Making the Grade

Midterms was this week for the girl and the boy.  Both are the last quarter of their freshman year accept Cricket is in college and J2 is in high school.

Achievements: Cricket didn’t make the Dean’s List (whimper) but she does have a high GPA (3 point something).  She’s in different activities, making friends and has more than acclimated to school.

J2 did well in wrestling but was short of making it to state.  As for grades… summer school for one class.  Science. 

At the beginning of the year I talked to J2 about GPA and how important it is to have a good one to get into college.  I thought he was feeling me, but maybe I didn’t stress enough how none of his classes should dip below a C.  His GPA is holding at 2.0, which is the best it’s been in years.  But when you send off the transcripts for college no one cares that you aced your gym classes. 

This is still his freshman year, we can turn things around in one summer (I’m an optimist).   But for other parents of Blasian teens our there, especially boy teens, I’d like to know how your family handles it.  Do teachers overestimate your kid because of his Asian heritage or underestimates because of his black background?  And in an American culture that regales underachievers how can we make getting good grades cool?