advanced placement

the college board's advanced placement program is an opportunity for motivated students to take on an academic challenge — to complete the equivalent of a year's study in a given subject at the university — and to pass an examination for university credit. these exams are aimed at gifted students in their final two years of high school and are standard fare for students applying to elite universities. but here in quebec, very few schools offer the program — and only one public school in the entire province. thankfully, that happens to be westmount high, the school the girls transferred to this past fall.

this year, b got her first taste of the ap world, taking a pre-ap class in math (roughly the first half of 1st year calculus) and sitting in with the ap english literature students at a lunchtime meeting every week. as a 10th grader (secondary iv here in quebec), she wasn't expected to actually write an exam this year. but the ap english instructor thought that she had a good chance to pass and encouraged her to take a run at it. so she got up early one morning in may and competed with a group of mostly older, high-calibre students.

the exam was a difficult one. she felt pretty confident about the multiple choice, but less so about the essays, especially the poetry question. she left the exam exhausted but relieved, but she didn't have much breathing room as the sat was just around the corner, followed by final exams.

but when all of that ended about a week ago, her thoughts turned to the results of the exam, which were to be made available on july 1. so early saturday morning (just after midnight), we made the call. the result? she passed! after a delicious souvlaki celebration lunch, she has already started considering next year's ap exam strategy (calculus, psychology, or both?!!).

take a bow, b— you've earned it!