Pray for Lucia...

Hello...!

My sister-in-law, Lucia, is a senior at a large high school. She is an extremely gifted young lady with a great love for the Lord. She frequents this website from time-to-time in order to listen to the messages contained here.

Yesterday, Lucia discovered that she is ranked #3 in her senior class (out of 577). She has also been taking concurrent enrollment classes at a nearby university (she will potentially be a junior in college once she graduates from high school). Once her GPA is weighted (in regards to her college and AP courses), she will likely move up at least one more spot (to #2 -- and possibly to #1).

Lucia is currently praying about which college she will attend. With her great academic resume (4.0 GPA/104.9 average), she has been approached by many of the top schools in the United States. Two days ago, Lucia, my wife and I met with representatives from Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, Stanford and the University of Pennsylvania. These schools were eager to receive her admissions application. She is considering several other major schools, such as Princeton, MIT, Brown, and Oberlin. Each of these schools have assured her of full financial aid for the entirety of her undergraduate education.

Within the next month, Lucia will need to decide upon a SINGLE CHOICE EARLY ACTION school. This is a potentially binding choice for her. If she is accepted and subsequently admitted to the EARLY ACTION school, she will be contractually compelled to attend.

I am requesting prayer for her in this endeavor. Lucia wants to see God's hand guide her in this. Currently, she is leaning toward an education at Harvard. The school has contacted her repeatedly, and they offer complete tuition, fees, housing and living aid. Her parents (my in-laws) do not speak English, and cannot provide insight to her on many of these decisions. My wife and I have been working hard to help sort through this process. Over the next few months, we may take her to Boston to visit Harvard and MIT, along with several other NE schools.

We are excited about this opportunity. Lucia is the youngest of my wife's nine siblings. In Mexico, her parents were limited to a fifth grade education. This family legally immigrated to the United States twelve years ago in order to provide them educational opportunities that could not be realized in Mexico. As a result, with the exception of Lucia (still in High School) and her youngest brother (a freshman Architectual Engineering student in college), all of the children have graduated with at least a Bachelor's Degree. Most of them attended large public universities. Lucia will be the first to attend one of the Ivy League schools.

Thank you for your prayers in this matter. We are praying wholeheartedly for Lucia in these matters. For a young lady who is dependent upon her family for support, this is a huge decision. Please pray that the Lord would guide her in the way that He sees fit. We have prayed that the Lord would literally CLOSE DOORS that she should not walk through.

Thank you for your prayers -- and the answer that will certainly come!

:-)

Hello...

I just wanted to update anyone who might remember this in prayer.

My sister-in-law, Lucia, will be graduating from high school this coming May. She is currently in a struggle to have some dual credit, concurrent enrollment college courses counted toward her GPA. This would likely raise her to the #1 position in her senior class.

Yesterday, Lucia received word that she has been accepted at Stanford University. They offered her what would amount to roughly a $215,000 scholarship (which is a full ride scholarship -- including tuition, fees, special needs, room and board). She has also been accepted at Baylor and a few other schools, with numerous scholarships. However, she really wants to attend any of several other schools in the New England region that she will not hear from until after the New Year.

Please keep her in your prayers. We have been working diligently to help her with this process. Since neither of her parents speaks English, my wife and I have accepted the bulk of this responsibility. It has been quite time consuming and expensive, but we know that Lucia is ready and willing for the road ahead. Lucia is a very strong believer, and she is praying that the Lord will lead her to the right direction.

Thank you for your continued prayers!

:-)

Please continue to hold this situation in your prayers.

Lucia is currently experiencing difficulty with two high school administrators who do not want to count some of her courses toward her GPA. She is currently ranked #3, and the inclusion of these courses would lift her to #1 or #2. If the proper weight is administered, she would certainly rise to #1 (with much room to spare). As you know, admission to many schools is quite competitive...and every point counts. Unfortunately, the son of the school principal is currently ranked #1. He is the primary opponent toward not counting these courses.

I have personally met with school board officials in regard to this issue. It has been an exhausting situation, since I've had to travel hundreds of miles for each meeting. All that we are asking for is the application of these extremely difficult courses to her GPA with the proper weight as promised by school officials.

Please remember Lucy in your prayers. She is quite stressed at this situation, and is looking forward to a resolution (come what may). My wife and I are helping her through the admissions process for each school, and this situation has complicated the matter greatly. We are praying that Lucy will continue to find favor in the eyes of the entire School Board and School District. She is a bold witness for the Lord, and her faith is known to all. If she stands as #1 or #2, she will have the opportunity to speak. If this happens, she wants to share her faith and testimony in front of the thousands in attendance.

:-)

Hi HE_Reigns...

Thank you for your prayers. We will be attending a special school board meeting this week in the search for a resolution. Lucia and her fellow students were promised by her school that these courses would count toward their GPAs with proper weight. We simply want for the school to honor their promise. If Lucy receives these grades as counting toward her GPA, she will move up in her rank to at least the #2 position. If the proper weight is applied, she will move to #1 with quite a bit of room to spare. As you know, her rank could be vital in her acceptance to some schools.

Please continue to pray for Lucia and these students. The school board will make a binding decision during this meeting. Lucia's correct transcript (including GPA and class rank) is due at Harvard College by January 1st. However, we would like to have it sent before the holiday break.

Thanks!

:-)

Hi HE_Reigns...

You didn't say which day this meeting will be, but I've been praying for Lucia.

The meeting will be held tomorrow evening at 6:30 P.M. (Central Time). We are praying that Lucia will find favor in the eyes of the School Board. So far, they have all expressed a willingness to listen and support her. Lucia (and the other DEEA students) have received verbal support from the college coordinator, assistant principals, the guidance counselors and many teachers. In reality, the only two individuals opposed to giving these students the proper credit are the Principal (whose son could drop in rank below Lucia) and the Head Counselor (who caused the problem in the first place).

Please pray that God allows these students to receive what they've earned. The addition of these courses toward their GPAs will raise each student's GPA and rank. This will help each of them as they apply to the schools of their choice. Ironically, four of the six students are Christians.

Please pray for me as I will be presenting Lucia's case before the board. Please pray for a safe trip too. Weslaco (located on the US/Mexico border) is quite a drive from home, and I will be going by myself.

:-)

Thank you for the continued prayer.

Lucia is currently ranked in the top two (out of over 500 in her senior class). She has been accepted at Stanford (third on her list of potential schools) and is currently waiting word from two other schools (on the East Coast). God has given Lucia favor in the eyes of all of these institutions. Incredibly, she has already been accepted at about 15 great schools. She is waiting to hear from Harvard College and Princeton (#1 and #2 respectively). She will have her interview with Princeton on Monday. Please pray that the Lord leads her in the right direction.

Family is extremely important in my wife's family (as well as my own). As a result, my wife and I have decided to move near the school of Lucia's final choice. We plan on remaining there for at least two or more years. I have already begun looking up employment opportunities via CareerBuilder, Monster and Hotjobs in the Palo Alto, CA area (near Stanford). Please pray that the Lord guides us and provides us with good opportunities. This is an extremely puzzling situation, but we know that the Lord is more than able to guide us properly. We want to bring Him glory through the pieces of our lives. We want to be living sacrifices for His glory.

Thank you for your prayers.

:-)