Just a mere six weeks ago he approached us with an intimidating spreadsheet which calculated the advantages and disadvantages of as many as a dozen universities. Calculations and ratings based on city population, degrees offered, percentage of acceptance, average test scores.....any or all of these were considered in the final deliberations. None of his calculations, however, focused upon the things I perceived to be important- like tuition costs, scholarship opportunities, and distance away from me. Upon perusal of the final list, I winced. I have no idea how Dave and I, two people who have never lived more than 125.7 mles from Chattanooga, have raised a son who is so independent and unafraid to explore the world, but the inclusion of BU and Columbia on this meticulously crafted masterpiece indicates we have.
The entire college selection and acceptance experience is so foreign to me- and I never had the opportunities available to me that he will have. Just yesterday he was this this red-headed toddler with ringlet curls bobbling up and down as he sat and methodically worked jigsaw puzzles upside down so only the cardboard showed. He never chose the conventional way of doing things. And now tomorrow in the face of these college overseers, this same not-so curly ginger will be opening his folder which was put together in the same methodical way he once worked those puzzles...... and he will continue on his search for the ideal school....in his non-conventional way.