Oldest daughter is trying to make her college decision before the end of 2013. She wants to put this huge, adult decision -- one that weighs on her heavily -- behind her so she can actually enjoy the remainder of senior year.
As we walked the first of the two final candidate campuses this weekend, I let the senior daughter walk ahead with her friend, taking in all the sights and information. I lagged behind with my sophomore daughter.
We have focused much time and energy on my youngest daughter, helping her to be a confident person and student. She has quite the "staff" at school (as we joke, but it's true) to help her be successful. She dreams of nursing, or helping people in some way. We dream that she will have independent academic and social skills to be able to study at a 4-year university, perhaps even far from home.
It's November, so it's prime time for me to be stressed and preoccupied. I wasn't talking much during our campus walk. Youngest daughter can talk about anything and everything, filling any dead air around (yes, she did inherit this skill from me!)
As we crunched the leaves on the path, youngest started to tell me how she plans to study nursing and dance at a medium or large school. The conversation was fast-paced and all over the place. She wants to have our trust that she will do her best. She wants there to be lots of clubs and people going to football games. She knows that the people at the disability office have to give her help. (I reminded her that she needs to seek accommodations). She also plans to make lots of friends and eat at all the different cafeterias and have a cool dorm room with lights.
Is your head spinning? Mine was. Her head was spinning, but her mixed up thoughts have turned into a spurt of motivation.
Yesterday we saw a campus that her sister liked, but youngest adored. She begged for a sweatshirt. "I can go here. This can be my college. I need to do my work and focus in high school. College starts now," she explained.
Someone's highly motivated. I'll take it!
Chris, what challenges lie ahead for both your daughters and you too! It;s never easy letting them go and allowing them to make their own decisions, but as parents we want what is best for them. It's exciting to hear how your youngest is making her decisions and knowing what she has to do to make it all happen. Good luck to all of you on making the right decisions.
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