Patrick on the Edge - All the Posts

THE LAST YEAR of high school is a big deal. It's the final time beween childhood and adulthood right before leaving home, going out into the world to be independent. Patrick Walgren agreed to blog us through his Senior year at Service High School as he navigated living on the edge between boy and man.

June, 2011

• Meet Patrick: Almost High School Senior
• In With the New & (Don't Throw) Out With the Old - Patrick spends his last summer before his Senior year in France.
• Le Education Francais - Comparing secondary ed in France and the US.
• Les Kids - How about those French teens.

July, 2011

• Back in the US of A - There's no place like home.
• The Last Carefree Summer - After this it's all adult-ville.
• Better Late Salmon Than Never Salmon - Oh how he'll miss fishing with the fam every summer.
• Keep Frolfing Clean, People! - Don't ruin disc golf for the rest of us you hooligans you.

August, 2011

• Let the Last Days Begin - Just a couple more weeks til school starts.
• My Top 5: A Post-summer Reflection - "Sun's Out, Guns Out" tennis explained.
• Big Man on Campus - Well look who's a senior!

September, 2011

• On Stage With the Best of the Best - How to produce a "Top Gun" play in high school.
• Five Year Flashback - Taking stock of the teen years up to now.
• Too Cool for School Spirit No More - Inspired by age and a vuvuzuela, Patrick starts to cheer.

October, 2011

• The Language of Music - Choosing language or music class?
• Diagnosis: Senioritis - He's got a serious case.
• Revenge of the Nerds - Haven't you heard? Geek is chic.
• High Tech Teens - Growing up computer.

November, 2011

• What's a Teen to do in Winter? - Tri-bath-alon and other cold season activities of the 17-year old Alaskan.
• Falling Asleep in Class Gets Expensive When College Starts - Yep.
• Jean Luc, Pierre & No Shave November - High schoolers can grow facial hair...for a good cause.
• A Miniature Earth on Thanksgiving - All that the American teenager has to be grateful for.

December, 2011

• The Winter Night Sky Like Nothing Else - Taking time to stop and look at the stars.
• My Grown Up Christmas List - Sorting wants and needs during the holidays.

January, 2012

• At the Halfway Mark - One semester down, one more to go.
• The College Rejection Letter (audio blog) - When you don't get in to your top choice university.
• What About Life After College? - Can Patrick look forward to a career that he loves? 

February, 2012

• It's the Kids' Fault - In which Patrick calls out the laziness and cynicism of his peers.
• Fear of What Lies Beneath - What do sharks and destiny have in common? 
• Valentine's Thoughts One Week Later - Transitioning from cartoons and candy to real dates.
• Dance Like a Girl - The boys dress like girls, dance, and win.

March, 2012

• Tests of Patience (audio blog) - What's the true point of taking the SAT and the ACT? 
• Amazing Aurora - Just look at these remarkable photos. Just look at them!
• Put on Your Thinking Cap - Inspired by good conversation, Patrick and friends decide to start a clothing company.
• The Final Countdown to Adult - 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - grown up!

April, 2012

• And the Crown Goes To...Mr. Congeniality! - Guess who won the all around Nice Guy contest?
• Stalling & Learning to Drive - Getting behind the wheel of the sweet, sweet wheels.
• How Jimmy Carter Got Me My First Job - Thanks for the shifts, Mr. President.

May, 2012

• Last Week of High School - Senior pictures, dances, exams, yearbooks - here we go.
• The Best & Worst Parts of Graduating High School - Lifelong friends...who you won't see much anymore.
• Why Good Teachers Matter (A Recent Grad Reflects) - From Kindergarten to 12th, Patrick remembers the best of the best.
• The Evolution of Teen Dating - The biggest change comes with the driver's license.

June, 2012

• Why I'm Glad My Parents Were Strict - Okay, I guess they did know what was best...
• Grand Heat, Grand Hike, Grand Canyon - The Walgrens go all the way in and out again.
• Single Tracking at Kincaid - Let's ride bikes!

July, 2012

• 3 Things I'll Miss About Alaska When I Move to the East Coast - The cool weather is just the beginning...