How to Choose the Best High School for Your Child

My daughter began High School in a public suburban school in Lancaster, N.Y. (near Buffalo) She had been an honor roll student and cheerleader in her former school with all the enthusiasm a mother could ask for in a teenager going into a new school system .(We had moved just outside the district of her former school.) Although Lancaster had been dubbed "heroin high" even from when I was in high school, I truely believed Jessica would do well, even considering the personal issues she had over come and the strength she had posessed from a young age. Jess is/was not your typical teenage girl, she faced life head on and wasn't afraid much. Her passions run deep and her heart is bigger than even I know what to do w/ sometimes. I realize I sound like the stereo-typical Mom. However, I can not count the people she has touched...just with a smile. I have to say, I believe Jessica has been blessed with true gifts. Her personality and dark brown hair with magnetic blue eyes never fail to amaze me. Strangers are captivted, and time seems to stop- just as they catch their breath. The beauty of it all, is that she is truely unaware as to how her intellect, attitude, grace and lovely she is. Not to mention how hysterically witty she can be! September 2012 came, as did Jessica's freshman year. I wasn't suprised when she was invited to join a group of kids on their limo-bus for Home Comming. Nor was I when her phone took on a life of it's own, literally opperating as co-pilot. And, as I predicted a freshman girl had become her newly formed "BFF." "Attached at the hip" as my Mother would put it, were Jess and Kristie. When my fiance' & I met Kris we thought she was a bit obnoxious and, in my opinion could have toned down the orange bronzer and thick black eye make-up, but hey, she looked like Snooky from J.S. (that's all I know of the show is her looks) Meanwhile, and regrettably my daughter was learning far more from Kristy than school. Let me say it is terribly difficult to say this about person, much less a child...Kristy was vermin that had strategically worked her way Jessica's entire being. I know how it sounds. However, when a father smokes cocaine with his daughter then teaches her all the cunning, repulsive skills it takes to be a malicious, corrupt drug pusher and addict...you get a girl who manipulates, lies and robs someone like Jess of her goals, dreams,freshman yr., morals, reputation, ect...Thankfully not her life! As her first year of high school wraps up, I wish I could say my beautiful, bright and once happy daughter is looking forward to a fun-filled summer with her boyfriend & family. Yet, the damage brought on by a toxic child has left Jessica undeniably a changed person. Jess cry's, I pray. GOD, help my child. Please LORD, I beg you give her a second chance, grant her the ability and tremendous strength it takes to over-come the demons that haunt her.LORD, please allow Jessica the wisdom to live her life, not feed an addiction,as I did.

Jennifer McCarthy of NY 5:37PM May 27, 2012