Young Woman Award

[slamjet]

Well, my 13 year old just got her Young Woman's Recognition Award (I think that's what it's called) yesterday. Mom is going around emailing everyone and bragging she got it before she was 14. I'm ignorant as to the Young Woman awards, but I'm mighty proud of my girl. :):):)

[Jennarator]

Congrats!!

[Gwen]

the yw are taught that it's the equivalent to an eagle scout. not just in "that is their award" but the program was designed to require just as much work and dedication and growth from the youth doing the program. personally i think it's more spiritually focused while eagle is more physical but other than that i think they are probably well matched.

though when i was working on mine while a ym could get an eagle before 14 a yw had to work till she was 18 for her award so in that respect it required more from the girls.

you should be proud, it's a good accomplishment.

[Wingnut]

though when i was working on mine while a ym could get an eagle before 14 a yw had to work till she was 18 for her award so in that respect it required more from the girls.

Everything that was required when you and I were in the YW program, Gwen, could have been accomplished in two-three years' time. The program just set out a specific timeline so that we were supposed to continue working on it throughout our years in YW.

Slamjet, congrats to your daughter. I'm the YW president in my ward, and one of my girls just received her award yesterday -- she's 15. The current program is designed to let the girls work at their own pace, whether they achieve the award when they graduate high school, or much earlier if they want. I've never heard of a 13-year-old getting it, though, and honestly, I'm a little suspicious about how thoroughly she completed the requirements. That's not my business, though. :)

If you want to learn more about the Personal Progress program, it's online and you can study up on it here: Young Women Personal Progress. You daughter should especially pay attention to this page: What Do I Do When I Complete Personal Progress?

[applepansy]

Congratulations!!! Awesome!!!

[Gwen]

Everything that was required when you and I were in the YW program, Gwen, could have been accomplished in two-three years' time. The program just set out a specific timeline so that we were supposed to continue working on it throughout our years in YW.

which is why i say it required more... more patience, more long suffering, more creativity, etc. there was no instant gratification, no matter how hard you worked you were on the same time line. not saying i think that's better, that's just one way it was different than they boys. now both allow for more instant recognition for accomplishments and allow for one to progress on your own time line. honestly, i think that's a good thing.

[Wingnut]

which is why i say it required more... more patience, more long suffering, more creativity, etc. there was no instant gratification, no matter how hard you worked you were on the same time line. not saying i think that's better, that's just one way it was different than they boys. now both allow for more instant recognition for accomplishments and allow for one to progress on your own time line. honestly, i think that's a good thing.

I think it's pretty lame though, that Scouts get individual courts of honor for every single Eagle achievement, while the YW get 90 seconds of recognition during the ward business portion of Sacrament meeting.

[Gwen]

i agree there is not enough recognition for it. i told my husband he could go as all out as he wanted for the oldest court of honor but be prepared to do just as much for the other boys and girls.

i have no issue with getting it so young (eagle or yw). yes some that do that aren't putting much effort in but others just work consistently. that is between them and their parents. i say recognize the efforts.

[MarginOfError]

I think it's pretty lame though, that Scouts get individual courts of honor for every single Eagle achievement, while the YW get 90 seconds of recognition during the ward business portion of Sacrament meeting.

I agree that it's lame. But at the same time, wards don't plan courts of honor for the boys. The families do (perhaps with some assistance from the leaders). I'm all for planning bigger events for the young women who earn their young womanhood. But it's up to the families to plan those.

[Guest]

Not to derail this thread, but last Saturday we had a Stake Merit Badge Fair. Only 3 scouts attended in the entire stake!

After some investigation, most of the comments we received were that the Fair was organized so that they don't get a Merit Badge that day... they have to work some more to get the Merit Badge. Well, duh. You don't earn Merit Badges in a day - you can't master these things in that short a time. Merit Badge Fairs is not so you can grab 5 Merit Badges in 1 single day like a microwave oven or something. It is designed so you can get the theory out of the way in one day, then all you need to do is the practicum part which you can do within the next month or so, and then you get a Merit Badge. Most fairs are organized so you have to have accomplished the practicum as a prerequisite to attending the Fair then they award you the badge at the end of the fair. But, we made it easier for the scouts to be able to attend (hoping to get more to attend!) so we didn't do prerequisites. It didn't matter - we only had 3 scouts show up anyway.

Maybe the parents these days don't really understand the work involved in the Scouting/Personal Progress programs? I don't know.

[slamjet]

I've never heard of a 13-year-old getting it, though, and honestly, I'm a little suspicious about how thoroughly she completed the requirements. That's not my business, though. :)

You have to know my daughters. Her and her twin are highly motivated over achievers. They're not happy with getting "b" in school. They'll accept it, but they will work like mad to raise it. This daughter pick up a clarinet and a year later is in her JHS Honors Band and Orchestra. She's already won her first solo clarinet competition (Symphony Orchestra members were judges). She was even invited to be in her HS's marching band and orchestra this coming semester (her first HS semester). Her twin started Choir at the same time and was in the JHS Honors Choir within the same time period. Her recommendations were so good, she was one of four incoming HS freshmen to be invited onto the debate team (she turned it down. Too many out of town coed trips at such a young age). She is also a financial fiend. They are both are going into HS with no less than four teachers recommendations each.

