Exeter | Strategic Marketing and Charleston PR

Achievement and Curiosity

April 23rd, 2008 | Author: Connection Maven

My son, Micheal Edward Van Landingham, got word last week that he’s been awarded a Fulbright. HOORAY! He graduates from Princeton University this June. He will go to St. Petersburg, Russia in August this year to do research. He will be able to delay his entrance to Harvard’s grad school for Russian studies until he returns. (Thank you, Harvard.) And thank you Fulbright committee.

MEVL got the idea when he was in 7th grade to go away for school. He selected Phillips Exeter which is one of the most incredible prep schools in the country. Thanks to the legendary generosity of Exeter’s alums, he was provided full financial aid that allowed him to be nurtured in an environment of intelligence. Exeter is a life changing place. I think his drive and Exeter’s nurturing, but challenging, atmosphere allowed him to grow.

My friends have congratulated me saying, “what a great job you did.” I thank them and say, “I don’t think I can claim responsibility for my sons’ successes.” (I do have another brilliant son, Nathaniel) who is a professional forester with a Masters from Clemson and who works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Clark Hill district.)

I think my sons have done this on their own. Their father and I do love them and have made sure that they know how much we love them. We made sure that they learned to seek answers, had good direction, had limits and were always curious and able to get answers to questions. I think curiosity is the most important element in getting ahead or learning.

Both boys are products of the Charleston County school system, particularly Buist Academy, the academic magnet school for K-8. Buist has been in the news lately for their selection process, their delivery of services to students with learning disabilities and governance. For a county school in South Carolina, Buist is OK. It has committed staff, parents and students who are motivated to work hard. My sons were certainly fortunate to attend this school. However, it alone was not responsible for their successes.

My sons’ successes are their own. However, each of the institutions they attended aided them in some way and contributed to their success. Their father and I both contributed to their success. But, it was each man who took his abilities used the resources they were presented and went forward.

We must foster a love of learning. Of teaching one’s self. That is the real way that we achieve.