microLENDING #1: The Launch

Today was the formal launch of the ESD microLENDING Project. The International Society, a group of ten students, presented the program’s goals to the student body and outlined three basic elements of this up-and-coming lending process.

1) What is microLENDING? It is a way for people in developed nations to lend a small amount of money through an organization like Kiva or Hope International to a community in a developing country. The community then uses that money to build businesses, invest in schools, build hospitals, employ the unemployed, and develop a myriad of other aspects essential to a successful and coherent community. The investors are then repaid, with interest, so that investors can either lend again or pull out of the cycle.

2) What are the effects? MicroLENDING provides hope for economic growth in some of the most marginalized communities in the world. Cambodia, the Congo, Zimbabwe, Cuba, and others benefit from this program. For more information, see the New York Times article written by Nicholas Kristof at (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/magazine/23Women-t.html?-r=3&em).

3) How is ESD involved? A group of ESD students is organizing a program to involve the student body in the mechanics of microLENDING. We will invest in a community so that they can build businesses, invest in trade and abuse education, provide better health care for their children, and generally change the lives of everyone living in the community.We are having our first fundraiser this month and hope to raise about $500. With that money, we will lend, bring in speakers, purchase computer software, collect books and invest in the general education about microLENDING for everyone from Lower School students to graduating seniors.

International Society Member, Class of 2010

Art Summer Program at UCLA

ESD is a small school, meaning that everyone knows everyone else. Each student is like a little celebrity—we’re all known for what we do best, whether it’s a sport, art, choir, theater, community service, writing, student council or other outside activities. For me, that special talent is art.

Like every art student at ESD, I dedicate a 45-minute class period to art each semester. But along with this commitment, my classmates and I do more than that—we work on small projects over the weekend and after school, attend Art Club meetings, or participate in summer programs. This summer, I flew to UCLA to attend a two-week painting program taught by a college professor. Each day I would wake up at seven o’clock, get breakfast at Hedrick Hall cafeteria, and participate in a nine hour day of art. Along with studio time, we participated in group critiques, attended artist lectures, went on field trips to local museums, and set up a final art show at the end of the session. I came home exhausted, but with new work for my portfolio, experience painting in different styles, some fantastic friends, and three hours of college credit!

Clearly, we ESD art “celebrities” work tirelessly in the name of art. But, in return, our artwork is viewed by many as it hangs in school hallways, is reproduced on the ESD website, in the ESD literary magazine and newspaper. But most importantly, at the end of senior year we get to host an AP Art show where we display our final portfolio to friends and family—an evening that makes us really feel like stars.

AP Artist, Class of 2010

From Shovels to Starlight.

You could say my summer was one of extremes. I went from shovels to starlight, and it all started with trash. I have been going to Camp Balcones Springs for the past eleven summers. This July, I was finally old enough to participate in the Work Crew program that camp offers for incoming seniors. I never thought I would say this, but I fell in love with trash—or at least the idea behind it. The program is all about community service: cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the camp’s refuse. It was nice to have fun camp friends to do it with!I used to be terrified of trashcans. Walking up to that brooding gray trash bin, I would quickly chunk my trash in before it snapped my fingers shut. But after the Work Crew program, I gathered a new appreciation for those who prepare, clean, and most importantly, handle trash. It’s hard to believe how much fun I had handling those grimy, queso –covered trash bins in the Texas heat, and hard to believe how much I learned.

When Work Crew was over, I dove quickly from the depths of the dirt to the Hollywood Hills. I was lucky enough to spend the entire month of August pursuing my dreams of acting in Los Angeles! I got the opportunity to meet with over thirty different people in the industry—taking classes, gathering ideas, going to workshops and making connections! My entire film-acting class was out there together auditioning by day and enjoying L.A. by night—not to mention plenty of beach time! It was truly an amazing summer filled with wonderful opportunities.

L.A. Actress, Class of 2010

Summer Lacrosse

I have played lacrosse since about the sixth grade and absolutely love the game. Over the years I have had many opportunities to play on various travel teams and have gotten to play in tournaments all around the country from California to New York. Most recently, this summer I was able to go on three lacrosse trips: one to Long Island, New York, another to Baltimore, Maryland and one in Vail, Colorado. Each trip gave me the chance to play with people that love the game as much as I do. Without the ESD lacrosse program, I really don’t think that I would be as good as I am now and I know I wouldn’t love the game as much as I do now. ESD’s community has made it possible for me to practice with my teammates throughout the year because many of my friends here play lacrosse and we are always hanging out and playing on the ESD team as well as on travel teams all over the country.

