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Rome may be the most magical city on Earth. I say “may be” because I often feel that wherever I am is the most magical city on Earth. However, Rome is a place I can visit over and over and never get bored. We’ve taken Josephine there four times. Maybe that’s why she’s so obsessed with pasta?

Each time we’ve visited Rome with Josephine, it’s been during the winter, when the Christmas lights are in full effect in every street and the air is just crispy enough for a trenchcoat over your sweater. It’s an incredible time to stand at the foot of the Spanish Steps with a bag of roasted chestnuts (which never taste quite as good as they smell). The city isn’t overflowing with tourists, but the hustle-and-bustle is just as pervasive as during the summer — it’s that unmistakable Christmasy energy. I just can’t get enough of it.

This past season was somewhat different from years past, though. It was our first trip to Europe in two years; like so many, we’d been homebound by the pandemic. To make the most of the experience, we decided to go not only to our old haunts in Rome but also to Egypt and Jordan, where we’d never ventured before. Consequently, we had to leave a little earlier than ever before and spend our first Christmas away from Houston in decades.

I was a little nervous about Christmas abroad with Josephine. She worried that Santa might not find us in Rome, and I worried that she’d miss the festivity of family, the warmth of Christmas morning next to our own tree. Still, I packed our bags, determined to make it incredible — BUT forgot her gifts!

We spent Christmas Eve (my birthday) on the hunt for replacement presents and wrapping paper, no small request the day before Christmas. Jamil and I pounded the pavement, pushing Jojo in her stroller because her little legs were firmly opposed to further walking. At each store, she’d get out and peruse the offerings. Little Pinocchio figurines? No one really wants to play with a wooden doll. Giant, stuffed gladiators? Those wouldn’t fit in the suitcase. Ultimately, while Jojo’s back was turned, I bought some LOL Surprize dolls and prayed she’d find them entertaining enough.

As I’ve explained before, I think that exposing kids to conversations and experiences with adults is key to their maturity. On this trip to Rome, we were lucky enough to travel not only with my parents but also with my godmother, my Aunt Donna, and her boyfriend, Roger. 

We selected an amazing restaurant, Ristorante Gallura, for Christmas Eve dinner. It was quite elegant, and Jojo was expected to be on her best behavior. Dinner began at 9PM, and we ordered multiple courses. With each course, we made sure to select something Josephine might  enjoy — the calamari in the fritto misto, the parmigiano and prosciutto, a gorgeous spaghetti alla vongole, and of course, dessert.

Josephine’s culinary exposure matters a great deal to us. We want her to be able to find something to eat on any (good) menu. If a restaurant has a children’s menu, we let her order from it, but if there isn’t one, we read the menu to her until something piques her interest. She loves seafood, vegetables, chicken, pork, lamb, beef. You name it. That’s not to say she doesn’t occasionally turn up her nose at something we put before her. She’s firmly opposed to jelly, for instance. She detests blueberries for some reason, too. Nothing can change her mind. I don’t even try. I despised mayonnaise and avocado; Jamil hated lima beans. Those little quirks distinguished us from the crowd.

We left Ristorante Gallura that night at almost midnight. Josephine never uttered a word of complaint. She also never got to look at an iPad. I wanted to reflect on why I think she’s so collected in these situations. We’ve been taking Josephine to nice restaurants since she was in utero. While she was in a carrier, we took her to restaurants regularly. She slept while we ended the night with a martini. When she got old enough to sit up in a restaurant and participate, we encouraged her to sit with us, drawing on notepads or coloring on children’s menus; if she got tired, we pulled her car seat out of the car, and she passed out by the table. 

At Gallura, we got a large table that had an upholstered bench with pillows on one side. She could frolic over there and even lie down. We’ve done that at multiple restaurants, given her little work spots, so she could entertain herself. We also avoid the common tendency to have her food brought out first. She can eat the bread and enjoy the appetizers, but she can’t get her meal 30 minutes before everyone else. What’s the point? Then, she’ll be ready to leave when we’re sinking into the best course. Nope. She waits it out, and she always has. If she gets too tired to see the meal through to the end, she can fall asleep on the bench or in my arms (more than likely, though, Jamil’s!). By expecting her to abide by the same standards as the adults around her, we build Josephine’s confidence and give her experience modeling the traits that will one day add to her success. I know this strategy may not work for everyone, but it’s what we’ve done from Day One, and it’s served us well so far!

