Over the years my family has enjoyed playing The Game of LIFE. On your first turn in the game, you choose one of two paths: 1) Start A Career or 2) Start College. In my family, my eldest always chose to start college, my middle child continually selected the path to start a career. Whether the rest of us picked a typical path I don’t remember…..
Not everyone has the opportunity to go to college. My children are fortunate because the path to higher education was always a choice. My eldest planned to go to university. The two us us went on some fun road trips to find the “right” school. We traveled well together, both of us enjoyed waking up and exercising before our day started. With the exception of my snoring, we were compatible roommates. Walking to explore nearby restaurants, stores and neighborhoods, in order to get a good feel for the area, was something enjoyed by us both. Despite the lack of pictures I took on these excursions, I do love a good road trip!
The first trip, in the spring of my daughter’s 10th grade year, took us to Massachusetts. Our first tour, on a sunny day, was at The University of
Massachusetts. Later that day, when we arrived in Boston, my daughter and I took a walk through the North Eastern University campus just as the sun was setting. After a morning of drizzle, The second tour was taken at Tufts University. Last, we strolled through the Harvard campus. Sometime during or just after this trip, my daughter said, “Tufts is where I want to go!”. In my mid twenties I had lived fifteen minutes from this school, so secretly I was happy with this prospect and could picture her there.
My daughter and I went on the next college tour in November of her junior year. The week before Thanksgiving, we headed to New York: first to Ithaca, then to a small town called Canton. Our last stop was to be Syracuse. Although lake effect snow was called for, we set out under a clear blue sky. Arriving at dusk there was no snow in sight. The next morning, the two of us went running: my daughter was in front and I trailed behind. Wet snow began to fall. That morning, through our tour of Cornell, the snow increased. After lunch, my minivan (with no 4 wheel drive or snow tires) headed to Canton. The snow became heavy and I drove at a snails pace. Finally, after an anxious drive, our hotel was in sight. After a good dinner, it felt nice to lay my head down and go to sleep. When we awoke, the ground was blanketed with about 7-10 inches of snow. While the snow fell, a private tour was taken at St. Lawerence University, my eldest child in her fashion boots, and I wearing my snow boots. Upon returning to our hotel, I lamented to the courtesy workers that we were supposed to leave the next morning to go to Syracuse. Our destination didn’t
look hopeful. I also worried about not having a room booked in Canton, but was told that there was a special “stranded” rate. Stranded we were! The room and tour at Syracuse were canceled. The excitement of the snow made this my favorite trip!
The last trip for her college tours was during the spring of my daughter’s junior year; these were to Pennsylvania colleges. Some schools were in the Philadelphia area: Haverford and Arcadia; two in the Lehigh Valley: Lehigh University and Lafayette College; then Franklin and Marshall College, in Lancaster. The Philadelphia schools and the Lancaster school weren’t for my eldest child. The schools in the Leigh Valley, suited her more. Even though I grew up in Pennsylvania, I had never been to Bethlehem, PA. We found a few good restaurants and enjoyed the town. Although this trip was fun, it made me a little sad because It signified and ending of sorts.
The spring my eldest graduated from high school my middle child finished 8th grade. I was worried that in four years time we would have two graduations on the same day….Life has a funny way of changing.
In the late summer of 2018, my eldest packed her bags and went to Tufts. Despite the stress of things that were happening within her families and the occurrence of COVID, my daughter excelled in her studies and made good friends. Within days, she will graduate Summa Cum Laude. We will celebrate with other families and with her friends. I am proud to see the strong, self sufficient woman she has become!
Although I have had the pleasure of taking road trips with my middle child, they weren’t college tours. There won’t be another graduation to contend with this year. My second daughter’s life took a turn the summer after 8th grade. I am in awe of how far she has come these past four years. Last summer, just before senior year, she decided to end her time in high school. With one more test to go, she should be receiving her GED very soon. That will be something to celebrate! Like in The Game of LIFE, she has chosen a not to go the college route.
I have learned that life can’t be planned; something inevitably changes and this is ok. Celebrate all the little things in life, no matter where the road takes you. Most of all, don’t be afraid to follow your own path!
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