This coming week The Storyteller, 12 years old, is headed to Girls Rock Camp, a nonprofit organization that, according to their website: “builds girls’ self-esteem through music creation and performance. Providing workshops and technical training, we create leadership opportunities, cultivate a supportive community of peers and mentors, and encourage social change and the development of life skills.” We are all excited for her to have this experience.
Though she wasn’t awarded a scholarship, she did apply for one and we wanted to share her essay.
It all started when my Daddy came back from Blockbuster with a documentary about Girls Rock Camp several years ago. While watching the film I found out that Girls Rock Camp” is not a reflection of Camp Rock by Disney. At first I was completely uninterested in the movie not wanting to re-live the horror of Camp Rock. “You will love it!” My mommy insisted. “Well” I thought, “It is family movie night.” So I watched and to my surprise it was nothing like the mushy, gushy, lip-syncing stuff they show on Camp Rock. I, dare I say it, enjoyed it!
I soon realized that Girls Rock Camp was about music, making friends, having fun, learning, and building self-confidence in girls. After the documentary I was in love with the camp. I decided that Girls Rock Camp is the place for me. Then I thought “really? I mean, there are other girls who need friends, who need self-confidence and new experiences just like me. After all, I have enough self-confidence, except for the occasional stage fright. Plus my family is super supportive. So then I pushed that dream away and thought that I will never go to the amazing Girls Rock Camp.
My Mommy unknowingly reopened that dream by asking if I still wanted to go to Girls Rock Camp on the way to an audition for a play. “Yes!” I exclaimed. “but first I want to make the play my first priority. If I don’t get into ‘Anne of Avonlea’ (which was the audition I was going to) then I want to do Girls Rock Camp. I don’t want to do both because it seems like too much.” My Mommy agreed. Sadly I did not make it into the play. There is no need to feel sorry for me, I can handle the disappointment, but now it makes picking the activity a lot easier. That’s why I am writing this essay, my parents asked me to write why I want to go so they can be sure it’s something I really want and for a chance at a scholarship. At first the writing assignment sounded easy, but then I figured that writing “Girls Rock Camp sounds fun and exiting!” was not going to cut it.
It has been a few weeks already and I have been tossing around ideas of what to write for a while, but I figured you should get to know me. My name is Lavinia Celeste Bailey Martin-Weber. Celeste is my real middle name and my mommy threw in Bailey because my Great Grandma Bailey died the day I was born. She was a musician, spoke German, and I am told was quite the lady. My parents put their last names together and came up with Martin (my Mommy’s old last name)-Weber (my Daddy’s last name) and the combined name is our last name. Daddy says that I talk too much, and to my surprise I agree. I need to work on listening. My favorite color is brown because it matches with anything, I am proud to admit that I am a follower of Jesus and believe that God gave me amazing talents and thinks that I am special. I am also homeschooled and I am the 2nd born of six girls. I have awesome parents, and I enjoy acting, reading, Wii, playing with friends, going to Youth, ballet and jazz, sleepovers, adventures and exploring, dragons and archery, all music by Eric Satie, drawing manga characters, and spending time with my family. I am currently 12 years old and I have 2 good friends that I spend time with the most and connect with the most, although I am always ready to make more. My Mommy says that I am really good at building self-confidence in others, but I am not so sure.
I really hope that I get a scholarship because my parents work really hard to give us different opportunities in life, giving up a lot to be able to do so (my daddy barters playing piano for my sisters and I to take ballet) and I know that Girls Rock Camp is really expensive for my family. I also hope that this assignment can get me a scholarship, but if not that’s ok too. I figure if I’m supposed to be there, it will all come together. I just hope that the lucky girls that do get the scholarships have a really good time at the camp, and no I am not being sarcastic.
It all came together and The Storyteller is going to be able to go to camp this next week. Whatever she thinks of the experience, we are certain that it is one she will remember for the rest of her life. The rest of us too, we’ll enjoy a much quieter house while she’s away. 😉 See a clip of her singing here, it’s constant! You can read more about Girls Rock Camps in this New York Times article from last summer.
That is awesome! I hope she has a wonderful time! I just want to say that I love how open and truly generous your children are-I believe she really does want the kids who got the scholarship to enjoy themselves& I am sure she will make a whole heart-full of new friends on her way.
love her positive attitude! tell storyteller that brown is my favorite color too! thought I was the only one out there
It’s my favorite color too! Well, one of them. I also really love teal, red, green, purple… I might love all the colors really… but brown is my favorite to wear. ~Jessica