Enjoy the photo gallery from our trip below.

Author: Jessica Givens

Our parenting strategy revolves around exposing Josephine to as many ideas, cultures, people, and possibilities as we can. We believe firmly in the value of children getting comfortable around adults, learning to have mature conversations at a young age, and developing the poise to talk to (harmless) strangers. We also think that cultural exploration and exotic adventures cultivate an accepting and eager character. 

Consequently, we bring many people of all ages in and out of Josephine’s life. We expect her to sit at a real, grownup dinner table with no technology besides a bag of Legos and a coloring book. Because our schedules are demanding, we don’t get to spend as much time with her as we’d like throughout the school year. We hired an amazing nanny when Josephine was born, and we credit Julie with furthering Josephine’s development. But we also seize opportunities to have immersive experiences with Josephine, so she can absorb as much of our beliefs, practices, and passions as possible.

For as much time as work and school will allow, we cart her all over the world. On those trips, we take her to museums and historical sites. We eat in all types of restaurants. We walk unfamiliar streets and play in new parks. In the process, we hope we’re giving Josephine an open mind. We hope we’re inspiring her to think big. 

Stay tuned for my next post where I talk all about Josephine’s experience in the most magical city on Earth, Rome!

Author: Jessica Givens.

Every time people hear what Jamil and I do for a living, they immediately exclaim, “Oh, she’s going to be set for applying to colleges!” And maybe in some ways they’re right. We do have unusually deep knowledge about how students make themselves stand out in the application process. We do understand what programs exist to boost student resumes and enrich their image. However, what people don’t anticipate is that, for many reasons, we’re simply not wrapped up in any of that. Here are a few:

1. We work with some of the most successful, entrepreneurial people in the world, and hardly any of them went to an illustrious college.
2. We know that this is an evolving process. Even if we did try to carve out a stellar path for Josephine, the chances are, they’d change the rules of the game just as we reached the finish line. There’s no sense in trying to control something that’s truly beyond our grasp.
3. We don’t believe in engineering a human being’s resume. We want Jojo to dig deeply into her core and find her passions. We want her to do cool things because she loves them, not fabricated things because she wants to impress an admissions committee (that may or may not spend more than 20 seconds on her application). 

With those ideas in mind, we’ve come up with our own parenting plan, one that echoes our values and that we hope will enhance Josephine’s dynamism, so she can succeed in all aspects of life, regardless of what university winds up being her alma mater.

I decided to create this blog several years ago when I realized that we were doing things somewhat differently from other parents, and I’ve been accumulating content since Josephine was about six months old. What took so long, you ask? Well, first, I wanted a deep well of experiences to pull from to write interesting posts. Second, I felt like I had to verify that I would really stick to my guns and raise Jojo the way I said I intended to; after all, plans change! Third, I’ve been working like crazy since the day she was born to build a business, and in my spare time, I’ve been attending law school. But now, here we are, and How to Raise a Jojo is finally making its debut! I hope you enjoy it.

Author: Jessica Givens

We have an intensive summer ACT course beginning on July 20th. The class will meet Monday/Wednesday/Friday for two weeks, three hours per day, for 18 hours of coursework. There will also be a mock test on Sunday, August 2nd. This class will be led by our Senior Test Prep Consultant, Errolynn Zetar.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have. If you would like references about Errolynn’s unique expertise, we will provide them, send us an email at info@allinoneacademics.com.

Summer ACT Course

Dates: Monday/Wednesday/Friday

July 20th, 22nd, 24th and July  27th, 29th, 31st, plus a test on August 2nd

Location: 1973 West Gray, Suite 17, Houston, TX 77019

Cost: $1,500

To sign up, please click here. This is a special summer opportunity to take advantage of!

It’s true: summer will be here soon. Before you get swallowed up in end of the school year activities and summer vacation planning – join us for a free college admissions information session! On Saturday, May 16th, our president, Jessica Givens, will be delivering her engaging and informative presentation “Five Secrets to College Admissions Gold” at our office on West Gray.

