The accomplishment I have achieved that stands out most in my mind happened just this past week and has to do with PEG. My accomplishment was convincing my parents to allow me to apply.
   I heard about PEG on Monday, May twelfth through an adult friend, Kit Finn, while we were trying to get through to the people at my school about a problem with my history course for next year. While the history battle failed, I was able to to see the PEG website. My mother heard about PEG through Mrs. Finn, too, and I asked her about it on Wednesday, earning a solid no. She felt that I was too young for college, and she was not ready for me to go.
   My mother’s reaction discouraged me, but I didn’t give up. I sent my father the website address, and convinced him to send for information. When I got the information on Saturday, I was excited to see that there was a note saying that there was still room for the fall. I ran to my father to show him, and got a reaction that I had not expected. The school was too expensive; I couldn’t go. I told this to Mrs. Finn, and she agreed to find out about financial aid.
   Meanwhile, I began to work on convincing my mother. All Sunday afternoon, I worked on a persuasive essay about why I wanted to go to PEG. I read through the information booklet, making mental bookmarks at places that I thought could be of use in the essay. I then  outlined what would go into the essay, and wrote it using quotes from the booklet and as many supporting details as I could come up with.  I think it was one of the better essays that I have written. Late that night, I handed it to my mother and waited to hear what she would think. After talking to me for a little while, she agreed to allow me to find out more information.
   So I had my mother to the point where she was at least agreeable and all I had to do was convince my father. After dinner on Monday I sat down at the table next to him with all the information and my essay. I waited as he read it, and though he wasn’t too pleased, he became began to see that I was serious about wanting to go to PEG, and he wasn't quite so against it. I had accomplished that much.
   I set out to work on getting my parents to agree to let me apply to PEG, now that I had their attention. They asked me questions, and I either answered out of what I knew or went to Mrs. Finn for help and sent my parents her reply. It seemed to be working.
   On Wednesday, May twenty-first, I realized that if I was going to apply to PEG, I had to get started on the essays. That night I approached my mother on the subject, and I wasn’t too surprised to learn that she needed to think about it overnight. In the morning I had my answer. My mother agreed to let me apply! I had done it. I had convinced my mother to give me a chance.
   This accomplishment is important because it is the reason why I am writing this right now. Also, it stands out as the first time that I have gone against my parents, proved my point, and won.