss you! I relate t...Oh Kessia. This post makes me miss you! I relate to you in so many ways. Except I still believe my legs are long. (In my defense, yesterday one of my ESL students asked "What happened to your legs?" After my confused look, she said "They are so long!") It sounds like you are being an equally dedicated student of humility and trust.Miss Jehlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04034434157377919516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693524596049634080.post-89385921859425160592011-08-10T16:04:29.924-04:002011-08-10T16:04:29.924-04:00Somehow you put into words what I can't put in...Somehow you put into words what I can't put into thoughts. Thanks.<br /><br />And, for what it's worth, I think you're one of the humblest gifted children I've ever met.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18296047820096217675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693524596049634080.post-86477294405180736102011-08-10T12:33:59.435-04:002011-08-10T12:33:59.435-04:00While a 100% is not something that I crave more th...While a 100% is not something that I crave more than anything in life, and I usually fall under the "B's get degrees" category, I still think it's awesome that you are out to get your doctorate. It will be quite the journey, and I think you're cut out for it. My only question is, "What will you do after you defend your dissertation?" Will you get another doctorate? WIll you write a book? Will you become a teacher? What IS the next step? And I guess the answer is only known by the Lord as He knows the plans He has for you...<br /><br />May the Lord bless you as you continue this educational journey with Him!Matthew Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027593921011160323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693524596049634080.post-17620702382608532562011-08-10T12:14:04.815-04:002011-08-10T12:14:04.815-04:00Ha! Chad, sounds like your wife keeps you nicely b...Ha! Chad, sounds like your wife keeps you nicely balanced :) And you know, what this goes to show is that grades are not life and life is not grades. Life is actually just life, it's living, it's trying, it's doing, it's being-- and I'm gonna guess that getting a B in undergrad math hasn't kept you from effective ministry. <br /><br />And the lesson I need to learn is that it's not about my track record or my grades: it's about trusting God and serving Him faithfully. Such hard lessons to learn!kessia reynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06261374862108423866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693524596049634080.post-9094478536857680612011-08-10T11:17:18.426-04:002011-08-10T11:17:18.426-04:00In 3rd grade I scored at the top of standardized t...In 3rd grade I scored at the top of standardized testing and was placed in a program at Loma Linda Academy called TAG (Talented and Gifted). I spent the next three years trying to work my way out of it! One year my Dad promised me $100 dollars if I got all A's for the year, so I did, the next year, no such deal...the grades slipped. By my freshman year I smoking pot on a regular basis and achieving a 2.5 GPA. We moved to Ohio my grades went back to around a 3.5-3.75. Our Junior year I took the PSAT. When we got the results several girls in my class were angry with me...they, 4.0 students received a far lower score than me, 3.5 guy. At Southern I was called into Dr. Clouzet's office. He asked me about my attendance at Dr. Martin's class. I told him that sometimes I would skip and go golfing. Dr. Clouzet warned me that I would lose my A and get a B if my attendance didn't improve. My response, "that is fine." I had a math class at Southern, my score average was 97% but in order to get an "A" you had to write a 5 page extra credit paper. I took the "B". In Seminary I wanted to see if I could do well...first semester strong grades...second semester Stan Patterson wrote me and reminded me that I had to keep at least an overall 3.0 GPA to keep my Conference sponsorship. These are some of the reasons I think a Doctoral degree may not be in my future:).<br />My Summa Cum Laude, never received a B, graduated second highest in her Anesthesia class at UTC wife shakes her head at me and prays that her kids are not lifelong scholastic underachievers. <br />Sometimes I wish I could go back to that 3rd grade kid and correct his motivation. Proud of y'all that can accomplish such academic feats! As you have done in the past, by this point in life, Kessia the same will ring true in your doctoral program.Chad Stuarthttp://chadnstuart.comnoreply@blogger.com