Too many parents, students and counselors are operating with out-dated assumptions about what works and are blind-sided by often-avoidable rejection letters. Join us to learn about how to navigate the ever-changing college admissions process. This session is geared toward parents of students between eighth and eleventh grade but anyone is welcome.

Jessica Givens / All-in-One Academics

Five Secrets to College Admissions Gold

Saturday, May 16th from 1:00pm – 2:00pm

River Oaks Shopping Center, Second Floor

1973 W. Gray Suite #17 Houston, TX 77019

We have had a great response to this presentation in years past – please join us! The information session will also include a brief discussion about our upcoming College Application Crash Courses for high school juniors. Space is limited so please let us know if you’ll be attending. To RSVP, send an email to may@allinoneacademics.com or call 713.405.1193. We hope to see you there!

We are happy to share a new workshop with graduating seniors who will be starting college in the fall: Conquering College!

Over the past several years, colleges have begun to look more for what we call an angular student. Gone are the days of being well-rounded and scattered in your interests. Now, they want to see a clear path – what students have done that back up their choice of major – which allows them to see how that student will fit into the overall puzzle of their incoming freshman class. So while the overall message is the same – stay busy, participate in extracurricular activities, and study hard – there is now a need for a bit more planning so that all of the pieces come together to tell a compelling story.

One great way to demonstrate interest in a particular field is through an internship. Learning the ropes of a local business has long been advised to high school students but as mentioned above, use care in choosing where to apply. Your choice should reflect your goals in college and beyond! Recently we contacted the admissions offices at a few schools that are popular with students we work with to hear what they had to say about high school internships – and here we’ll share their points of view with you!

At the University of Texas in Austin, TX, it is always important to remember that you are applying for a major. The official we talked to said specifically that if an internship supports the applicant’s major choice, it is more beneficial than a “random” internship. At UT, the internships are included as part of the resume in the application so make sure that you are able to help connect the dots of what your interests are, what experience you’ve gained, and where you see yourself heading in the future. While UT does engage in a holistic review, meaning each part of the application is reviewed and weighted evenly, the chance to elaborate on an internship in your resume that backs up your major selection is a huge opportunity and should not be wasted.

The admissions official at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN that we talked to said that internship experience can only help an applicant. The internship experience is included on their application within the extracurricular experience section and is evaluated as such. When reviewing the application, they’ll be looking to see what the student gained from the experience and how it makes them more balanced. Students have the opportunity to describe their internship in the extracurricular section so keep in mind that it is a chance to show what was learned at the internship and how it relates to major selection and future plans. The admissions team at Vanderbilt is trained in “positive advocacy” which means that they are not looking for reasons to deny a student, but are instead looking for reasons to accept. Show them and others why this internship experience makes you a better applicant!

With Spring right around the corner, now is the time to start making internship plans for summer! Many larger companies and organizations have formal internship programs with application dates on the horizon, so you’ll need to plan ahead. As you begin looking for the right opportunity for you, start by looking at your interests and what experience you already have. Are there any paths that you’ve already started creating for yourself that you can continue on? If not, try to think about possible majors or careers that you are interested in. Then, Google is your best friend! Look for companies and businesses in your area that you’d like to reach out to. You’ll meet new people, learn a whole lot, and help prepare yourself for college and your future career – start looking for your perfect internship today!

Feeling overwhelmed? This June, All-in-One Academics is launching our Career Academy program that helps pair students with internships in their desired field. The program consists of a three-week internship along with a professional development course that meets on Friday mornings. For more information about this exciting new program, click here.

We are excited to share a new workshop with students in 7th and 8th grade looking to improve their reading skills! This workshop will not only develop reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, but it is also designed to show students how reading can be fun and enjoyable. (Imagine that!) Students with high grades will learn to perfect their reading habits, while struggling students will learn new methods to overcome challenges.
We will utilize 5 different strategies that are proven to increase comprehension: Read Around the Text, KIM (Key Word, Important Information, Memory Cue) Vocabulary, Two-Column Notes, Reciprocal Teaching, and Sum it Up. Using these strategies, students will read a book “for fun” during the workshop. There will be no homework assignments; however, you may catch your child reading on his own as we progress!

