Issue 50 | March 29, 2013 | Featuring Terra Appelman
"When I was about 3 years old my mom (Cyndy Appelman) took me to see my first ballet performance. She wasn't sure if I was old enough to sit through the whole show, but as the story goes, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, taking in everything." Is it possible that a young girl at the age of 3 could be captivated by an enduring passion?Read Terra Appelman's story of amazing dedication and sacrifice by the entire family. |
INSIDE NARHS: Self Designed Evidence |
When it comes to self-designed courses, evidence is of upmost importance. Read the words of Steve Moitozo, founder of NARHS, "Evidence is a material, tangible item that can be presented to demonstrate that something was done, existed, occurred, and/or experienced by a student. NARHS differentiates "evidence" from "testimony." We consider "testimony" as what you SAY happened. We consider "evidence" as the presentation of objects we can see or handle to corroborate your testimony. When a student writes an essay about his trip to Ecuador, that is his testimony. When he shows his passport marks for Ecuador, his plane ticket stub to Quito, and photographs of him inside Capilla del Hombres, that's evidence!" Excellent evidence can come from second-party validation supplied by the "Grading Tool for Self-Designed Courses." Give this form to a piano teacher, coach, supervisor, director etc, who can verify that the student participated. That form allows the witness to supply a grade for the activity along with a signature and date. Since it does not take long to fill out the grading tool, the supervisor may be agreeable to fill out a number of the forms during the year; this could be helpful for displaying the student's skill growth. |
FEATURED THIS WEEK: Terra Appelman |
Now, in 2013, the ballet competency Terra has achieved requires between 25 and 40 hours a week in ballet classes, rehearsals, and performances. Homeschooling allows Terra the flexibility she needs, but has also made it possible for her to take advantage of some tremendous opportunities. In the summers of 2010 and 2011, Terra attended five-week-long ballet programs at the Washington School of Ballet in D.C. At the end of the second summer, she was invited to stay year round for their Professional Training Program. "It w
As is the case with most opportunities, one adventure leads to another. "In the summer of 2009, I spent three weeks in Paris, France, to study ballet at the Académie Américaine de Danse de Paris. My mom came along to chaperone me. This was our first time in Europe. We studied French for several months before our trip, and continued to study it for a couple of Last summer, my parents and I spent two weeks in Amsterdam, the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. Though the primary reason for being there was for my ballet training at the National Ballet Academy of Amsterdam, we saw plenty of art and history museums, and lots of amazing architecture. We spent most of our time in Amsterdam, with the exception of a day-long tour to the countryside where we visited Marken and Volendam. There we saw the old Dutch windmills, artisan cheese making, wooden clogs, and historic fishing villages. "
Terra's life may seem like a dream come true, but there is more than dreaming going on in the dance studio for hours a day. "Ballet is difficult. Sometimes it feels like everything is working against me, but so far I have manage
Passion, perseverance, opportunity.
If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you."
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