Lacrosse Player, Class of 2011

Bharatanatyam Arangetram

I have been dancing for twelve years and training for the past year all for this one day. The most important and memorable day of my life was June 28, 2009, because I had my Bharatanatyam Arangetram. I have graduated from Bharatanaytam, Indian Classical Dance, and now have a degree. After performing, I can teach students who want to learn this graceful form of art. An Arangetram is a debut performance of Indian Classical Dance. It is a solo performance where the dancer is dancing by herself to show the accomplishment she has achieved. The dancer performs solely for God, but also invites family and friends to witness her success.
This summer was not about chilling or going out with friends. The whole month of June, I was practicing four hours a day—I barely went out of the house, except to practice. It was a lot of fun dancing on stage in front of the 300 people who all came to support me. Dancing is one of my talents and hobbies. I could dance for hours each day and, at the end of the day, I would still love it. This fall, I plan to teach other students what I have learned and also learn some new dances.

Dancer, Class of 2010

Volleyball Nationals

This summer, I participat-ed in the Junior Olympic National Volleyball Tourname-nt. This competition features hundreds of club teams from around the country, all competing in Miami, this year’s location. Before the competition began on July 1, my teammates and I practiced frequently and played in several local and national tournaments. By July, we were ready and excited. We played many close matches, many of them taking five games. We were able to beat some very good teams, however, we lost a critical match against one of our Texas rivals and eventually came in 9th place. All of my teammates and I were very happy with the results and very tired!
Typically, I play volleyball all summer, but this year, after an unusual and pleasant month break, I was back on the court, now playing with my school friends. Tryouts ended and I made the team along with nine other awesome girls. We have already had some impressive wins including Midland Lee and Parish! Hopefully this year we will be able to win SPC Division I, as we have in the past!

Junior Olympic Athlete, Class of 2010

Summer in Colorado

We woke up early Wednesday morning to the sound of our alarm clock, a disruption to the peaceful rhythm of Gore Creek that ran right past our bedroom window. Today was our first day of fly-fishing. Ever.
We stepped into the cold Colorado River. Our waders shivered and our boots filled with water, yet we could not feel a thing—quite a peculiar sensation. Our rods in tow, we lined up on the edge of the river and the guides demonstrated how to cast. An hour later we were on our five-boat float.
In an attempt to catch a fish, I climbed out of the boat and cast my line upstream. Yes! I felt a tug and clumsily jerked the rod and the fishless fly flew over my head and into a tree. I proceeded to cast again, this time with more luck. I had caught my first fish, a squirming, smooth Brown Trout.
The rest of the day was cold and raining, yet beautiful. The surrounding mountains were a rich shade of green and the snow-capped mountains towered in the distance. I caught four more fish, we navigated three rapids, and we ate a delicious meal at picnic tables in the middle of a green clearing.
Thursday morning, our alarm sounded again, but this time it signaled our journey to the airport. As we sat on the airplane, we looked through images of us holding our Brown Trout and attempting to look like seasoned fisherman. My friend asked, “Are you ready for the Subject Tests on Saturday? How much are you going to study? I frowned.

Fly Fisher, Class of 2010

Volleyball Preseason

Being an athlete, life can just be different sometimes. Every now and then, you might miss a party because of a game that was too far away. You tend to put a lot of time into your sport and your crazy schedule reflects it! Often, your life can start to shape around soccer practices, golf games, and softball tournaments. Your team becomes a family and you really love what you get to play.
But the time when being an athlete sticks out to me the most is definitely summer. I wake up the first Monday of June and sit at the kitchen table eating my breakfast and tying my shoes while I know perfectly well that the rest of my family is still sleeping and that half my friends won’t wake up until after lunch. I drive to school, walk up to the weight room, and have Coach Stringer check my name off the list for one of my fifteen required volleyball lifts. While it may be a pain to drag myself out of bed in the summer, when August 1st rolls around and volleyball preseason kicks into gear, I have never regretted those workouts.
With the grueling August heat just outside of the gym’s air-conditioned windows, one might mistake volleyball as the “easy” sport. Do not be tricked. We work hard, we run hard, we drill hard, and we play hard. But when it is all said and done, my teammates are my friends on the court, in the rivalry game against Hockaday, at our sleepovers, and at our pool parties. I love this sport, I love this family, and I love that the time I put into it is definitely worthwhile.

Volleyball Athlete, Class of 2010.