Reading Comprehension Workshop: Part I

7th-8th graders

Saturdays from 12 – 2pm, Sundays from 5 – 7pm

6 sessions: February 28 & 29, March 7 & 8, SKIP MARCH 21 & 22 (Spring Break), March 28 & 29

We will meet at the All-in-One Academics space at 1973 West Gray.

This workshop is limited to 10 students.

The cost is $599.

Click Here to Register! 

Exploring Athens and Its Environs:

When discussing educational travel, I can’t imagine a better destination than Athens and its surroundings. Why? Because it’s the cultural center of the Western world. While much of the world stagnated in barbarian practices, living in mud huts and clawing for survival, the Greeks strolled in the warm rays of the Mediterranean sun and dwelled on such luxuries as philosophy, art, and theater. Simply put, those pursuits were unheard of in the 5^th century, B.C., pretty much everywhere except Greece. And, no one can argue that Athens, in particular, flourished, due to its fortunate leadership in the Greek naval victories over the Persians. And that’s why we started here.

For Jamil and me, this is our second trip to Athens. We came here the first time because we had families asking us about study abroad to Greece. Furthermore, parents, knowing my penchant for European travel, wanted me to plan senior trips for their children to Europe. How could I recommend Greece, a place that appears in American news primarily under riotous headlines, without seeing it for myself? Well, after one trip to Athens, during which we visited only Athenian cultural sites and Minoan historical sites in Crete, I was convinced: Greece was not only safe; it was also underrated. This was raw culture. People felt strongly, completely, unabashedly Greek. They may have been part of the European Union, but they were firmly Greek, first and foremost. I loved their schedule, their adherence to a lifestyle that once dominated the entire Mediterranean area but that has faded in Italy and Spain under the duress of modern economic expectations. Greece shows no signs of releasing its traditions, however. It’s enjoy life or bust. Furthermore, the cycle of each day in Athens is carried out under the watchful, ever present eye of the Acropolis, the crowning jewel of ancient Greece.

On our first trip to Athens, Jamil and I hired no guides. We used my previously held knowledge and the wisdom of TripAdvisor (plus some Rick Steves’ genius) to find our way through the ruins and the museums. This time, we vowed to do it differently because we realized that our readers, clients, and friends needed to know where to look and whom to call to gain genuine insight into the heritage of the Western world. To my dismay, finding a guide in Athens from the United States proved a major challenge. Even for an experienced, adventurous traveler like me, the options seemed confusing, undesirable, and, to make matters worse, inconsistently priced.

Most guides to the cultural heritage sites around Athens appeared to be taxi drivers. They have nice vehicles, definitely up to American luxury standards, but they lack something critical, a tour guide license. Therefore, it seemed like a poor option for history buffs like us. I have since had to eat my words because I actually met an awesome guy who owns one such company – to be discussed later. In any case, I was looking for something entirely reputable… Fortunately, I found it.

Tip #1: Hire a guide at the Athens Archaeological Museum

Our first full day in Athens, we went immediately to the archaeological museum. I thought I could probably lead the tour myself. After all, in preparation, I listened to The Great Courses: Classical Archaeology, by Dr. John Hale, an archaeologist trained at both Yale and Cambridge, who now runs the Liberal Studies program at the University of Louisville. Furthermore, I treated myself once again to the lectures of Dr. J. Rufus Fears in his Famous Greeks series, also offered through The Great Courses. So, on all fronts, I considered myself prepared to view, absorb, AND educate my parents. However, my plans changed happily for the better at the entrance to the museum, where a woman with a sunny disposition, named Andromache, sat next to a sign advertising tours of the exhibits.

For 50 euros, we hired Andromache’s services for an hour, and she wove her way through the halls she knew so well, taking us all the way from the Stone Age to the Hellenistic Era. I completely recommend this service, especially for families and/or groups, many of which include people with varying levels of background information and interest. Andromache can offer as little or as much insight as you want, turning an overwhelming trove of antiquities into a manageable, enjoyable, educational experience. One of the most fascinating sections with Andromache was a part of the museum that basically eluded us last time, the Mycenaean section. This time, we appreciated the detailed metalwork, and while I found the silver bull with gold horns the most beautiful, the hammered-gold death masks of two twin infants were probably more significant. Furthermore, with Andromache I learned that the famed Mask of Agamemnon (long known to be a misnomer) predates the Mycenaean times, roughly 1200 BC, by 400 years. That makes it an even more significant find than it was claimed to be. I know this may not fascinate everyone, but when you see it with Andromache’s explanations and when you realize that the faces represented before you passed out of existence 3600 years ago, the weight of history and its inescapable evidence of mortality is undeniable.

