Feature Story

Parenting on the fly. 
Such are the facts of participating in the life of a teenage boy.

Grant: "Oh, hey; I might be a little late getting home tomorrow.  I have a journalism UIL competition tomorrow.

Parent: OK.  That sounds fine - but what is this UIL Journalism Tournament of which you speak?

As it turns out, we get a text message late afternoon: I should b home around 8 should I pu dinner or do u want 2 wait for me to get home?
I respond go have dinner with ur mates.

We learn more about this event once Grant walks through the door (at 9:15) with a medal around his neck.  "So, looks like you did something good, have seat and tell us about it."

Mr. Forrester (Garland High Newspaper/Journalism teacher) mentioned the UIL competition the week before Spring Break, two weeks ago, and had those interested sign up.  Once the students returned to the classroom on Monday, Mr. Forrester told them to be ready for the tournament this Thursday.  Grant had signed up for competition in Headline Writing and Feature Story categories.  Many students signed up, but we were told Mr. Forrester only selected the "competent ones" to compete.

Grant finished in second place with his composition and writing of a feature story under a deadline.  He was given a few facts and quotes about a school gym that had been named after a Klu Klux Klan member - all fictional.  His feature story using the given facts and quotes earned a second place finish among 7 district schools and garnered him the opportunity to move on to regionals to be held at Baylor University in a couple of weeks.  Grant will be the first journalism participant to represent Garland High at the UIL Regional level in many many years, a credit to his talents.

We have on occasionly glimpsed in Grant, innate skills in his writing compositions that are well balanced and well developed.  He has a flair for poetry too, but that has remained latent since childhood.  His mother believes it is his heritage as an Irish bard, notably taking after his Geat Grandfather Mott who was a celebrated contributor to the Miles City, Montana paper with a witty poem dealing with the municipal sewage lagoon and also known to be a fine practioner of eloquent cursing (not to be confused at all with profanity and ubiquitous tetragrams).  I am not ready to discount the Suneson side yet, as the first born Suneson males have a history of practised writing that extends for four generations.  Whatever the source or sources, we are proud of his accomplishment and it bodes well, if not confirms, his vocation as journalsit and broadcaster at the top rated Mizzou "J-School" come this Fall.  Huzzah!