So yea, it may look suspicions, but I can assure you that she worked for it.

[MarginOfError]

Not to derail this thread, but last Saturday we had a Stake Merit Badge Fair. Only 3 scouts attended in the entire stake!

After some investigation, most of the comments we received were that the Fair was organized so that they don't get a Merit Badge that day... they have to work some more to get the Merit Badge. Well, duh. You don't earn Merit Badges in a day - you can't master these things in that short a time. Merit Badge Fairs is not so you can grab 5 Merit Badges in 1 single day like a microwave oven or something. It is designed so you can get the theory out of the way in one day, then all you need to do is the practicum part which you can do within the next month or so, and then you get a Merit Badge. Most fairs are organized so you have to have accomplished the practicum as a prerequisite to attending the Fair then they award you the badge at the end of the fair. But, we made it easier for the scouts to be able to attend (hoping to get more to attend!) so we didn't do prerequisites. It didn't matter - we only had 3 scouts show up anyway.

Maybe the parents these days don't really understand the work involved in the Scouting/Personal Progress programs? I don't know.

That's something I've seen in my experience in scouting. There seems to be a cultural shift toward the idea that if the boy has at least tried to do the requirement, it should get passed off, regardless of whether or not he succeeded.

[Jennarator]

Everything that was required when you and I were in the YW program, Gwen, could have been accomplished in two-three years' time. The program just set out a specific timeline so that we were supposed to continue working on it throughout our years in YW.

Slamjet, congrats to your daughter. I'm the YW president in my ward, and one of my girls just received her award yesterday -- she's 15. The current program is designed to let the girls work at their own pace, whether they achieve the award when they graduate high school, or much earlier if they want. I've never heard of a 13-year-old getting it, though, and honestly, I'm a little suspicious about how thoroughly she completed the requirements. That's not my business, though. :)

If you want to learn more about the Personal Progress program, it's online and you can study up on it here: Young Women Personal Progress. You daughter should especially pay attention to this page: What Do I Do When I Complete Personal Progress?

I have heard of Scouts getting Eagals at 12 or 13, why not YW getting their award?

Another thought, could it be that she got the Beehive award?

There are a few differnt "levels" the girls earn.

Either way, congrats! I am sure she worked hard to earn it, and you should be proud!

[slamjet]

The absolute minimum age a Boy Scout can get their Eagle is 13.5 years. And I have had some scouts get the award that young.

[Wingnut]

I have heard of Scouts getting Eagals at 12 or 13, why not YW getting their award?

Boy Scouts can't earn their Eagle any earlier than 14 years old. (Edit: See Slamjet's above comment.)

Under the current Personal Progress program, young women work at their own pace on all goals and projects.

Another thought, could it be that she got the Beehive award?

There's no such thing anymore.

There are a few differnt "levels" the girls earn.

Nope.

[findingmyway]

You have to know my daughters. Her and her twin are highly motivated over achievers. They're not happy with getting "b" in school. They'll accept it, but they will work like mad to raise it. This daughter pick up a clarinet and a year later is in her JHS Honors Band and Orchestra. She's already won her first solo clarinet competition (Symphony Orchestra members were judges). She was even invited to be in her HS's marching band and orchestra this coming semester (her first HS semester). Her twin started Choir at the same time and was in the JHS Honors Choir within the same time period. Her recommendations were so good, she was one of four incoming HS freshmen to be invited onto the debate team (she turned it down. Too many out of town coed trips at such a young age). She is also a financial fiend. They are both are going into HS with no less than four teachers recommendations each.

So yea, it may look suspicions, but I can assure you that she worked for it.

Show off :lol:. So what is your secret ?

[Jennarator]

Boy Scouts can't earn their Eagle any earlier than 14 years old. (Edit: See Slamjet's above comment.)

Under the current Personal Progress program, young women work at their own pace on all goals and projects.

There's no such thing anymore.

Nope.

Wow, I was working in YW, a while back, guess they made tons of changes since then.

I did know someone that earned their Eagel at 12. Don't know, then how he cheatd to do it. It was one of my friends when I was 12 years old, too. He cheated at a ton of things, tho. Even cheated on tests, in school. Dad told him that it was about learnig how to beat the system.....wow....that is crazy, looking back.

[slamjet]

Another thought, could it be that she got the Beehive award?

I'm not sure what to make of some of the comments on this thread I'm just being a proud Papa showing of his kids.

[slamjet]

Show off :lol:. So what is your secret ?

Genetics

[Gwen]

ignore the comments and be a proud papa. i got comments when the oldest got his eagle. some ppl just want to rain on the parade. you did throw her a parade didn't you?

