Sovereignty

My dad and I often argue, both sides of the issue because we are both as equally stubborn as we are rational, whether it is better to be good at many things or excellent in a few. I usually favor the good at many things, not because it makes more sense to me, but because it is the way I have naturally developed. My dad, because he is concerned over my safety, would favor me to excel at a few things. And by a few things, he only means grades. Of the many things I may have accomplished, excellence in academics is not one of them. True, I have received the highest academic award for writing at my school. But writing is a pastime, a hobby. It is not a class that can be isolated into itself or worthy of my attention as a scientist.

Occasionally my dad will quit insulting me for being merely good at so many things, and praise me for the little things I am capable of that have no direct bearing on my GPA. I am thankful for this. Because I oftentimes worry if I will seem good enough on paper. But why should that be important? How do the things that I can say I've done and accomplished, say anything about my actual character? I know how to sail in sunfish on Lake Michigan. I know the most effective way to make small children laugh. I know how to run faster than all my friends and how to run away from them. I know how to make shrimp fried rice. I know when it is appropriate to be kind to strangers. I know what pitch to giggle in to make boys pay attention to me. I know how to throw a frisbee. I know how to throw a football in a perfect spiral. I know how to swim butterfly. And I know how to catch them. I know what Tourmaline is and I know how to fascinate children about the physical properties of a dollar bill.