Lauren Rain Williams recently brought home a report card worth talking about and a parent can be very proud of. Lauren is in the 4th grade and attends Newcomb Academy in Long Beach California. Her current GPA is a 3.85 with recognition of advanced proficiency in mathematics.When she showed me the report card she said, “Next time mom it will be 4.0. okay? I am going to work harder on my writing.These words are golden music to my ears.
I really don’t freak out over grades ,but I am happy about her performing at her capbilty. I am easy going (just like my dad was) it works for us. Lauren is very much self motivated which make my job eaiser.
All I could do is say ,”I am sure you will do it and I am happy for your report card this semester. In addition to track and field participation Lauren plays the piano,sings and is fluent in Spanish (No Henry and I don’t speak) She loves Volleyball and recently experienced indoor cycling which she enjoyed alot ,but said “I really don’t want to compete in cyclying I like running more”. She is very excited for the 2009 season .She says she is “finally” a top Bantam. Lauren enjoys helping and teaching ,and helps Coach Henry teach drills to the sub-bantams.
Her goals for this season is to run the 100m in the sub 13 range and low 27′s in the 200m and begin to compete in the 400m more she says she not sure about a time in that race yet maybe 1:02 . I told her that will take alot of work, she smiled and said “Like you say mom “All things are possible” Now she’s quoting me….wow.
Great Job Lauren! How impressive too that she sets high goals for herself and tries her best. It shows in school and on the track.
Patrice Jones, Silver medalist 2008 USATF Youth Nationals Midget girls 400m dash, 5th place 2008 AAU Jr. Olympic Midget Girls 400m dash, was nominated to the Who’s Who Registry of Academic Excellence (Middle School Edition), her biography will now appear alongside thousands of other top students throughout the United States. Along with her being an elite youth, she is a hard working student that currently attends Harlem Middle School in Loves Park, IL where she maintains a B average. She is a 7th grader that participates as a community volunteer. She is also involved in band, marching band(alto saxophone), and swimming; she also helps out tremendously at home with her two younger siblings. She and her brother are also members of the Y-Club. She has been a Junior Olympic qualifier for USATF and AAU since the age of 7 and has been an active member of the Illinois Elite Youth track club for the last 3 years. Patrice in many ways is a trail blazer. She is the only African American student member of both her school band and marching band and the only female in the saxophone section. She was the first youth athlete of her age to bring recognition to the fact that our town needed training facilities for youth athletes prior to Middle School and High School. She has brought a lot of attention to track and field for elementary school athletes in this area of the country. She has received calls from Gail Devers, and special coaching from Coach Charlton Ehizuelen. She has been a gracious athlete in her development, recognizing that every opportunity afforded her has been a gift from God. Each year the balancing act gets a bit more challenging, as mentioned in Coach Rashad’s commentary of elite athletes, but each year she takes it all in stride always believing that with God she can do all things.
By Proud Midwest track mom.
Good job Lauren, it is so important that athletes understand it is a two part series, without the grades there can be no track involvement.