Beautiful Dreamer

It's hard to know the difference between helping a kid set realistic goals and breaking apart the beautiful dreams of those raised on the song I Believe I can Fly. Quotes from last week:

"I'm thinking of taking a year off to work on my skating. Then I'll study something with medical marijuana. I don't like chemisty. Where can I do botany?" (aka pre-drug dealing)

"I'll go where I can get a swimming scholarship. I'm joining swim team for the 1st time in January."

"I want to be pre-med! It's been my dream for as long as I can remember." (Said by multiple students with GPAs below 2.5).

I hope they are all on their way to being the exception. The inspiration. The counter-example. If not, I told them to tuck community college away in the back of their minds just in case. And I gave them a piece of candy for remembering we talked about community college.

so cynical

So the old guys emails me. Reams and reams about his "ideal" relationship. How his biggest weakest is being too nice. And I think, "BiG, FaT, LiaR!" And I refuse to answer any additional questions about views on marriage and children. And say I will only meet with him if he comes on down to earth. Now I feel like the harsh city girl. It's almost like writing to Ken from 30 Rock.