[slamjet]

I will when I get there. My next visit is April 1st for a week. I'm sure she'll be at the door with the medallion in hand. That is if she can peel herself from the computer for five minutes

[Wingnut]

I'm not sure what to make of some of the comments on this thread I'm just being a proud Papa showing of his kids.

That's a little odd -- that's not actually the current medallion. I wonder if your clerk just had the old ones still in stock and is trying to use them up.

Sorry if I offended with my first comment. One of the YW in my ward is 13, and is nearly done with her requirements, technically speaking. My counselor who meets with her regularly has told me that when she asks the girl questions about this goal or that (all signed off ones), that she doesn't seem to have a clue about them, what the scriptures discussed, etc. My counselor isn't confident that the young woman is actually fulfilling the point of the requirements (growth, progress, etc.), but is just doing the bare minimum. So please forgive my skepticism. Based on your description of your daughters' achievements and personal drive, it sounds like they probably understand both the letter of the program, and the spirit of it.

My sister earned hers when she was 16, because she wanted it out of the way before she entered her last two years (grueling years) of high school. She had also set a goal to graduate in the top 10 of her class, which she did, so she budgeted her time accordingly. And, like I said, another of my young women just received her medallion yesterday, and she's only 15. I would still recommend that your daughter review this page (it's also in the back of her Personal Progress book). The current program allows young women to earn their medallion again if they want, or to earn an "honor bee," which entails 40 hours of service (including helping and mentoring other YW in their personal progress) and reading the Book of Mormon in its entirety* again. She can earn as many honor bees as she wants.

*I'm particularly impressed with this, actually, with regard to your daughter, though. I personally finished reading the Book of Mormon all the way through for the very first time while I was in the MTC. The value project for Virtue is to read the Book of Mormon cover-to-cover. I'm impressed with any 13-year-old who has done that. :)

[MarginOfError]

The absolute minimum age a Boy Scout can get their Eagle is 13.5 years. And I have had some scouts get the award that young.

That isn't entirely true. A boy can join scouting when he has either turned 11 years old OR as a ten-year-old when has earned his Arrow of Light and completed fifth grade.

The time required to complete the various ranks in scouting are

Scout: no time frame

Tenderfoot: 30 days

Second Class: no time frame

First Class: no time frame

Star Scout: 4 months with a leadership position

Life Scout: 6 months with a leadership position

Eagle Scout: 6 months with a leadership position

Theoretically, it's possible to complete Eagle Scout in 17 months. If a boy were to happen to turn 10 years old just as he completed his Arrow of Light at the end of the fifth grade, he could (theoretically) earn the Eagle Scout Award as early as 11 years and 5 months old.

Under normal conditions (most boys join at 11 years of age), they might be able to complete it by about 12.5 years.

In the Church, we do such a fine job of delaying boys from truly beginning scouting until their 12th birthday that 13.5 years is what the LDS community generally views as the earliest a boy can earn Eagle.

However, I get suspicious of boys who earn Eagle at younger than 16 for the simple reason that most boys that age (and I wish to emphasize that I'm speaking in generalities) haven't yet developed the leadership skills that are such a vital part of the scouting program. In many case, I feel like these kids are being signed off because they wore a patch for the designated amount of time, not because they actually did anything.

If you're offended by my saying that, get in line. We have two patrol leaders in our troop right now that aren't going to be advancing this spring because their leadership in their patrols has been so poor.

I haven't studied personal progress like I've studied scouting, but I seem to be under the impression that leadership isn't nearly as strongly emphasized, and with no other definite time frames given, it's hard to say what the 'earliest' is that a girl could complete it. However, I will continue to be skeptical of girls who earn it younger than 16 (ish). In these cases, I wonder if the girls are really absorbing the principles of the program, or if they're just checking off boxes.

[slamjet]

That's a little odd -- that's not actually the current medallion. I wonder if your clerk just had the old ones still in stock and is trying to use them up.

They're not in the biggest town in this country, so they may be a bit behind. But according to the pictures they sent over, she could careless. She's just proud to have it.

And I'm not offended. I was just wondering where you were coming from. My middle twins ended up with mom's multi-tasking hard working smarts and dad's schooling and street smarts. It equals kids who are constantly on the move, can't do enough (cleaning their room is an exception for some reason) and brains that are constantly running at full steam. I worry about them because, like mom, they're not that good at relaxing.

As for the bottom twins, one has Aspergers with a photographic memory and the other is such an exact clone of me, it's maddening! Plus at 9 years old he has girlfriends. Yes, plural. He won't admit it but the way he talks about them, he's full of daddy's machismo. Real troubles ahead for this one.

[Gwen]

However, I get suspicious of boys who earn Eagle at younger than 16 for the simple reason that most boys that age (and I wish to emphasize that I'm speaking in generalities) haven't yet developed the leadership skills that are such a vital part of the scouting program.

the general ym's pres came to our stake's summer camp (a few yrs ago) and told the boys they needed to have their eagle before turning 16. he told them if they didn't get it before cars and girls odds were against them that they ever would.

or so i was told, i'm not allowed to go to summer camp.