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Hillary Clinton's Sixth-Grade Letter... "When I grow up..."

I don't know about you... but when I was in the sixth grade... I did NOT write anything like this. It just wasn't on my mind at the time.

The year would have been about 1958. Hillary Diane Rodham was eleven years old. She was in the sixth grade. Ms Hillary recently appeared on the Meet The Press television show with David Gregory. One of the things she shared was the letter below.

Eleven year-old Hillary's letter is titled "My Future." It reads as follows: "When I grow up I want to have had the best education I could have possibly obtained. If I obtain this, I will probably be able to get a very good job. I want to either be a teacher or a nuclear physics scientist."

Now... if you are a reader of my blog posts... you of course know that I am a fan, and an avid supporter of Ms Hillary's. But... this post will not go in that direction... at least not in particular.

But... in general... what an awareness this young girl had way back then... in 1958... at the age of eleven.

I would really love to know how many of today's "kids" in school... have had thoughts like this ? How many eleven year-olds do you know who have "wonderings" and "goals" like those stated in the above letter... rolling around in their "little kid brains."

I look at a group of kids this age today... and perhaps the best place to see a good "sampling" of them would be when they leave school in the afternoon... but... yikes... just looking at them, and from afar... trying to climb into their minds and imagine what kinds of thoughts are going on "in there."

By the way... eleven years after writing the above letter... Hillary Diane Rodham became the first STUDENT to deliver the commencement address at Wellesley College. Did she achieve her goal of getting what she called "the best education ?" It appears so.

How many of today's eleven year-olds are thinking this far ahead ? Whaddya think ? Let's hear your thoughts.

Posted by Fort Worth Real Estate - - - Karen Anne Stone on 08/02/2009 11:48 PM

Comments (21)

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21 Comments on Hillary Clinton's Sixth-Grade Letter... "When I grow up..."

AUG

Hi Karen ~ One of my clients - a doctor - had a framed pencil drawing she had done of herself as a child - as a doctor, complete with stethoscope, medical bag, and cigarette! It was classic.

Liz

Hi Karen Anne... It's nice to think that thanks to Hillary Diane Rodham that some little girl can actually answer the question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" with the word... "President" and know that it is a possibility.

Elizabeth: Yikes... she had a drawing of herself as a doctor... with all the trimmings, and then topped it off with a cigarette. How times change. That's great... thanks for sharing.

Steve: You did it ! I must be in just the right mood to read your comment... but it really brought a tear to my eyes. I did not think of that when I wrote this post. That is just a super observation. Thanks so much for sharing.

Hillary did a full hour on Meet the Press last week... and I was able to watch the entire show on the MSNBC website. This woman truly knows her stuff. David Gregory peppered her non-stop with questions... and she fielded them like an all-star third baseman on the "hot corner"... and threw every one of them "out" at first. I think she has grown so much over the last three years. Thanks for your comment.

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is a true inspiration to young girls all over the world. She is not perfect, as none of us are ... but she has succeeded in life, she has faced public embarrassment and humiliation, she has defended her family, she has taken the innuendos and gossip with grace.

She is stong, she is stoic, she is graceful under fire. She also knows her stuff.

Carol: All I can think of is that when I was eleven... my main focus was simply to grow up fast enough to get away from my parents... LOL. Wow... I wonder where I would be now if I had the self-awareness that Hillary Rodham had when I was eleven.

Karen Anne: Eleven year olds today are probably most concerned with the new games video games coming out, and when their parents will buy it for them. Not really much "get up and go" in kids these day. A lot of gimme, gimme, gimme.

Hillary was amazing even as a child, as was Bill Clinton. I think this is the type person who is destined to greatness and the kind of person that we need to lead our country. Today's kid can't think because of too many diversions like twittering, texting, talking, etc., etc., etc.

AUG

I am SO glad that in a country like ours, exceptional woman have finally come into their own and have the opportunity to serve with regularity. Hillary is one tough lady and even if I don't always agree with her, she is a beacon for young woman for how far you can go with hard work and determination. It's no surprise that she found her inspiration early.

