In this letter, written on September 26th, 1991, Jack Vigliatura urges his close friend Mary Shortt to persevere through academic pressure, sharing his own struggles with grades, his faith that effort matters more than perfection, and his enthusiasm for the music shaping his days.
September 26, 1991
Mary,
How are you? Everything is going good here. It’s the same thing here with school and all. I’m getting burned out, too, but what makes it harder is I have to keep up my good grades for another 13 weeks. Gosh, I would give anything for a 6 week report card! So, believe me I know where you are coming from. But you have to keep working as hard as you can, high school will be over sooner than you think and once it’s over there’s no going back, and with the millions of dollars they are cutting from the state’s education budget it’s going to be super hard to get into cheap schools, so work hard!
Whether you realize it or not, you’re competing with students from the Class of ’93 all over the state and the country for (what are now becoming) a few spots in colleges and universities. I know it’s REALLY REALLY DIFFICULT, but do your best at everything and I know God will honor that. Ask Him for help, that’s what He’s there for.
Now, don’t take what I’m about to say the wrong way but I’ve also been getting stressed out about my grades because I didn’t get the curve on my Economics test I expected (I got a B) and I’m way behind in Statistics and my English teacher has been ripping my papers to shreds. The only class I’m doing well in is German. I got a 100% again on that test you asked about and I set the curve in the oral participation points also, but other than that I’m going out of my whack. You know what though? I’m doing my best and getting “4.0” isn’t the most important thing, God’s got a plan for me and if He wants me in a certain graduate school or at a certain job then, as long as I do my best with what He’s given me I’ll get there.
The same with you. I know it’s frustrating when you are really trying to grasp something and it doesn’t click or you really thought you would do well on a test and you bomb but the main thing is to keep trying. Make sure you are doing your best and don’t worry — everything will work out, I promise.
That is pretty funny about you and your brother having the same book. He’s in Algebra? I was in Algebra in 8th grade, too. Will he be in Geometry in the 9th grade? If so, that’s a pretty good start. But don’t get too worried about it because for some people math just doesn’t click (like me). I’m in Statistics and everyone is commenting how easy it is but I’m like concentrating sooo hard on every word the professor is saying and I’m still confused. It rots because I don’t have the proper reasoning for that stuff and my way of thinking is always way off. It happens. Think of it as a real challenge to your intelligence and work the problems over and over until you get it – don’t let the problems work you over. Math is something (like statistics) that you have to do a little every day. It’s very easy to fall behind and if you do you got to pay the price and work like heck to catch up or you get an average grade.
You can do it, I know you’re smart but you’re just not used to trying – well, it sounds like you starting to and it will pay off. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
Okay, enough of the boring school stuff. I’m sorry I go off like that, I know it must be really great to get a letter from me full of advice – NOT!!
Anyway, YOU MUST PURCHASE THE NEW BILLY BRAGG “DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME” !!! It is a phenomenal record! It just came out a little while ago and I bought it because I have two of his other CD’s and they are very cool, anyway, I’m listening to a song called “You Woke Up My Neighborhood” (it’s AWESOME!) and in the background there is this very southern twangy, yodeling voice that sounded so familiar, but Billy Bragg is from England, no … it couldn’t be … I opened the CD booklet and there it was: background vocals: Michael Stipe. I flipped out! The song is great. Peter Buck co-wrote it and he plays the mandolin on another song. You have to get it! It’s got some beautiful ballads on there and one is about a Christian soccer player in England who puts God before his sport and his fame. It’s really cool. Get it!
Jeese, this letter has gone on for three pages … are you sleeping yet? I can’t believe I’ve written all this. Thank you for writing, it always puts a smile on my face! Say “Hi” to Chris and tell him I miss him (and he’s still a geek J/K). God Bless and keep up the good work.
Love,
Jack
