Ahhhhh...the world of Highschool...

So we went to Karman's final debate event. It was an awards banquet at a local Mexican restaurant.

So she got.....*Glacier Peak High School Speech and Debate award/pin 2008-2009, *State particiaption award/pin 2009, *Double National Forensic League member award 2008-2009 and a *VARSITY letter award.

Are you kidding me???? Awesome...


First year debater, on a first year team, at a first year school. Impressive...surprising...wonderful!

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Despite the frustrations, and the everyday teenage girl drama, Karman, you make us very proud. Though sometimes it seems the arguing, yelling, and crying in our house outweighs any sentimental moments these days...it really does impress us what you accomplished. (Even though Debate has taught you to argue even more...)

So, just because I can, I am going to go mommy here for a minute...

Karman,

You challenge us, and push us to figure out how to make your future as bright as we can manage, despite what you THINK you want, now. You, seemingly, don't usually like our decisions, nor do you like our opinions...but in the amazing way of life...you don't have much choice. And thank GOD...because if you did, at this volitle age...I don't know what would happen.

Fortunately, for us and for you, there are enough bright spots to keep us all waiting for the day (and we know it will come) when the slamming of doors, and the rolling of eyes will come to an end...when you care less about the fact that we push and INSIST (and boy, do we push and insist) that you cannot and WILL NOT fail Spanish, and more about making sure, for YOURSELF, that you do EVERYTHING not to fail, in anything...when you don't think you are the smartest teenager on Earth and instead, realize you can benefit SO MUCH by what others can teach you. It all comes with age...but I do hope you will realize that you are SO much better and more deserving then you think you are right now at this, quickly passing age. Being a teenage girl, is kind-of brutal...and when we make it through we, hopefully, find who we are, and come into our own and are better off because of it.

You are getting there my dear...Almost finished with your sophomore year...beautiful, smart and trying so hard to figure out your place in the world of highschool. But, you need to worry less about your place, and more about your time there. I can tell you that someday, you won't care where you did, or didn't, fit it, or what you are, or aren't doing, that others are...but you will have regrets about what you didn't learn, the bridges you burned, or the opportunities that you didn't take advantage of while you could.

Be VERY proud of what you have accomplished, know that you can always accomplish more, keep your head above the level of people who try to belittle you. I have confidence, that you will then, do nothing but succeed!

Speech and Debate has been great for you and we look so forward to watching you grow with it over the next couple of years. Congratulations!