Our First KUMON Student

I went to the local book store and bought a bunch of drill books, determined to work with Jamie for an hour each day to help turn this situation around.  But, I really didn't know what he needed or what was missing for him in terms of his math.  This approach immediately turned into a battle with me yelling, Jamie crying and the frustration level in our house out the roof.

I found KUMON when I was talking with a neighbor, in just the same way that most of you have found our Center.  I literally crossed my fingers when we walked into that KUMON center 17 years ago.  I had no idea what KUMON was or what to expect.  All I wanted was for Jamie to not feel stupid and to not hate math.  At that time, I simply wanted him to be OK.  I wasn't expecting or even hoping for more than that.

He started in Level 4A-counting apples.  He finished the program his junior year of high school

He went on to earn his BA in Economics from Loyola, New Orleans and then teach math in NYC with Teach for America.  This month he graduates from Harvard Law School!  My son!  He will take the bar exam for California this summer, and for NY next spring.  He will clerk for a federal judge in the NYC 2nd Circuit Court this fall, and then has a job with Skadden Arps, a law firm in NYC.

We'll all be at his graduation the last week of May.  Sara is flying in from Hawaii.  David Souter, who just retired from the Supreme Court, will be the commencement speaker.  I want to see the room where Elle Woods gave her valedictorian speech in "Legally Blonde" :). As you can imagine, we are all thrilled and so proud of what Jamie has accomplished.

What I really want to say to all of our parents who trust their children to my staff and I is to never stop believing in your kids.  You're all here in our KUMON Center because you believe in their potential, their ability and their futures.  So do we.  Do whatever it takes to support them, to help them and to find the resources they need to succeed.

They may end up accomplishing more than you ever dared to dream for them.