Shopping

I went shopping today. With a teenager. A girl teenager. I had forgotten! You know, what it's like shopping with a teenage girl. We walked a thousand miles in the mall. Passed up stores. Went back to them. Nobody had anything good. In the entire mall. I found five shirts and lotions.

She did finally end up with three pair of flip-flops, two tops, two pair of jeans, and lotion.

But it was so much fun! We talked, caught up with each other. She is still not dating. Because she has a plan. She will be a junior in high school this year. She wants to be a pediatrician. She has a friend who also has high aspirations and they have a pact not to date until they have their lives together. They hold each other accountable.

This year, they have SATS for which they must prepare. Dual credit classes. She will have a job. She will need to keep her GPA high. No boys.

Next year will be senior year, lots of activities, gotta keep the GPA up. Dual credit classes. Will have to have a job. No boys.

The next year she will be finishing up what she can from Amarillo College. It will be a new experience. Lots of concentration. Will have to work. Gotta keep the GPA up. No boys.

Then on to West Texas A&M for her bachelors. Another new experience, harder classes, longer drive time. Will need to be working as well. Keep up the GPA so she'll be accepted into Med School. No boys.

Then on to Texas Tech Medical School. Hard, intense work. Job. GPA. Residency. No boys.

Then specialization. Job. GPA. No boys.

Medical boards. Study, study, study. Job. No boys.

Finally, practice. Have to get established, medical practice takes a lot of time. Maybe boys then, maybe not.

Five years into practice. Established. Successful. Now boys.

This young woman lives in an area of town that sees more unwed mothers than the national or state average. She doesn't want to get caught! This area has as many high school dropouts as graduates with very few grads going on to college. Her parents are poor. She wants more.

She has a plan. And at 16 and a junior in high school, she is sticking with it!

I am so proud of her!

I hope to be that mature someday!