The Bookworm Challenge discussion

What is your greatest achievement?

I once won a bronze medal at this youth olympics thing.
It was for the javolin.
I had never thrown one until that day. Mine was one of three that stuck into the ground. Yay me.

Hmm. On the same order as Bookworm's accomplishment, I once beat another girl at a HS track meet. Once.

I once won a Tupperware 'That's-A-Bowl' in a raffle.

Oh, and I somehow managed to produce two great kids.

In my early days of internet use, I loved entering random contests. I found one for Good Humor (the ice cream company) with an intriguing space theme. Unfortunately, it was geared for children. The challenge was to design your own ice cream treat with a space theme. I passed myself off as a 9 year old and submitted my idea - a misshapen fudgecicle entitled "The Thing from Uranus".

Several months later, I was checking my mail and discovered a business envelope with the Good Humor logo emblazoned upon it. I thought I'd been busted. I opened the envelope - there was a letter congratulating me for my imagination and a coupon for free ice cream from any of the Good Humor brands with a value of up to $7.50.

Coming first and third in my local Tae-kwon-do competitions, I was convinced I had no hope whatsoever!!

BTW, looking things over, I think this is question 5.

Oooo- way to embarrass the moderator! You'll be lucky if he gives you ANY points this year.

Well, Melki, the rate I'm going, I'll be lucky if I earn any points. So he may have no chance to extract revenge.

Melki wrote: "Oooo- way to embarrass the moderator! You'll be lucky if he gives you ANY points this year."

No, no, I am always up for constructive criticism and the like...extra points for Gryfindor!

Oh fine! I'm actually really embarrassed about that, especially when you hear what I have to say next...

On a more serious note, my greatest achievement on paper has been getting a degree...yes, letters after my name! I am the only person in my entire extended family to do this. Luckily nobody makes a big deal about it. I still can't count past 4, apparently, but, you don't need to do that up here in Canada to get a degree.

On a more personal note, my greateast achievement has been the great kids I have...I'm supposed to say that right?

Oh, yeah. We always have to claim our kids as our greatest accomplishment, best thing in our lives, etc. Yeah, right, whatever.

I was the first to graduate from college on my mother's side of the family. My dad was the first from his.

I was the first on my dad's side to get a degree too and while I am proud of it I prefer my Tae-kwon-do trophies as it proves I can whoop a*se ;-)

Tae-kwon-do trophies are probably even MORE valuable in today's competitive job market.

Particularly for those jobs where you have to work with the public or annoying clients...can come in rather useful ;-)

Sam wrote: "Particularly for those jobs where you have to work with the public or annoying clients...can come in rather useful ;-)"

The combo of college degree and Tae-kwon-do trophies qualifies you as a Ninja Librarian, I think.

I come from a long line of preachers and teachers with degrees, though I think I was the first to get a PhD. My husband, on the other hand, comes from a long line of college professors, so there's an excess of education on both sides of the family.

My greatest professional achievement was probably during my Army days as a Russian linguist. I was providing logistic and interpreter services for an audit of demilitarization efforts in support of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention. This went on for several weeks, working with accountants, engineers, scientists, both American and Russian. Towards the end of the gig, the Russian delegation took me aside and asked me if what they'd heard about me was true - I was a bit taken aback since I had no idea what they were referencing (I was a bit of a Lothario and a binge drinker then, so anything was possible). Much to my relief, they were referring to my language ability - were utterly amazed that I was not a heritage speaker, that I learned the language in the military and was born to non-Russian parents and didn't speak Russian in the home during my childhood. In short, they thought I was Russian. Perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid to a student of languages is to be assumed or mistaken for a native speaker - and that is an achievement in and of itself.

Wow such wonderful achievements. I would have to say my athletic skills are in no way going to give me any achievements. I would say (besides wonderful children) my greatest achievement was that I was the first person in my family to go to University. I graduated within three years ($$$) and then promptly came home and worked at the local store for minimum wage. Yeash. But I have a really expensive piece of paper on my wall and I LOVE it!!!!!

Raising two children who have turned into amazing adults.

Denise wrote: "Raising two children who have turned into amazing adults."

Along those lines, I've raised at least one reader! My eight year old is already an addicted bookworm. She is constantly carrying around a book, her only request for presents are books, the only real 'punishment' that has any effect is to take away reading to her. To top it off she requested a Harry Potter themed birthday party!
I'm being serious when I say that one of my top parenting goals was to raise a reader.

The jury is still out on whether I've been raising great human beings, readers, or what.

We managed to raise kids that people don't mind being around. :-) Personal achievement: Earning my MA in Leadership and Management.