Accepted

Last night, at 6:10pm Bella received her first college acceptance email. The 6:10 is important because that's her birthday, June 10.

For a kid who doesn't believe in nearly anything her mother or grandmother does, she noticed this.

I think (hope) the pressure is off now. She can relax and wait for the next five colleges to get back to her.

It will certainly make it easier to live with her!

While I was looking around for a quote or song or something to add to this, I found this beautiful video. You will love it. It is just over a minute.
http://youtu.be/2UtymXSMsDU

This is from Rion's mom, Susan, under the YouTube comments. She wrote it 11 months ago:

Thanks for the encouragement. A little explanation for those who find this perplexing....Rion was accepted into a special program called Clemson LIFE. This is an amazing two year program for a small number (15) of young adults with special needs. This isn't a program in which one can earn a degree. Right now, Clemson is one of five universities in SC with a LIFE program. I love that kids like Rion get to experience college life and this type of independence. Proud of my alma mater!

She wrote THIS three weeks ago.

Rion's first two months at Clemson have been incredible! He loves it. The curriculum is challenging and physically demanding, but he is enthusiastically accepting every challenge. 

As a parent I want my kids to be happy.

Peter is thriving at college. Bella is thriving in high school. The pressure they are under far surpasses anything I dealt with at their ages as far as "my future" went.

WAY back then you were "guaranteed" a job for life if you were hired by certain companies. Well, I got laid off by the phone company and that was one of the places that gave you job security. So much for that fantasy. The latest statistics state most people will have 12 to 15 jobs in their lifetime; they will work 4.4 years per job.

Peter applied to ONE college Early Decision. He was accepted by early November and knew where he was going. There was no emotional trauma.

It is an entirely different experience with Bella.

The competition for college is unfathomable to me (maybe because I didn't graduate until I was 51?!) and to experience the angst of a kid waiting to get accepted is like living on a see-saw.

Until we hear from the other five schools, we will just delight in the one acceptance, so far.

Because you want to know, Bella applied to:
SUNY Binghamton
SUNY New Paltz
St. John Fischer College - that would be SO convenient
Ithaca
Northeastern
University of Vermont - ACCEPTED (!)

I want my kids to be happy. I want them to enjoy their college experience. I want them to have jobs that provide them with quasi security. I want them to live life to the fullest.

xo

I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades

http://youtu.be/8qrriKcwvlY