Ongoing change and growth . . .

Hunter High School Student Body Officers 2012-2013

A year ago seven amazing students were elected student body officers at Hunter HS.  For the most part, they knew eachother but were not friends.  Over the past school year, however, I have watched them change and grow into amazing young leaders.

It all began last June, I volunteered to help drive the SBOs to a leadership camp at USU.  We met at the school at 7:00 a.m.  The kids had to pay their way and some had to make payment that morning (to the grouchy bookkeeper who didn't see our urgency -- another story for another day) before leaving.  We were on the road by 7:30 a.m., or so, but not without stopping at McDonalds for a frozen something first.

There was little if any talking on the way to Logan.  The five kids in my car whispered now and again; but no crazy loud stuff that usually comes with teenagers.  To be honest, I think all the kids were a little (extremely) nervous about spending a week with strangers and thousands of kids from other schools.  When I picked the kids up days later, they came bouncing to my car and Sambat Kim even attached a new name to me -- "mother Petersen" which carried all year. 

Over the next 11 months, I saw these seven kids become leaders, friends, and more.  Their amazing advisor, Mr. Klein, gave them latitude yet support.  He helped them learn to plan and prepare, to feel success and taste disappointment, to lead and to be appreciated.

On Thursday evening this past week, Mr. Klein and his family (wife an baby boy) hosted the SBOs and their parents to a Cafe Rio dinner in the school's library.  It was very nice!  I just sat back and watched evening unfold -- organization, good company, high energy, reminiscing, funny stories, awards, a video presentation and more.  The kids shared gifts and friendship.  Their growth over the past year is difficult to describe; you just had to be part of it to know how it happened.  But, Karl and I and all of the other parents there, saw it all and couldn't be prouder.

"No, we can't give that to you, your son is 18."

So, Willie was sick last week and we payed a visit to Insta-not-care to have a strep test done.  I called to get the results and was denied. 
Conversation:
"No we can't give that information to you, your son is 18." 
"But I am his mother." 
"Sorry, it's a HIPAA thing; we can call him." 
"He doesn't answer his phone, can you text him the results?"
"No, we don't text - we can call him."
"He won't know what to do with the information."
"We are sorry."

(So, I sent Karl and Willie back to Insta-not-care to get the results in person.  No strep but a bacterial infection in his throat and mouth.  He needed a prescription and allowed a parent to fill it for him -- no need to follow the "18 rule" at the pharmacy.)

So Willie needed a copy of his SLCC transcript for a scholarship.  (Last time we needed a transcript, I drug Willie out of school and took him to SLCC and went through the whole "get a transcript" process (he was 17 then).  The person at the SLCC transcript place told me that next time I could just get it for him.)  Using the previous transcript retrieval process experience, I ventured on my own to get the SLCC transcript.  I paid for the transcript at the cashier's desk (they took my $5 with no question). Little did I realize that being 18 puts him in a different transcript category.
Conversation:
"Last time, the person in charge told me I could get his transcript for him."
"Sorry, he was 17 then."
"So what do I need to do?
"Well, you could get him to sign a paper giving you permission to get it for him."
"But I am here now."
"Sorry, we need something from him giving you permission, he is 18 now."
"So, how do you verify that the person I get a transcript for has written the note?"
"Well, we don't."
"So, I could go out of this office, write a note for my son giving me permission to get his transcript?"
"I guess so, but we would know you did that and we wouldn't give it to you."
"Hmm . . . well, I am not going to do that."

So, I called the school and asked the attendance secretary for a favor. She tracked Willie down in his humanities class, had him write a note giving me permission to get his transcript, faxed it to SLCC.  I waited and within minutes left with the transcript.