Totally amazing for an eleven-year-old. Our country has become a nation of stark contrasts - with the two extremes in a pitched battle for supremacy in government. There is the rational, educated and intelligent side, juxtaposed against the anti-intellectual, anti-education, anti-"elitest", anti- common sense contingency. I can only hope that Hillary's side wins. But the garbage being flung at Obama and Hillary right now has the power to "stick" in the minds of those who aren't prone to any thoughts deeper than knee-jerk visceral reactions. In the words of a pastor that I had as a child "empty vessels make the loudest noise." Let's hope that Hillary's intelligence and her ability to reach out to everyone trancends the empty vessels.

Chris Ann: It really is too bad that today's kids have somehow gone backwards are far as either being able, or wanting to, focus on their own futures. Things have turned much too much into a "right now" culture. I think their "get up and go"... "got up and went !"

Barbara: Yes, it appears that both Bill and Hillary were both amazing children, and amazing adults... although I can probably imagine some folks who would come up with other, less flattering descriptions of them. I still think Hillary would make an amazing leader for the United States to have as president. Who knows what may happen in 2012.

Cathy: In the past, our country, which has sorely been in need of good leadership, has not had anywhere near the benefit of the leadership that competent women could have provided. Sure, Hillary is tough. The way she fielded all the questions on Meet The Press was just amazing. No stammering, no consulting of notes, just reaching into her brain... her very "currently stocked" brain, and answering everything that was posed to her.

I am thinking that her example... her continuing example, now as Secretary of State... would really BE a beacon for young women today. Every day... and with every appearance on television... hopefully she will inspire other women, young women and girls... be truly be, as trite as it sounds... to truly become "all that they can be." Thanks so much for your comment.

Ruthmarie: Yes, I thought this was pretty amazing too, especially for an eleven year old. Your description of the two extremes that exist in this country, and the stark contrast they present, is just amazing. The far right is just so ANTI. As you state... anti-intellectual, anti-education, anti-"elitist", and anti-common sense. Those folks... the "base" of the right... just seem to open wide and swallow hard all the nonsense that is thrown at them... without a thought as to the true of that propaganda. If it were not so tragic, it would almost be comical. Geez... it must be true, 'cuz Sarah Palin said so. Or... Dick Cheney said so... or... gawd... Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity said so. I am sure what Hillary has to say makes so much more sense... but the right wing base has to actually listen and understand what she says... which they are either unwilling or unable to do.

Karen Anne,

I had to come back to this. It was very, very cool that the girls are coming home from North Korea. One of the reporters is from right here in Sacramento.

AUG

Cathy: Glad to have you back... ! Yes, it is very cool that the girls are coming home. What a pair, these two folks are... Ms Rodham and Mr Clinton. Sacramento will be in a celebratory mood, I am sure. I am sure both the girls' families are relieved.

My posts welcome folks coming back, commenting again when the mood strikes them, and also commenting to other commentors on this post, if you see someone saying something that you would like to chime in on. Like I said... glad to have you "back."

Karen Anne - This is very interesting aspiration, but then I wonder what kid doesn't dream. Dream big, she did. And, obviously like many young people, her goals eventually changed.

Carol: Hillary dreamed big, and achieved big. I am sure that she is not through with her achievements. I can think of one more step... hint, hint... that I hope she manages to take. Have a great Wednesday.

AUG

Actually, when I was age ten, I applied to the Peace Corps AND to a state college. I remember where I got the Peace Corp application but have no recollection of where I got the college application. Anyway, I received letters from both thanking me for my applications but asking me to re-apply at age 18. I remember discussing with my parents who had no clue. They just couldn't understand that I had a MISSION in life and was ready to get on with it!

So, I'm not at all surprised by Hillary's letter! Besides, I've met the woman!! :-)

Lori: It looks like you were pretty ambitious and forward-looking when you a young girl. Pretty cool ! Sounds like you were way past your parents and their awareness of what was going on inside of your head at the time. I would love to have had a video of their reactions when you told them what you wanted to do. So, now I understand your lack of surprise at Hillary's letter. Wow... you met her ? Where did that take place... let's hear the whole story. Inquiring minds want to know... LOL.

From what I know of Oklahoma... you might be the only one in Tulsa to actually "brag" about meeting Hillary Clinton. But, I'd brag, too.

AUG

Many people do not give children credit. I think it is not necesarily the children that are so "now" oriented, but society. If you sit down with a 10 year old they have amazing dreams, but no drive, and no one to help push them. Hillary had big dreams and amazing drive to achieve her dreams.

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