Tip #2: Do not miss the Antikythera mechanism

Believe it or not, this is an ancient computer. It calculated the positions of the sun and moon at any given date. It even had its own manual, inscribed on its metal door. You should read up on the Antikythera mechanism in advance, so that you understand what you’re seeing, unless you’re lucky enough to snag a guide at the entrance, like we were.

Tip #3: Pay special attention to the marble statue of Athena that is encased in glass

This is an ancient recreation of the chryselephantine (ivory) statue of Athena that once stood in the Parthenon. Imagine it 30 feet tall and clothed in gold. That’s how the piece really was when it held court in the interior of the Parthenon as the special icon of the temple. A vivid mental image of the statue will give you an even greater sense of the magnitude of the Parthenon’s value and importance to the city-state of Athens, which took its name from Athena herself. The statue represents the pride of the polis and the commitment of the Athenian people to the reverence of their patron goddess. It was probably the most significant statue in classical Athens, and the Roman conquerors found the cult statue of Athena so mesmerizing that Constantine had it shipped to Constantinople to show his power and add to the magnificence of his namesake city.

Tip #4: If you like your museum guide, ask for further tours

The guides at the museum are all thoroughly vetted for knowledge and communication skills, so they’re top-notch. BUT, they are not bound to the museum! They can go with you to the Parthenon, to Delphi, to the Peloponnese – you name it! We know because we hired Andromache after our amazing museum tour with her. She and her lovely husband drove us over to the Ionian coast of Greece to see the shrine of Greece on the 2^nd of January. And that will be our next post!

Food recommendations so far in the trip:

• Café Abyssinia – This is a tiny gem tucked into the square of a flea market. The food is outstanding. Please allow us to recommend the house baked cheese dish, the moussaka, and the yogurt/honey/walnut dessert. While everything is outstanding, these were our highlights, in addition to the excellent service.
• To Steki To Ilia – Are you into grilled meats? Hopefully, you don’t mind the random, unannounced bit of (delicious) grilled kidney tossed in with your array of charred chops…If so, you’ll be fine here. For two years, Jamil and I talked about the lamb chops here at To Steki. We recalled the long walk along the metro, the sketchy exterior of the restaurant, the pile of fatty, tender meat that greeted us. The entire experience screamed anti-timid-tourist, and we loved every second of it. So, we had to go back. We needed the rawness of the ambience and the honesty of the food. There are no formalities; there is no English; there are no apologies for any lack thereof. Order the fava (pureed yellow split peas topped with red onions), the sausage, and the lamb chops. The Greek salad is probably great during warm weather. It was a bit flavorless and forgettable during the winter. Nostra culpa for ordering them at all.
• The Rooftop Bar/Restaurant at the Hotel Grande Bretagne – Even if you don’t wind up staying here – which you absolutely should, if it’s available – you must come to the bar. It’s gorgeous, the service is phenomenal, and the fare is wonderful. You can have an excellent martini alongside a trio of delicious ceviches, plus a flavorful pizza. If that’s not enough, come for the view. You will get a photo of the entire acropolis and an unbeatable panorama of Athens and Piraeus.
• Strofi – We spent New Year’s Eve here, and honestly, I was concerned that the food would not live up to the TripAdvisor reviews (I’ve been burned before). Strofi could not have been more perfect. The view was unparalleled, and the food was perfect from start to finish. We drank fruity Greek wine and ate such delicacies as haloumi cheese straight off the grill and lemony dolmas, plus garlicky gigantes beans. Our evening was punctuated with a major event – a performance at the microphone by one of our co-diners, Zozo Sapountzaki – which made the whole evening more glamorous and the memories more indelible. I have a sneaking suspicion this will not be our last New Year’s at Strofi. It was one for the books.