Precious

(Her Full Name), who I know as Precious, is a beautiful girl with a balance of great qualities and a few habits that she can improve on giving her a combination of character and vulnerability that has all the makings of a beautiful adult. She is loyal to her friends, passionate about music and theatre, and diverse in her interests and activities. Precious wears her heart on her sleeve, is not afraid of being honest with adults, and demonstrates an admirable ability to understand and forgive herself and others.

Precious has an idealistic perspective on many things, forms strong and credible opinions, and gets involved in activities that support her values and ideals. At times her idealism leaves her vulnerable to naivety, her beliefs can extend to stubbornness, and her intelligence can work against her when she wants to justify not doing her best or avoid an unpleasant task. I must take this opportunity to encourage Precious to eat a healthier diet and do more daily exercise, knowing she might purse her lips, grit her teeth, and grumble for a moment, but ultimately see the intent and appreciate it.

Her ability to see the bigger picture and reach for truths is one of her best qualities. Precious generally accepts criticism without argument, however would make a fierce debater when she chooses to engage in a debate. She is making the most of her dependant years, enjoying the fruits of an upper middle class life which might make her seem immature for her age or lazy in some ways (at least around the house), however she has always been able to focus, be responsible, and succeed in her chosen goal when she wants to.

On the other hand, her extracurricular activities at school are the antithesis of laziness as she is busy long after academic school hours are over virtually the entire school year. Precious has an admirable dedication to the clubs and events she chooses and earns the respect and trust of both teachers and peers in academic and extracurricular activities. She works hard and demonstrates creativity in managing projects, building sets, working lights, and performing for the drama department. She exhibits her stubborn idealism in a very positive way by standing apart from her peers as vice president of the ACLU Club, undeterred by the lack of enthusiasm for the club in her school. She extends herself to a few other clubs at school and community service projects and somehow balances her time to give each enough to be a welcomed member while still maintaining grades that keep her succeeding in an elite academic honors program (IB).

Born in Europe to an American military family, Precious has overcome the challenges of divorce, several relocations, and ‘start all over again’ experiences that span the breath of two continents. She endured a very restrictive home life with her mother during her elementary and middle school years that did not permit her to explore activities beyond the academic school day. She currently manages to survive living her dad and his male roommate and not having a female parent nearby through her teen years. Precious does not let circumstance, fear, or doubt stop her from throwing herself whole-heartedly into a project as an individual and as a member of a team. I feel privileged to watch her become a young woman who has the resiliency to maintain a genuine positivity and optimism, a sincere empathy, and a compassion for others.

With each step through her life, Precious has absorbed the benefits, resolved the challenges, and maintained strong bonds and affection for her friends and family. She always finds ways to see the glass as half full. While her self-esteem can waiver and leave her doubting her value at times, she has all the tools and will to learn, improve herself, and grow into her full potential as she continues to challenge herself with new goals in life. All in all, Precious has many more positive qualities than negative ones and most important of all, she has the intellect and self-awareness to be honest with herself, the courage to accept herself as she is, the wisdom to accept others as they are, and ultimately the determination to not merely achieve her chosen goals, but to excel.